co-sleeping issues

[rubyroselee]

Hi there,

My son had a severe choking/gagging problem when he was a newborn (from reflux) where he would gag for over a minute and lose his breath. It scared the heck out of us. So we were too afraid to even put him in a port-a-crib in the bedroom, let alone his crib, because he wasn't close enough for us to hear him gagging. So we ended up co-sleeping with him. We would prop him up on a bunch of pillows in between us so we wouldn't roll over on him and he didn't move enough at that time where he could fall off the pillows. We really had no choice because of his gagging problem. But we should've bought one of those mini-bed things that you put in between you and your partner and it has little rails on the side so you can't roll over on the baby. We might get one for the next baby.

But yes, it is so hard to get a good night's rest when the baby needs to breastfeed every 1-3 hrs. That's why it's good to have the baby closeby.

The literature and doctors I have talked to say not to feed the rice until 12+ weeks. There is a risk for baby to be overweight and have problems with their stomach if you introduce it too early. Also, when you do start it, I would suggest doing it with a spoon rather than in the bottle. Babies who drink formula with rice in their bottle will get fuller quicker, resulting in more chance for eating too much/spitting up.

Just remember though, the first months are the hardest on your sleep routine. Once my son was about 3 months things got a lot better. He slept more through the night, ate less often, and was able to sleep more indepedently. Not all babies are the same, but it does get better!!!

Good luck and try to get some quality sleep when you can <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Leah 26 w/CF, mom to non-biological son, attempting to get pregnant with IUI

 

[rubyroselee]

Hi there,

My son had a severe choking/gagging problem when he was a newborn (from reflux) where he would gag for over a minute and lose his breath. It scared the heck out of us. So we were too afraid to even put him in a port-a-crib in the bedroom, let alone his crib, because he wasn't close enough for us to hear him gagging. So we ended up co-sleeping with him. We would prop him up on a bunch of pillows in between us so we wouldn't roll over on him and he didn't move enough at that time where he could fall off the pillows. We really had no choice because of his gagging problem. But we should've bought one of those mini-bed things that you put in between you and your partner and it has little rails on the side so you can't roll over on the baby. We might get one for the next baby.

But yes, it is so hard to get a good night's rest when the baby needs to breastfeed every 1-3 hrs. That's why it's good to have the baby closeby.

The literature and doctors I have talked to say not to feed the rice until 12+ weeks. There is a risk for baby to be overweight and have problems with their stomach if you introduce it too early. Also, when you do start it, I would suggest doing it with a spoon rather than in the bottle. Babies who drink formula with rice in their bottle will get fuller quicker, resulting in more chance for eating too much/spitting up.

Just remember though, the first months are the hardest on your sleep routine. Once my son was about 3 months things got a lot better. He slept more through the night, ate less often, and was able to sleep more indepedently. Not all babies are the same, but it does get better!!!

Good luck and try to get some quality sleep when you can <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Leah 26 w/CF, mom to non-biological son, attempting to get pregnant with IUI

 

[rubyroselee]

Hi there,

My son had a severe choking/gagging problem when he was a newborn (from reflux) where he would gag for over a minute and lose his breath. It scared the heck out of us. So we were too afraid to even put him in a port-a-crib in the bedroom, let alone his crib, because he wasn't close enough for us to hear him gagging. So we ended up co-sleeping with him. We would prop him up on a bunch of pillows in between us so we wouldn't roll over on him and he didn't move enough at that time where he could fall off the pillows. We really had no choice because of his gagging problem. But we should've bought one of those mini-bed things that you put in between you and your partner and it has little rails on the side so you can't roll over on the baby. We might get one for the next baby.

But yes, it is so hard to get a good night's rest when the baby needs to breastfeed every 1-3 hrs. That's why it's good to have the baby closeby.

The literature and doctors I have talked to say not to feed the rice until 12+ weeks. There is a risk for baby to be overweight and have problems with their stomach if you introduce it too early. Also, when you do start it, I would suggest doing it with a spoon rather than in the bottle. Babies who drink formula with rice in their bottle will get fuller quicker, resulting in more chance for eating too much/spitting up.

