As others have said - best to make a decision when you get there. I had thought I would put DD in her own room when we were home. But she came early and after having her in the neonates I just wanted her beside me when we came home. Rather then buy a bassinet we just got a porta cot with the bassinet level and change table that attaches on the top. We knew we needed a portacot for our lifestyle anyway so this was best option for us. We slept her at the end of our bed.
Good luck, and don't stress to much over it. Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy.
My DD is 9 months old now and is in a cot in our room. She was in a bassinette (borrowed one, maybe try to do that too as they are in one for such a short time really) until about 4 months, we were going to put her in a cot in her room after then but it didn't feel right, so we moved the cot into our room (and a few things out of our room to fit the cot in).
On the whole noise business - newborns seem to sleep loudly, they make funny noises, fart in their sleep and it is hard to get used to having another person in the room. Also, don't be afraid of waking up Dad!! I'm probably going against the grain here but I think that the baby and the responsibility belongs to both of you, and even though Dad goes to work full time that isn't a reason to not do any of the baby caring while they are at home and that includes getting up at night. Obviously they can't breastfeed them but my DH got the baby up, changed her nappy and gave her to me to feed, then went back to sleep in the first few months when she was feeding three hourly around the clock. He still helps now. I think that trying to do everything and not expecting dad to help out (not just when it suits them either) it a bad way to start. Just my opinion anyway (and my DH works full time too, I now work part time but didn't in the beginning), just do what feels right for your family. Best wishes for your pregnancy.
Hi Niz
I am sure you will work out what is best for you, baby and hubby when bubs comes home.
My DD is still in our room and will be until she is at least one (which is a SIDs recommendation). Hubby generally sleeps through when she wakes and I find it easier with her right next to me to wake and attend to her before she gets to the stage of crying with hunger etc (I tend to hear her noises/signals and wake usually just at the right time). I also find it very comforting knowing she is next to me. Initially she had a bassinette but we ended up buying a cradle (boori country brand) The really wonderful thing with a cradle is that 1. it is longer and bigger than a bassinette (90 cm long compared to 60 cm for bassinette) which means baby can stay in it a lot longer - but it is smaller than cot (and newborn would be lost in a cot) 2. easy to rock when she needs a bit more help getting off to sleep. So highly recommend a cradle rather than a bassinette. DD is still in it and loves it.
Anyway best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy. Just do what feels right for you and your family - you will be fine
The best advice that I read was to keep night times as night times. Meaning as 'low-key' as possible. From day one in the hospital I turned on a very dim night light to change dd nappy and feed her. I never got up and turned the main lights on. I kept nice and quiet too. I did the same once we got home. We never had problems with DD up all night and asleep all day. Shes always slept very well of a night and I think because there was a key difference. We had dd in a bassinet in our room, which she grew out of by 3 months, shes now 5 months old and in a cot in our room. I'm thinking about putting her in her own room in a month or two, but its just so handy having her right next to me. Its easier for breastfeeds, no going to another room. Oh and once you have your baby you can just put a towel underneath them and change them on the bed. It might wake them more taking them to another room. Newborns can be quiet noisy sleepers but we soon got used to dd sleeping in the same room. We were able to get to her quickly before she woke too much and cried. So she always went back to sleep easily. this worked for us anyway. You will work out what is best for you once your bub is here. goodluck
I'd always wanted to co-sleep, but when it came down to it, we were in a tiny one bed apartment with a really small double bed, and we were just slept badly when DD was in our bed. Though when she was a newborn, bad sleep (with her in our bed) was better than no sleep (trying to get her to stay alseep after we put her in her moses basket).
Her moses basket was in our room, right next to the alarm clock and DH never managed to wake her. Still doesn't wake and she's 4.5 months old and has trouble going down for a sleep. DH sleeps through most things though he does sleep-settle, like sleep walking only says things like "shh it;s ok shh" in his sleep when DD cries! Quite funny. But that depends on how your baby and DH sleep.
I'd read that if you didn't want your baby to sleep with you for years, then you should try to move them to their own cot by 3 months. She hated her cot at first, but by 2 months, she liked it better than her moses basket and spent most of the night in her cot. By 3 months, she spent all night in her cot (most nights).
Though if we had a bigger bed, I think I would bring her to our cot more often. There is nothing like waking up and getting a huge smile, a giggle and a squirm from your baby in the morning when they (and you) first wake up. Even if you don't co-sleep, if you can see her in her cot from your bed, this is lovely.
Anyhow, I'm sure you'll come up with the method(s) that work the best for you and your family. You're thinking about all the right things. ALl the best xoxo
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