You are definitely not alone...although I HAD this problem.
My DS also hated his cot.....he would also only sleep on me during the days or on his fold out couch, so that is what we did.....
At night we co-slept for a long time (easier in a queen) and he would wriggle etc, but I was so knackered I got used to it and just slept through it.
I did put DS in a toddler bed (took the cot rails off) when he turned 15 months....and slowly but surely he progressed on his own (no CC or CIO). Now he sleeps on his own in his own room, in his big boy bed, and puts himself to sleep after a big cuddle, kiss and a little sing song goodnight talk!
Have you thought about ditching the cot altogether and just taking the mattress out and putting it on the floor? I know it has worked for some. That way you can lie down next to him more easily too. When DS is really unsettled I lie down with him on the loungeroom floor with him on his little fold out bed and that usually works. I truly think some kids are just ready for a bigger, more open space a lot earlier IYKWIM?
Hun I know how you feel. DH works nights and it is so exhausting doing it alone and then not getting any type of sleep in, and your DH then getting as good sloid block of a few hours during the day...drove me insane lol. Try the mnatress on the floor next to your bed, be patient wiht him. make the transition gentle. I used to feed DS 1 to sleep then move his to his bed.
Thanks girls for your suggestions. I'm glad to know that others have their babies sleep on them or on the fold out couch! lol
Thanks for the hugs tan32... I need them!
Infinity, I had thought about taking the mattress out of the cot. I think that could be an option.
Minimax, I love hearing that it will get better! I'm glad things are working for you with the toddler bed. I actually didn't even think of that as an option just because of his age, but 15 months isn't that far away...well I suppose it is when you're not getting enough sleep! lol That's definitely something for us to think about too for later in the year.
Boomba, thanks for your suggestions too. Ultimately, I think we will end up with the mattress on the floor, but I'm going to give the cot another go right next to me. Night shift is hard isn't it? That, along with having no other help at all and I feel like I'm losing my mind some days!
At the moment his cot is in his own room because there is no space in our bedroom, but we decided this weekend we will swap some furniture around so we can move it in next to our bed and see how we go with that. If that doesn't work then the mattress is coming out!!
Interesting in that last night DH was home and DS woke only once for about 15 minutes and that was it (although still not much sleep for me as he kept moving around and spent most of the night sideways!). I'm sure DH doesn't believe me when I say that he wakes constantly.
Good luck Megan.
Having you nearby might help.
We did the mattress on the floor and he's still there. Will be moving to a bed soon (hopefully). He has a queen-size mattress at the moment and a single bed would leave more room for furniture in there. We still have to lie with him to get him to bed. some nights he's happy on his onw, some nights he still needs us but we've had WAY more sleep since giving up on the cot.
Thanks Marcellus.
I've realised today that I have no one IRL who agrees with the gentle approach to sleep. I keep getting told to CIO. My best friend today who has older children and let them cry told me I have to do it or he'll never sleep. She wont let it go no matter how many times I say I'm not doing it and I'm not discussing it with her.
I have never criticised anyone else's parenting so why do others feel it's okay to do it to first time mothers? There's a big difference between giving supportive advice and telling people what they should be doing. I've been on the verge of tears most of the afternoon.
I want to convince myself that I'm doing the right thing - I have to believe it - to the exclusion of all other possibilities. If someone else does something different then they must be wrong. And I have to tell them about it to reinforce my correctness.
It's fundamentally about my insecurities and need for self validation.
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