Baby sleeping in the nursery right away?

esf60 · June 2013

Husband and I are not planning on cosleeping or having the baby sleep in our room at all. We want the baby to sleep in her room and get used to it from the very beginning. I told some friends this and they seemed horrified. They couldn't believe I didn't even want to put the baby in a smaller sleeping area like a bassinet or pack n' play for the first weeks or months, since, as they tell me, the baby isn't comfortable in such a large area... no idea if that's true.

Did any of you have your baby sleep in her crib from the beginning? It seems like everyone is cosleeping and having the baby sleep in their rooms these days, and I'd love some advice. Of course I want to make the right decision.

Henrymama2 · June 2013

We planned on having DD sleep in our room for a while and even had a bassinet in there, but the first night home she hated it and screamed. So we moved her to her room in her crib and she slept much better. We had a super nice moniter and it worked for us. We'll see what this LO prefers. Just do what works for you. Momma's know best!

KateVA · June 2013

Either decision is right, whatever works for you. How far from your room is the nursery? That's really the only issue. Ds1 stayed in our room for 2 months, ds2 for 6. It is easier to nurse if they are right next to you - you'll here them faster and can feed them before they truly wake up. But some babies are noisy sleepers and can be hard to have in your room. My advice is stick to your plan but be prepared to move baby into your room if his/her room isn't working

kittyh8r · June 2013

DD slept in our room until she was 7 months and when she was transitioned to her own room, she had no problem whatsoever. If you're breastfeeding I would say that you should at least have the baby in your room for the first month or so while bf is difficult and then move them to their room.

I don't know if you have heard this or not, but having a baby in your room for the first 6 months lowers the risk for SIDS.

It doesn't hurt to try it. (:

musicnmoon123 · June 2013

I'm always worried baby will stop breathing or something so I'm more comfortable having him/her in my room for at least 6 to 8 weeks. Plus it does make nursing easier.

I have heard that babies are more comfortable in a smaller space at least at first since they're not used to the big wide world.

Definitely do what works for you, these are just my thoughts.

2010weddinggal · June 2013

Baby is going right into his/her nursery, we do not have enough room in our room for a pack and play or a small bassinet. I will have a nice monitor and probably will spend alot of time at night in the nursery. I understand the importance of co-sleeping but I think it will be easier on everyone especially my husband who gets maybe a week off.

notkateanymore · June 2013

My daughter slept in her crib from the start. I'm a really light sleeper and DH snores, so she was better off in her own room! We just swaddled her up tight and she was good. If you find your LO likes a smaller space you can always get a Moses basket, bassinet, etc for her room.

golfingdarwinfish · June 2013

Considering all my friends with children, all of them co-slept or used a bassinet for varying amounts of time. I will be purchasing a bassinet and be prepared to use it, but if LO is content in the nursery I guess I would just leave him/her in there (though I'd probably pop in constantly). DH is convinced he's going to do most of the night time feedings (if I pump or cannot BF), so ideally the bassinet will be on his side.

MEP923 · June 2013

No matter how much you plan this, I think you won't be able to truly figure out what is best for you and baby until the baby is here. I said absolutely no cosleeping and I did for the first 3 months or so. Then I moved him into a swing near my bed (that's the only place he would sleep). Then I finally got him into the crib in his own room at about 5 months. This one we are planning to keep in our room the first 6 months or so. I will probably get a bassinet. Our room is downstairs and the kids room are upstairs so this is our best option in the beginning. Honestly, I loved cosleeping (not siding for or against it) but Dh's aunt lost a baby because she rolled over on the baby during the night so DH is very wary about it. To respect his wishes, I will try not to do it at all this time around.

playball13 · June 2013

We planned on having our son sleep in our room for the first few months. When he was 2 weeks old, I was hospitalized for a week. The grandmas came to help DH care for him. It was easier for everyone to have him in his own room with the monitor on. He did great. We just kept that going when I returned home.