Just remember though, the first months are the hardest on your sleep routine. Once my son was about 3 months things got a lot better. He slept more through the night, ate less often, and was able to sleep more indepedently. Not all babies are the same, but it does get better!!!

Good luck and try to get some quality sleep when you can <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Leah 26 w/CF, mom to non-biological son, attempting to get pregnant with IUI

 

[rubyroselee]

Hi there,

My son had a severe choking/gagging problem when he was a newborn (from reflux) where he would gag for over a minute and lose his breath. It scared the heck out of us. So we were too afraid to even put him in a port-a-crib in the bedroom, let alone his crib, because he wasn't close enough for us to hear him gagging. So we ended up co-sleeping with him. We would prop him up on a bunch of pillows in between us so we wouldn't roll over on him and he didn't move enough at that time where he could fall off the pillows. We really had no choice because of his gagging problem. But we should've bought one of those mini-bed things that you put in between you and your partner and it has little rails on the side so you can't roll over on the baby. We might get one for the next baby.

But yes, it is so hard to get a good night's rest when the baby needs to breastfeed every 1-3 hrs. That's why it's good to have the baby closeby.

The literature and doctors I have talked to say not to feed the rice until 12+ weeks. There is a risk for baby to be overweight and have problems with their stomach if you introduce it too early. Also, when you do start it, I would suggest doing it with a spoon rather than in the bottle. Babies who drink formula with rice in their bottle will get fuller quicker, resulting in more chance for eating too much/spitting up.

Just remember though, the first months are the hardest on your sleep routine. Once my son was about 3 months things got a lot better. He slept more through the night, ate less often, and was able to sleep more indepedently. Not all babies are the same, but it does get better!!!

Good luck and try to get some quality sleep when you can <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Leah 26 w/CF, mom to non-biological son, attempting to get pregnant with IUI

 

[rubyroselee]

Hi there,

My son had a severe choking/gagging problem when he was a newborn (from reflux) where he would gag for over a minute and lose his breath. It scared the heck out of us. So we were too afraid to even put him in a port-a-crib in the bedroom, let alone his crib, because he wasn't close enough for us to hear him gagging. So we ended up co-sleeping with him. We would prop him up on a bunch of pillows in between us so we wouldn't roll over on him and he didn't move enough at that time where he could fall off the pillows. We really had no choice because of his gagging problem. But we should've bought one of those mini-bed things that you put in between you and your partner and it has little rails on the side so you can't roll over on the baby. We might get one for the next baby.

But yes, it is so hard to get a good night's rest when the baby needs to breastfeed every 1-3 hrs. That's why it's good to have the baby closeby.

The literature and doctors I have talked to say not to feed the rice until 12+ weeks. There is a risk for baby to be overweight and have problems with their stomach if you introduce it too early. Also, when you do start it, I would suggest doing it with a spoon rather than in the bottle. Babies who drink formula with rice in their bottle will get fuller quicker, resulting in more chance for eating too much/spitting up.

Just remember though, the first months are the hardest on your sleep routine. Once my son was about 3 months things got a lot better. He slept more through the night, ate less often, and was able to sleep more indepedently. Not all babies are the same, but it does get better!!!

Good luck and try to get some quality sleep when you can <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Leah 26 w/CF, mom to non-biological son, attempting to get pregnant with IUI

 

[LouLou]

I highly suggest the book <i>Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child</i>. Everyone comments what a pleasant baby Isaac is and how he's so happy. Although I think some of it is his personality, he is a very well rested boy. Some might say I'm "lucky" but I've spent a lot of time analyzing his sleep and doing my best to help him be a good sleeper. Studies have shown that the brain develops most during sleep so I feel it is my duty to help him be a good sleeper.

