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| Cosleeping Babywearing Breastfeeding |
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My son has recently turned one, and has been sleeping with my husband and I. He starts out the night in his own crib, but after his first or second night waking (depending on timing) he generally joins us for the remainder of the night. I have been enjoying the co-sleeping, and so has my husband. We are happy to to have our son sleep with us.
My problem is this: Lately, I have noticed that my son seems to sleep for longer stretches in his own crib. If he wakes up at 11:00 p.m. sometimes I will pull him into bed with us then, but sometimes I return him to his own crib. I put him in his own crib because, if I just went to bed myself, I have an easier time falling asleep if he is not there. On the nights that I return him to his own bed, he seems to sleep longer (say, 4 hours) then the nights he is in bed with me (say, 2/2.5 hours). I think my movement in my sleep might wake him up, or maybe he smells my milk, and wakes up for that (he is not night-weaned).
I guess I am wondering if I should put him in a crib all the time, if he is sleeping better there. I have become a fan of sleep sharing, so I am kind of reluctant to do so, but on the other hand, we started co-sleeping because that is how everyone got the most rest. If he is really sleeping better on his own, maybe we should transition him to a crib.
I wanted to ask people who felt good about sharing sleep what they would do if it were them. So, any advice? |
| Posted by Lisa on 12/19/2008 01:36 PM
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Hi, Lisa -
My husband and I absolutely LOVE co-sleeping/cuddling with our daughter (She is 15 months), but like you, we have gotten a little worried about the fact that she may not be getting as restful a night's sleep as she would if she were either on our bed by herself, or in her crib. She is a very light sleeper, and I am a thrasher. So I either have to stay awake through the night, not move/breathe/ or expect her to wake every 1 - 2hours.
However, the whole idea of leaving her in her cold and lonely crib (it is in our room) makes me cringe. So this is what we did last night - we pulled her crib right up to our guestroom bed so it would be flush with it. Removed the rail on that side, and made her bed seem continuous with ours (we are now sleeping in the guestroom to accomodate this arrangement). She slept for the longest stretches she ever has! EVER. It's great. This way, she sleeps, I can cuddle her when she briefly awakens, she can dig her fingers through my hair (her comfort position), and yet, I am free to toss in bed b/c the vibrations do not translate into movements in her crib. I am ecstatic.
Perhaps you can try something similar. Co-sleepers are the best way to co-cleep, yet not co-toss! :))
Hope this helps!
Indrani
PS: I would never give up on these precious years of night-time bonding. I would always feel like I missed out on something so important... |
| posted by runa on 12/19/2008 03:16 PM
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Thanks so much for your encouragement, Indrani. Your solution sounds like it worked perfectly in your family, but I am not sure how it can work for us. Our master bedroom is quite small, and there is no room for his crib next to our bed or even in our room! We only have the space for our bed, a tall and skinny dresser, and two small nightstands. His nursery is adjacent to our room, and I keep the bedroom doors open when he sleeps in his crib so I can hear him right away (I can even hear his breathing), but he is still in a separate room then... :-(
Thanks though, for your suggestion! I am going to keep brainstorming ways to be together yet not disturb his sleep. |
| posted by Lisa on 12/21/2008 03:42 PM
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