One thing I learned from DS is that we can make all the plans we want, but often things change. We just have to be flexible.

kittyh8r · June 2013

Oh yeah, I forgot to add that we had DD's crib IN our room. So she was used to it from the start. She slept in the swing more often than the crib though.

chix96 · June 2013

pinkshoes1975:
We planned on having our son sleep in our room for the first few months.nbsp; When he was 2 weeks old, I was hospitalized fornbsp;a week.nbsp; The grandmas came to help DH care for him.nbsp; It was easier for everyone to have him in his own room with the monitor on.nbsp; He did great.nbsp; We just kept thatnbsp;going when I returnednbsp;home.nbsp; nbsp; One thing I learned from DS is that we can make all the plans we want, but often things change.nbsp; We just have to be flexible.nbsp;

This! I plan on having a crib next to the bed. We don't really have the room for it, but some creative rearranging of furniture will help. If that works, awesome. If not, we'll play it by ear and find new solutions.

esf60 · June 2013

2010weddinggal:
Baby is going right into his/her nursery, we do not have enough room in our room for a pack and play or a small bassinet. I will have a nice monitor and probably will spend alot of time at night in the nursery.nbsp; I understand the importance of cosleeping but I think it will be easier on everyone especially my husband who gets maybe a week off.

This is one of the things I worry about. My husband is a commercial real estate developer with some big projects going on and although he's going to slow down a bit, he really can't take time off. His well being is just as important to me!

esf60 · June 2013

KateMW:
My daughter slept in her crib from the start. I'm a really light sleeper and DH snores, so she was better off in her own room! We just swaddled her up tight and she was good. If you find your LO likes a smaller space you can always get a Moses basket, bassinet, etc for her room.

Never heard of a Moses basket, though I can guess what it is. Definitely adding it to my list, just in case. Glad to hear from a STM who had the baby in her crib from the start successfully!

MamaGrillo · June 2013

It really is a personal choice. We ended up just havin the crib in our room but right beside the bed. It made nighttime feeding easier for me. Honestly, my husband, though wellintentioned, would sleep through most anything, and even once awake, is not coherent.
Once they were a little older, we just moved them into the nursery down the hall. We will most likely do the sane with this one, or just have a bassinet in the room for a bit.

You may find that whatever plans you make, need a bit of tweaking.
We have 3 girls, each very different and though our basic plan was always the same, we had to adjust to suit each of them. No doubt, this baby, whether girl or boy, will fit in and make 'the plan' his of her own.
We never did well with baby in the bed. Nobody except the baby sleeps! Haha. Just not OUR thing. Although, admittedly, I've fallen asleep while nursing a few times!

utlawgirl · June 2013

EmmaBoBemma:
I don't know if you have heard this or not, but having a baby in your room for the first 6 months lowers the risk for SIDS.

This. Something about them getting used to your breathing patterns while sleeping and regulating theirs to match. I remember it from my infant care class the first time around.

That said, we only had DD in our room for the first 3 weeks. She was a noisy sleeper and I was anxious and couldn't sleep. Moving her to her room across the hall was the best decision for all of us, and she did fine with it.

We've moved since then, and our bedroom is downstairs while the kids' bedrooms are upstairs. I'm not totally sure what we'll do, but we may just move the crib into our room for the first couple of months, since we have room (we didn't before).

sameoldash · June 2013

to be honest, i have no idea. i feel like i've thought through/planned so many other details of the birth/first few months, but sleeping arrangements seem so up in the air and dependent on the baby. i'm not anti-cosleeping, so who knows? pack 'n play by my side of the bed? bedshare? stay in their nursery? i really have no idea.

this is probably one of the only areas that i'm pretty breezy about lol.

utlawgirl · June 2013

sameoldash:
to be honest, i have no idea. i feel like i've thought through/planned so many other details of the birth/first few months, but sleeping arrangements seem so up in the air and dependent on the baby. i'm not anti-cosleeping, so who knows? pack 'n play by my side of the bed? bedshare? stay in their nursery? i really have no idea.
this is probably one of the only areas that i'm pretty breezy about lol.

It's good to be flexible. Honestly, you really have no idea what's going to work for your family until the baby gets here. (Said as a total planner, too.)

grace_ann · June 2013

you can always see how it goes and change your plansif it doesn't work out as originally thought. We used the rock and play in our room for four months

aessary03 · June 2013

Best laid plans, right?! Hehe.

I think if you're able to comfortably do this, then there is nothing wrong with it at all. I happened to enjoy sleeping with my DD and found some comfort knowing she was right there. I was also a single mommy at the time so it wasn't as big of a deal to co-sleep for the two of us She preferred it and I got a cute little snuggly bug as a bed partner.

