Co-sleeping to Cot

[~Belinda~]

Hi All

My 14 week old daughter has co-slept with us since she came home from hospital. We have never succeeded in putting her in her cot, no matter how many things we try.

Recently, we decided to put her cot in our room and right next to my side of the bed. After her late night feed, she goes straight to sleep so we put her in the cot but she'll still wake up at about 1:00am and start crying. We've tried consoling her and putting her back in at that time but she'll protest. So we just bring her in with us then and she'll sleep right through to 6am.

If she comes straight into our bed, she will normally sleep right through from 10pm-6am but we want to start getting her used to her cot now.

Just wondering whether anyone else has had this issue? I feel like I'm doing the right thing as I don't really want her in our bed until she's 5 years old or anything so thought it's better sooner than later getting her used to her own cot.

She won't at all go in it through day either...just sleeps in her bouncer or stroller.

Would love to hear what other people have experienced!

By the way, I love her sleeping with us but my DP doesn't sleep that well because Madeleine and I take over the bed!

Belinda

[Ambah]

Is there any way that you could take the side off the cot and make sure the cot is right up next to your bed (wedged between the wall maybe?)

I have had Eva next to me like this since we came home from hospital and it has worked SO well, because we are as close as if we are co-sleeping, yet we have our own space and are not anxious about rolling on her. It seems to work even better because the cot mattress is exactly level with our bed mattress, so its really just a long extension...

My son Aidyn co-slept with us on and off for the first 3 years.... sometimes we had issues getting him to sleep in his own bed/cot, and other times it was fine. I don't think that co-sleeping sets them up for problems later on of not wanting to sleep on their own. I know heaps of kids that have co-slept and had no problems with transferring to their own bed/cot when they are older.

BTW, Eva also only sleeps in a bouncer or pram, or sling, during the day as well!

Goodluck, I hope you find a solution that works well for all of you.

[stacey83]

My little boy was the same he always woke when i tried to put him back in the basinett. I have tried so many times, i now have his cot in our room and try to settle him in there and im only succesful if i get him to sleep on a blanket in my bed then move him quietly to his cot!!! But only to have him wake up a few hours later to want to come back in bed with us! so i give up even though DP has a crappy sleep too..

DS is now 9 months old and he s still in our bed...so im waiting to get through the cold months than i will move him to his cot in his own room when i stop breastfeeding(im planning to stop really soon and dont want to go past 1 year)... im sure i will be in for hell for those couple of weeks til he gets used to it... but you gotta do what you gotta do as i too dont want him in my bed at 5 years old!!!

I haveto say i have really enjoyed co-sleeping with him, its so nice just to cuddle up and have him settle so quickly and we both get more sleep!

[~*Niadalla*~]

Yep, been there. LOL
We thought we would be co sleeping for a while... we do for a couple of hours in the morning after DP gets up for work still, but I enjoy that.
What worked for us... well at around 3 months of age, Lach stared rolling. By 4 months, he was a proficient roller, and enjoyed being on his belly. He would roll over when put in his cot immediately, onto his belly, and wouldn't you know it, he slept!!!!
Now, I am not saying, place your child on their belly to sleep. I know the risks and the SIDS guidelines, but bub had other ideas. He was able to lift his head and turn it over without waking. I had 3 sleepless weeks, watching him like a hawk, waking every hour to see if he wa ok, reaching out to feel if his chest was still rising and falling....
He was always fine.

I guess up until this point, DP and I had resigned ourselves to the fact that DS might sleep with us for th first 6-12 months. DP LOVED the idea, I was the one who wasn't so thrilled about it.

Anyway, DS now sleeps in his cot during the day and night. As soon as he started to it was like we had a different baby. He was having quality sleep and so were we.

For other reasons, our length of sleep has deminished, but the quality is still there
We were ready to wait until DS was ready to move (or until we went completely nuts). It happened without much effort.

Your DD won't be in your bed forever. I am yet to meet a 12-13 year old girl who enjoy's sleeping in their parents bed......

Good luck

[~Belinda~]

Is there any way that you could take the side off the cot and make sure the cot is right up next to your bed (wedged between the wall maybe?)

Ambah, my DP took the side of the cot off and moved the mattress down so it's level with our mattress, then we lock the wheels so the cot does not move. She had been waking up at about 1am and coming in with us when the side was up but last night she slept right through so it's an excellent idea you gave us. THANKS SO MUCH for that suggestion...so grateful to you.

Thanks everyone else for your advices and what has worked for you.