Spoiled or Anxiety or Sick or What???

Ecy

I have felt very lucky as my DD has always been a good sleeper. She slept in her RNP from birth until close to 5 months. The transition to her crib was a breeze and for the most part has been STTN for the last couple of months. I am able to put her down around 7:30 and then get her up at 7am (sometimes earlier).

However, a couple of weeks ago, she started waking up around 3-4am just about every night. I would of course be exhausted and would just stumble into her room, pick her up and put her in bed with me so I could get my last couple of hours of sleep before getting ready for work. Yes...I know, this was my first BIG mistake!

Starting last Friday, two things happened...she was sick with a cold (still is and it's just bad congestion, otherwise is in good spirits) and she began refusing to sleep in her crib at all. Our night routine is simple; bath, bottle, rocking, sleep. It takes her no time to fall asleep and she never fusses during this time. As soon as I go to lie her in the crib, she wakes up and either starts crying or just wakes up and stands in her crib.

Right now, I am just doing what I have to do and will allow her to sleep in bed with us because it's mid-terms week and I am swamped at work. I start Christmas break this weekend and figured I would tackle any kind of sleep training then.

But what do y'all think knowing all the background? Do you think she's just gotten spoiled by being in bed with us? Is she creating some separation anxiety? She goes to DC and never gets upset when I leave but she is very comfortable with her teacher. Or is this because she's had a cold and is feeling more needy?

 Thoughts?

MsAng02

I don't think she's spoiled. I think it's probably a combination of the cold/ teething/ separation stage. It'll pass. My LO became Very Clingy when she started teething and I bedshare all the time. I'm more of the "if it makes baby happy- do it" mommy (at least the first 9m-1yr).

Lisa Frank

What are her naps like?? And once you move her to your bed, does she fall right to sleep?

Without knowing the answers to those 2 questions, I'm going to guess:

She's created a sleep association with you and your bed. I'd work on getting her back into her crib and when she wakes, I'd do whatever you're comfortable with to get her back to sleep---in her crib.  Nix the bedsharing all together and be consistent about it. 

Good luck!

mcginnie86

MsAng02:

I don't think she's spoiled. I think it's probably a combination of the cold/ teething/ separation stage. It'll pass. My LO became Very Clingy when she started teething and I bedshare all the time. I'm more of the "if it makes baby happy- do it" mommy (at least the first 9m-1yr).

This is me too. I bed share full time. It works for us.

Ecy

While in DC, she doesn't nap as often but when she does it is done in a crib. We get home about 4 and this week she has been really tired because she hasn't felt well and isn't sleeping as much. So she will nap but wants me to hold her. If I put her down, she just wakes up sooner.

And yes, when she gets to bed with us, she usually falls right to sleep.

 

To the other posters...I really don't mind bed sharing either. However, my DD goes to bed at 7:30ish and I still have lots to do between then and my bedtime. I enjoyed her being able to sleep in her crib while I got stuff done. That's why it didn't bother me to put her in my bed at 3 or 4am but starting off in it is a different story. Thanks for the responses!

ascar29

I just wanted to say that I went through the same thing and put him in our bed for a couple of weeks. He's now sttn again in his crib. I think it was just a phase 

Ecy

ascar29:

I just wanted to say that I went through the same thing and put him in our bed for a couple of weeks. He's now sttn again in his crib. I think it was just a phase 

Thanks! Good to know. Maybe I haven't ruined her forever, lol

pooksmom

DD is going through this now and I just realized she is teething.  I say do what works for your sanity.  I just might have to go apologize to all of those mothers I judged before I became a mother of a teething child!!! 

Ecy

pooksmom:

DD is going through this now and I just realized she is teething.  I say do what works for your sanity.  I just might have to go apologize to all of those mothers I judged before I became a mother of a teething child!!! 

Lol, I know what ya mean

It really just occurred to me this morning that it may be teething. She doesn't have any teeth yet so I don't know how she will react to them. Can't wait to find out!

mesmom2011

mcginnie86:

MsAng02:

I don't think she's spoiled. I think it's probably a combination of the cold/ teething/ separation stage. It'll pass. My LO became Very Clingy when she started teething and I bedshare all the time. I'm more of the "if it makes baby happy- do it" mommy (at least the first 9m-1yr).

This is me too. I bed share full time. It works for us.

I agree!

MsJosie

mesmom2011:

mcginnie86:

MsAng02:

I don't think she's spoiled. I think it's probably a combination of the cold/ teething/ separation stage. It'll pass. My LO became Very Clingy when she started teething and I bedshare all the time. I'm more of the "if it makes baby happy- do it" mommy (at least the first 9m-1yr).

This is me too. I bed share full time. It works for us.

I agree!

I agree too!! My LO has a crib in my room but she sleeps with me. I am also a  "if it makes baby happy- do it" mommy!! Plus, I feel safer when she is next to me so I can monitor her and makes middle of the night breast feedings soo much easier. Also, it's nice to have someone to cuddle with as I am a single mommy.

Ecy

I don't particularly mind her sleeping with us and neither does DH. The problem I have is from about 7:30 - 11ish, I could do whatever I wanted or needed to do because she was sleeping for the night in her crib.

Now, she has this need to be sleeping next to us. I can't go to bed at 7:30 with her. I got lots of stuff to do. The evenings were the only time I had to myself or with my husband, so I'm missing that.

For those that bed share, what time does your LO go to sleep? Do you leave them in the bed without you?

mesmom2011

My LO doesn't go to bed until 9:30 or so. . . My DH is a SAHD and he encourages her to sleep until at least 9.  That seems to work for us, so most nights I go to bed when she's ready.  I have her crib side-carred (no front and pushed up flush with our bed).  This works really well because she has her own sleeping surface, but isn't safe if we aren't with her.  For naps, she sleeps on a blanket on the floor or in her pack-n-play.  I love bedsharing as my LO wakes about 4 times / night to quickly nurse and go back to sleep.  It's how I stay sane.