However, since I am married this time around, I haven't really given much thought to sleeping arrangements. I'm looking into a bassinet or co-sleeper, but the baby's crib isn't too far from our room. I've even thought of putting the crib in our room for the first few months. Getting the baby used to being put down in the crib and then transitioning the crib out of our room.

We'll see what actually happens when baby comes, though! haha.

esf60 · June 2013

KateVA:
Either decision is right, whatever works for you. How far from your room is the nursery? That's really the only issue. Ds1 stayed in our room for 2 months, ds2 for 6. It is easier to nurse if they are right next to you you'll here them faster and can feed them before they truly wake up. But some babies are noisy sleepers and can be hard to have in your room. My advice is stick to your plan but be prepared to move baby into your room if his/her room isn't working

The nursery is actually right next to our room, I'd probably hear the baby without a monitor with the doors open, to be honest. All the bedrooms in our house are on the 2nd floor, which will probably make it a bit easier. Thanks for the input! I'm definitely open to whatever works and am planning on changing course if having the babe in her room doesn't work for her or us.

notkateanymore · June 2013

esf60:
2010weddinggal:
Baby is going right into his/her nursery, we do not have enough room in our room for a pack and play or a small bassinet. I will have a nice monitor and probably will spend alot of time at night in the nursery.nbsp; I understand the importance of cosleeping but I think it will be easier on everyone especially my husband who gets maybe a week off.
This is one of the things I worry about. My husband is a commercial real estate developer with some big projects going on and although he's going to slow down a bit, he really can't take time off. His well being is just as important to me!

Do you have room for a bed in the nursery? That way if you decide you want to be closer, you can be in there and let DH sleep? I totally get the husband thing, mine needs sleep and even though he was amazing when DD was born, right now they're in the middle of a deal which will sell part of the company he runs, so he'll have new people to deal with and impress...so he'll need sleep to be fresh at work. Also, who ever said something about SIDS? A fan can also prevent SIDS. No need to make her feel guilty. And if you read enough, you can also find things like using a pacifier reduce the risk.

swirl25 · June 2013

I never wanted to cosleep...it just wasn't for us. We set up our PnP in our bedroom and DD slept in that, swaddled, for the first 7 weeks, then we transitioned her to her crib. It was actually a pretty easy switch for her. I think because the PnP wasn't as close quarters as a bassinet would be, it wasn't a big difference to her. We are going to do that again in hopes for another easy crib transition.

jmb527 · June 2013

We started out with her in a P&P in our room. We lasted 2 weeks, and one night late, my H moved her into the crib because I was a mess and constantly looking over at her and she was a fairly noisy sleeper as well. So the little sleep we were getting, was even less for me anyway. She took right to her crib and we had the video monitor. It worked beautifully for us, but we also then got the Rock n Play sleeper and would let her sleep in that at night if she was fussy or up more frequently for whatever reason. This time, we'll likely start with the Rock and Play as needed but go right to the crib also.

zou bisou · June 2013

I think we'd all get a miserable night's sleep if we co-slept. Plus the info about it increasing the risk of SIDS is correct. Another study was recently released about this.

Baby goes in a small crib in our room for about 6 months. Then they get their own room. I've got admit reducing SIDS wasn't our biggest motivator. We wanted to help our kids get good sleep on their own as soon as reasonably possible. I've heard co-sleeper parents complain about going through night-time misery with frequent wake ups more often than those who didn't. Our kids are great sleepers. Maybe they'd be that way anyways, but I think there's something to how we put them to bed too.

dbucks · June 2013

Our dog has slept in the bed with us since she was 8 weeks old, and I would feel absolutely cruel sending her away now, almost 5 years later. Also DH sleep walks/motions a lot, so I don't think our bed is a safe place for a baby.

Right now the plan is a Pack N Play by my side of the bed, but if having the baby in there keeps DH awake at all (he switches between day and night shift, so sleep is already a tough thing in our household) then the baby will just have to get used to sleeping in his/her own crib. We'll just see how it goes.

linzy2202 · June 2013

I'm planning on getting a co sleeper that connects to our bed. That way I can just scoop her up for feelings/changing a without going all the way upstairs. When she starts waking up as frequently in the night, then we'll move her upstairs.

utlawgirl · June 2013

KateMW:
<snip>Also, who ever said something about SIDS? A fan can also prevent SIDS. No need to make her feel guilty. And if you read enough, you can also find things like using a pacifier reduce the risk.

