My one year old is stuck in my bed! - First Time Moms - Post

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My one year old is stuck in my bed!

Annie

Kehlson has never been a good sleeper. He did "sleep though the night" until he was five months old. To make a long story short, we bought a house in April. I put him in bed with me. His room was on a different floor then ours, and I didn't want him to be up there all alone. Now I can't get him out of my bed. He wakes me up several times at night. Sometimes for a bottle. We have tried to let him cry it out. He throughs up on himself and is totally terrified! He won't let anyone but me and my mother put him to bed either. I have also tried to get him to sleep and then put him in his crib, but he wakes up. He is a very light sleeper. I am exhausted! Please, if anyone has any advice I would be glad to hear it!
See also: sleep
Posted by Annie on 10/14/2010 10:16 PM

Vanessa

Hi, Annie. We went through something very similar with our seventeen month old. Here are a few suggestions. Spend plenty of play time in his room so he is comfortable there before bedtime. Try to stick to a fairly strict schedule and bedtime routine. I try to keep my sons sleep schedule from varying no more than a half an hour and not even that if I can help it. My sister mocks me for the schedule when she comes to visit but it really made a big difference for my son. For our son it was two problems - couldn't fall asleep on his own and wouldn't sleep in his own bed. I didn't want to tackle both at once. It was too much for him and me. So at eighteen months old we're still rocking to sleep every night and nap. That's okay though, I'll figure that one out next. Consistently try to attempt to put him in his own bed every night even if it seems futile. If you head straight to your bed without trying he isn't given the chance to understand that he belongs in his own bed. Put him down for his naps in his crib as well. So he understands this is where I sleep. Although that one might be easier said than done. This one may sound strange but does he understand where his room is in relation to yours. My husband and mines bedroom is a half a story up from my sons. I let him walk/crawl the stairs between the two in the hopes that he knows mommy isn't too far away at bedtime. My last piece of advice is try sleeping in his room so at least he isn't getting so comfy in your bed. Let him sleep on an air mattress on the floor with you so at least he is sleeping in his bedroom. You know baby steps . Get use to the room then move on to the crib. That one was going to be my last resort but we never ended up making it that far. Well I hope something I wrote will be useful for you. If not just know that I have all the sympathy in the world for you. My little boy has only been doing really good - eleven hours straight through in his own bed - for about two weeks now so it feels a little strange to give someone else advice. I'm new to the site but if you have questions or want to talk I'm here.
posted by Vanessa on 10/15/2010 04:35 PM

Annie

Thank you so much Vanessa for taking the time to help us! I am going to try several of the things that you suggested. We have thought about putting an air mattress in his room, but haven't yet. I do keep him on a very tight schedule, his dad call me a nazi. I agree with not try to battle both him falling asleep on his own and sleeping is his bed at the same time. It's just too much. I think I just need to get my mind made up that it has to happen and do it. Eleven hours sounds like heaven compared to five of six. Congrats to you for winning the battle. Now it's my turn.

Thanks again,

Annie

posted by Annie on 10/15/2010 10:28 PM

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