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Attachment Parenting
MBush4
member
Co-sleeping and putting to bed question
MBush4
member
DS is a pretty tame baby. Whenever possible DH or I wear him. The only time he gets fussy at all is if he's hungry or overly tired. We co-sleep with him and love the arrangement. Although he's STTN since he was about 8 weeks, we like being able to be right there if anything happens. Also, in the mornings when I wake up to pump (we're unfortunately unable to nurse directly) DH usually brings DS in the bed and they get cuddle time in while I get his bottle ready.
My question is this. He's getting to the point where it's recommended to put little ones down to sleep drowsy but awake. Whenever I try this DS becomes fully alert regardless of how drowsy he seems and starts moving around like a wild man trying to escape his pack n play. Most of the time he falls asleep with his last bottle when we feed him in the bedroom or downstairs and we just put him in his bed. What's the best way to get him to sleep on his own? I don't mind having him fall asleep the way he does, but I'm just wondering if I'm creating a future problem if I keep having him fall asleep in our arms, while eating, or next to us in bed (this happens every once in a while).
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Co-sleeping and putting to bed question
I'm new to this board and NOT an expert. But my impression is that everyone starts to get really nervous when they read the books on when your baby is supposed to be doing you-name-it in regards to sleep.
A new study just came out that suggests that, under the age of 18 months, sleep patterns may be largely determined by genetics. After 18 months, things like establishing a routine, etc. become much more important in determining how your child sleeps.
I guess what I'm saying is your child is an individual on their own developmental path. I think the more popular sleep advice sources instill a lot of fear in parents in terms of "if you don't do this now, your child will never xxxx." In a way, isn't this kind of like forcing your child to do anything else before they are ready? Trying to "train" them to roll, stand, eat, etc., on some expert's schedule instead of their own schedule?
I've decided to let it go and do what seems natural. If something is working for you, if baby is happy and you're getting at least some sleep, I say go for it now. Maybe baby-led sleeping will be the next big thing
.
Some more experienced moms might have some other/better advice, but that's what I've been thinking about lately.
Thank you for your input! I'm very much of the mindset "let them dictate when they're ready to XYZ", I just wasn't sure if sleep was an okay thing too. Thanks!
I guess time will tell if my thoughts are in line with reality or not! It would be interesting a few years down the line to compare how folks handled sleep in infancy what their LO's sleep patterns are like as older children.
Between me, H and my sister, we nursed or rocked LO to sleep every night and nap. When he around 12+m, H started just laying with him in bed for naps because moving from chair was too disruptive. At 18m he started daycare and he lays down on his cot and goes to sleep without any help other than the peer pressure of everyone else doing that lol.
My point is kids adapt and change. At 4m, LO had completely different needs/routine than at 6m, 9m, etc. I wouldn't fret about tomorrow's problems today, since they may not ever come anyway.
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