Nobody is trying to induce guilt -- it's just a fact. And yeah, it's one among many things you can do to reduce SIDS risk.

Personally, at the end of the day, I think you just have to do whatever gets your family the most sleep. Not sure quite what that will be for us this time around (although extended co-sleeping is a definite no for us).

TheBorg7of9 · June 2013

My toddler slept in his crib in his own room since the moment we got home from the hospital. It works great for us and he's a great sleeper.

RNmommyof2 · June 2013

Ours sleep in the PnP in our room for a little while because they wake so frequently and I'm a c-section mama. It's just easier (and less painful) for me to not have to walk to the other end of the house every 2 hours.

Make whatever decision you feel is best for your family, but be willing to make changes if you find something isn't working well for you.

notkateanymore · June 2013

utlawgirl:
KateMW:
<snip>Also, who ever said something about SIDS? A fan can also prevent SIDS. No need to make her feel guilty. And if you read enough, you can also find things like using a pacifier reduce the risk.
Nobody is trying to induce guilt -- it's just a fact. And yeah, it's one among many things you can do to reduce SIDS risk.
Personally, at the end of the day, I think you just have to do whatever gets your family the most sleep. Not sure quite what that will be for us this time around (although extended co-sleeping is a definite no for us).

It's something that they've found MIGHT reduce SIDS. It's one of many, just like a fan or a pacifier or 30 other things on a million lists. I found it odd that OP jumped straight to that as the reason for having the baby in her room.

esf60 · June 2013

KateMW:
esf60:
2010weddinggal:
Baby is going right into his/her nursery, we do not have enough room in our room for a pack and play or a small bassinet. I will have a nice monitor and probably will spend alot of time at night in the nursery.nbsp; I understand the importance of cosleeping but I think it will be easier on everyone especially my husband who gets maybe a week off.
This is one of the things I worry about. My husband is a commercial real estate developer with some big projects going on and although he's going to slow down a bit, he really can't take time off. His well being is just as important to me!
Do you have room for a bed in the nursery? That way if you decide you want to be closer, you can be in there and let DH sleep? I totally get the husband thing, mine needs sleep and even though he was amazing when DD was born, right now they're in the middle of a deal which will sell part of the company he runs, so he'll have new people to deal with and impress...so he'll need sleep to be fresh at work. Also, who ever said something about SIDS? A fan can also prevent SIDS. No need to make her feel guilty. And if you read enough, you can also find things like using a pacifier reduce the risk.

I decided against the bed in the nursery, but there is room in there for a small bed if the need arises. I started testing out gliders this week and I've tried a few that I can definitely fall asleep in (almost did in the store, ha), if need be. I recognize that I will probably be spending more than a few nights in her room and plan to invest in something very sleep-worthy.

And I appreciate you saying that about SIDS... of COURSE I want to reduce the risk of SIDS. What parent wouldn't? Of course I think about that, and I've been reading lots of research about ways to reduce the risks (like the fan) without having the baby in my bedroom.

FutureMrsCaesar · June 2013

Both of my kids went to their nursery basically the 2nd night home. We tried the first night in a bassinet or rock n play but they were noisy sleepers, so I was constantly awake with every little grunt looking at them, and thus getting no sleep. My DH is very against cosleeping, he's afraid he'll roll onto the baby or somehow smother it, so that was out of the question.

Anyway, it all worked out well, maybe a little more work on our (my) part having to get up and go into the nursery and nurse several times a night but that was only for a month or two then they became great sleepers.

Also having a nice video monitor and the angle sounds monitor helped ease my mind a lot having them in another room.

kittyh8r · June 2013

KateMW:
utlawgirl:
KateMW:
<snip>Also, who ever said something about SIDS? A fan can also prevent SIDS. No need to make her feel guilty. And if you read enough, you can also find things like using a pacifier reduce the risk.
Nobody is trying to induce guilt -- it's just a fact. And yeah, it's one among many things you can do to reduce SIDS risk.
Personally, at the end of the day, I think you just have to do whatever gets your family the most sleep. Not sure quite what that will be for us this time around (although extended co-sleeping is a definite no for us).
It's something that they've found MIGHT reduce SIDS. It's one of many, just like a fan or a pacifier or 30 other things on a million lists. I found it odd that OP jumped straight to that as the reason for having the baby in her room.

