HELP! About to give up on the crib, and a bed sharing question.

zarapipe

Ever since DD was born she will not sleep anywhere except for the swing, on me, or next to me in bed. At this point we are mostly bed sharing with some nights letting her sleep in the swing. I started transitioning her into the crib and it is not working. The first night I put her down dead asleep and she slept for 4 hours, the next night 3 hours, the next night 2 hours and last night I tried to put her down three seperate time (both drowsy, when she had just fallen asleep and when she was asleep for 20 minuts) and as soon as I put her down she started screaming bloody murder. This from a girl who rarely cries. Before I started the crib sleeping she would sleep no less than a 6 hour stretch before waking up when we bedshare. After spending two hours trying to get her in her crib last night I folded and let her sleep with me. She sleept 10pm-6pm.

My questions is what else can I do? I don't want to let her CIO in the crib, but how many times do I try before I give in and bring her back to bed with me? Also for those that bedshare how long are you planning on doing so? I was thinking just letting her stay in the bed until 5 months or so when I can start some kind of sleep training.

kcisthebombdotcom

Honestly, I bedshared a lot in the beginning. I never had to do sleep training. DS just got to a point on his own where he didn't mind sleeping by himself.

If you're comfortable with bedsharing and it works for everyone, keep doing it. As DD gets older, she might get to a point where she will sleep in her bed without putting up a fight. I'd say keep putting her in there for naps to get used to it, and try a night every few weeks to put her in her own bed until she will.

GL.

Kpsbabyzoe

I think bed sharing is ok.  But keep in mind, once she gets older it might get worse to transition her.  (Picture a toddler throwing a tantrum.)  If your family feels comfortable with bed sharing, go for it.  But if you really want to do a crib, try this: Try putting her down while she's drowsy around the same time every night.  Lay her down, rub her head, or whatever it is that you do to soothe her, and then gently stop and say "Goodnight".  Leave the room.  If she cries, let her cry for a few minutes before you check in to make sure everything is ok.  Listen for change in the cries, like "I spit up" or "I'm hungry now" or "I need a new diaper".  If it's just a needy cry, soothe her again by rubbing her head etc but don't pick her up.  Then gently slow the soothing and say "Goodnight".  Leave the room.  Continue this until she realizes that you will meet her needs but it's ok and safe for her to sleep alone in the crib.  We did this.  It was HARD!  And it took patience.  But now at only 2months, I lay baby down, rub her head, say "Goodnight", and she closes her eyes.

Dawley82

I have my daughter in a bedside cosleeper and I plan to keep her in that until I feel she's ready to sleep on her own in her crib.  When that will be, I have no idea.  I really think it's different for every child and different methods work for different kids.  I personally am against the CIO thing although I know LOTS of people that believe in it.  I just think babies this young need us regardless of what time of day it is.  I would let your daughter stay with you and like the PP said, just try naps in her crib for now so she can get used to it.  If you REALLY want her in her crib, you can go into her room when she wakes up and hold her or put your hand on her and calm her back to sleep.

Neen33

We tried our first night in the crib last night and it wasn't great either. Se woke at 10:30 (goes to sleep at 7:30ish) and I soothed her, then she slept till 11:30. Previously she had been sleeping in a moses basket right next to our bed till about 3-4AM and then bedsharing with us. I gave up at 11:30 last night and pulled her into bed for the rest of the night. I'm seriously debating whether to wait on moving to the crib, but unfortunately she is going to outgrow her moses basket soon so that will mean full bedsharing. Will be curious to read the other answers.

CIO is NOT an option for us either.

superherostocker

FYI if you read the Ferber Method books that teach CIO is says do not use it till 6 months old a least.

I Slept with my DS in my bed till he was 5 months old. Then I rocked him to sleep and started putting him in his bed. Every time he woke up I rocked him or patted his back to put him back to sleep and he went straight back to his bed. Yes sometimes I got up a lot at night but he now sleeps in his own bed at night.

erinkate23

Try some in between steps. PNP in your room, sidecarring the crib next to your bed, bassinet, Arm's Rest co-sleeper, Snuggle Nest, etc.

Have you tried posting this on the AP board?  The ladies over there will have some awesome suggestions for you about co-sleeping.

Don't do CIO until at least 4-6 months (if at all); no organization recommends it before then.