Cosleeping basics? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Cosleeping basics?

298
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 December 2012 - 21:21

I've been looking on here and generally googling and have found loads of theory and general effects etc but not much that's practical advice on cosleeping....

Was hoping to hear some of your experiences. I have a 16 month old and have been posting on and off about issues we've had since we moved. Long story short we've tried all sorts of things but it looks like she sleeps best when she sleeps with us and since neither of us mind for the moment she comes in with us when she wakes beyond a certain time of night. So I had some silly questions, sorry!

1. Where does baby go to sleep? Her bed or yours? Assuming they go to bed before us? Right now she goes to bed in her bed with one of us there and keeps waking up till she comes to our bed. Wondered if it makes more sense to put her down in ours. But then how do you manage to get ready for bed/wind down etc in your room?
2. How do you manage day naps? She's now waking up during those as well and I really can't sleep in the day firstly because I don't want to and secondly because I need to get stuff done.

Would be great if some of you co sleepers could share your routines.

Thanks :)

298
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 December 2012 - 07:05
Thanks ladies. I think I will keep putting her to bed in hers. It's a bit hit or miss at nights on how long she'll stay asleep there. Some nights it's longer so def not so bad. Not sure i can be organized enough to put her to bed in ours and have everything on hand that we need elsewhere. Seeing as she's quite clingy in the day, I often only get to do stuff like clean up and wash my hair etc only at night! As for the day naps... For the moment that's what I'm doing kiwispiers... Really would be nice to be able to get some work done and some alone time. Tried our room a few times with pillows and monitor etc. she slept great for a cpl days then its back to waking up every sleep cycle. Oh well!
2782
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 December 2012 - 19:39
I guess there are two catagories of co-sleepers, those that do it because they feel its the best, and those that do it out of convenience. We fell into the latter, co-sleeping equalled more sleep for everyone so it made sense. My son had his own crib and room which we used for day naps, and he went down there at night and came into bed with me (I slept in his room and my husband slept in our room) at first waking. This did make it easier to transition him out of co-sleeping when he was older (around 10 months) as it was me moving out rather than him changing rooms. He has been fine going down by himself since then (he's now 28 months) but a couple of weeks ago he had a fright and has been scared to fall asleep alone since, so we lie down in a single bed which we have next to his cot until he goes to sleep. Maybe you could try a similar scenario, set up a bed in her room and on of you could sleep with her, and still keep your bedroom with all your clothes etc. Given her age, she doesn't really need a cot anymore anyway so if you just made her room safe, you could buy a double bed for it, put a guard rail on the side and eventually try and transition so she sleeps there alone? Re daytime naps, during the last few weeks I have had to lie down with my son I've basically used the time to do my emailing, facebooking, EWing etc, can you just stay in the room with her and not sleep?
1618
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 18 December 2012 - 16:48
My daughter would sleep in our bed from falling asleep till morning. My son slept in his bed till he woke up then came into ours. My other son will only sleep in his cot in our room. We would get ready for bed in the spare bathroom. Day naps I found that if I put them to sleep in our bed surrounded by pillows they wouldn't wake up till they were ready.
297
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 December 2012 - 11:29
At 16 months my dd's crib was still in our room so she would go to sleep there and would later transfer to our bed when she woke in the middle of the night at maybe 3 or 4 o clock. Daynaps were taken in her crib. I didn't want to leave her unattended in our bed as it is quite high, even if during that time the bed was pushed up against the wall on my side to prevent her falling out at night. They do have phases where they have a hard time to settle to sleep and stay asleep on their own, often the night time waking comes from them seeking comfort and assurance from their parents. I don't have any tips on helping her settle easier, I nursed mine to sleep and when she was weaned quite a while after we stopped co sleeping (our bed got too small) and then just fixing her blanket and patting her back would do the trick
 
 

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