I was the one who brought up SIDS. I was giving her a reason why I chose to have my daughter in our room for the first 6 months. It was one of the many reasons, she asked for opinions and I gave her mine. I didn't say"OH GOD, YOUR BABY COULD DIE!"

Calm down.

kittyh8r · June 2013

esf60:
KateVA:
Either decision is right, whatever works for you. How far from your room is the nursery? That's really the only issue. Ds1 stayed in our room for 2 months, ds2 for 6. It is easier to nurse if they are right next to you you'll here them faster and can feed them before they truly wake up. But some babies are noisy sleepers and can be hard to have in your room. My advice is stick to your plan but be prepared to move baby into your room if his/her room isn't working
The nursery is actually right next to our room, I'd probably hear the baby without a monitor with the doors open, to be honest. All the bedrooms in our house are on the 2nd floor, which will probably make it a bit easier. Thanks for the input! I'm definitely open to whatever works and am planning on changing course if having the babe in her room doesn't work for her or us.

It is good that the nursery is close by. I think the thing I loved the most about having my daughter in the room, was hearing her the second she started to move around and I was able to get up and get breast milk thawed and ready before she fully woke up. That was there was very little crying at night. If you have a monitor, even though they're so close to your room, it might help also.

MelbaCat · June 2013

both our kids slept in their crib from night one. That said, the crib was in our room for the first 4mos. I have a moses basket that I used for naps, but that's really it.

notkateanymore · June 2013

EmmaBoBemma:
KateMW:
utlawgirl:
KateMW:
<snip>Also, who ever said something about SIDS? A fan can also prevent SIDS. No need to make her feel guilty. And if you read enough, you can also find things like using a pacifier reduce the risk.
Nobody is trying to induce guilt -- it's just a fact. And yeah, it's one among many things you can do to reduce SIDS risk.
Personally, at the end of the day, I think you just have to do whatever gets your family the most sleep. Not sure quite what that will be for us this time around (although extended co-sleeping is a definite no for us).
It's something that they've found MIGHT reduce SIDS. It's one of many, just like a fan or a pacifier or 30 other things on a million lists. I found it odd that OP jumped straight to that as the reason for having the baby in her room.
I was the one who brought up SIDS. I was giving her a reason why I chose to have my daughter in our room for the first 6 months. It was one of the many reasons, she asked for opinions and I gave her mine. I didn't say"OH GOD, YOUR BABY COULD DIE!"
Calm down.

Well, it came across to me that way, so it could have to her.

n8swife · June 2013

Do whatever you feel like is best for you. DS slept in our room until 8 months and the transition to his room was horrible. This one will be sleeping in his/her room a lot sooner.

I think DS would have slept better in his own room. He is a very light sleeper and I think we woke him up a lot. And I jumped anytime he made a sound so I feel like I made his sleeping problems worse.

JillSandm · June 2013

Baby rooms-in with me while we're at the hospital, but I'm a light sleeper and wake for every grunt, snort, deep breath, toot, etc., so when we get home, baby sleeps in their own room from the beginning. We will probably run a "white-noise" kind of thing in DS's room so that he doesn't wake when Baby does. My mom offered us the use of the cradle that I used as an infant, so we may use that for the first couple of weeks or until my dad finishes the crib he's building for us. But, so long as our babies were snuggly swaddled, they never had a problem sleeping in a crib from the beginning. DD slept 12 hours through the night consistently by 9 weeks, DS took until he was 12 weeks.

jenohouston · June 2013

FTM here and our plan is a pack n play by the bed or the crib. Like a PP said we will see how it goes.

I would never co sleep but it's a very personal choice. Good luck!

KFiori1 · June 2013

With DS, we intended for him to start in the nursery right away. we tried it one night, and it was just so much easier to have him in our room, since we were up 47389739 times a night. Well actually the first 2 weeks he slept on our chest on the couch(whoever's shift it was). Then we moved him to a sleep positioner in between us in bed, then the bassinet in our room, then his crib at 6 weeks. He did fine with each transition.

With DD, we kept her downstairs in the bassinet at first because she had to share a room with DS and we didn't want to wake him. eventually she moved to our room and stayed there for 9 months because she was a horrific sleeper and it was not working for her to share a room with DS til 9 months.

honestly no clue what we'll do with this baby.

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