He sleeps 12 hours at night and 2-3 1/2 hours during the day. He is beginning now to have more of a routine with his afternoon nap and his am nap has been predictably 9:30 or 10 to 10:30 or 11 for quite some time. THose of you with older babes when did their afternoon nap get set to clock time? and does your baby still to the late afternoon variable nap?

Sleep definitely bequests sleep. Keeping the baby up and denying naps will not make a baby sleep through the night more.

From birht we had him sleep in the Arms Reach Co-sleeper on hubby's side. Our routine was for hubby to get up and change the diaper and then bring him back to bed for me to nurse him. With this routine we hoped that baby would associate hubby as a provider of the food as well. I enjoyed nursing in the glider though so most nights I'd meet the boys in the nursery during diaper change and feed Isaac in there. Then it was back to the co-sleeper. At 3 weeks we introduced one bottle of ebm each evening fed by daddy. After 3-4 weeks we moved the co-sleeper away from the bed. This was when breastfeeding became easy and very enjoyeable. By 6 weeks he no longer enjoyed swaddling. By 7 weeks his movement noises during the night annoyed me. Swaddling is wonderful. We felt lucky to him enjoy it for 6 weeks and I think this is largely why he is such a relaxed sleeper / not fearful. At 8 weeks we moved the co-sleeper into the nursery and one week later he logged his first night of uninterupted sleep (9.5 hours). Then a week later we introduced him to the crib because he had outgrown the Co-sleeper and was annoyed with touching the sides. He probably would have enjoyed being out of the co-sleeper a week or two earlier but I didn't want to make too many changes at once (co-sleeper to crib and from our room to his). It was around this time that I crept his bedtime back to between 8 and 9pm. He'd eat before his bedtime then would sleep until 4 or 5 am. If he went earlier than that that evening I'd feed him before I went to bed by waking him for a feed. We carried on like this for a few weeks and then I pushed his bedtime back to between 7 & 8. At 3 months of age he started sleeping every night through the night 12 hours. Still only breastmilk and no waking him to feed him. Feed at 6-7pm, then sleep until feed at 6-7am. This coincided with my return to work. Funny how God gives you what you can handle. Now this carried on for a few weeks and all of November he has been waking 30% of nights usually around 3 or 4. I feed him and he is back to sleep. I am not sure what is up with him night waking. Since I know he is good at putting himself back to sleep I think he is hungry so I'm happy to feed him but now that it's carried on for a few weeks I broke it to hubby a few nights ago that he needs to take everyother night. Personally I think he's waking because his afternoon nap is being disrupted but that's another story that I'm not going to get into here. Maybe its because he needs to eat and God didn't have me waking in early Oct. because I needed my sleep to get back into the rhythm of work, who knows....he works in mysterious ways.

For me co-sleeping was not a priority. I considered it for the scenerio that my sleep was poor because I wasn't able to sleep well without my baby as some of you have mentioned. Well I never experienced that. I enjoy my private sleep. I'm not much of a snuggler in bed either. I can only sleep on my left side due to lung bleeding. also sleep with a wedge. Even napping with Isaac I found disruptive because he wiggles in his sleep. I do enjoy napping with him though. For me, the biggest risk in my mind of having a baby was disrupting my sleep so I've made it a priority to get my sleep since he was born. Now I have lower lung function than most of you so I'm sure that's part of the reason I can't tolerate not sleeping. For me, Isaac and hubby it's a no brainer not to co-sleep. I associate mommy's disrupted night sleep with fewer nights of sleeping here on earth with my 2 boys as depressing as that sounds. If I'd lost much more sleep than I did we probably would have had to hire a night nurse. I felt very sleep deprived even with his excellent track record.

I feed him on demand by breast when I'm home. I am gone 9-5 and he is fed expressed milk by bottle during that time. I have a $200 baby monitor that I was given as a gift that I didn't even take out of the box. I feel it's mothers instinct to hear her baby. He's just next door. When I experienced waking due to his movements in my room at 6-7 weeks old I knew then the monitor was not something I wanted. I also sleep with an air purifier on that makes significant noise and ***drum roll*** ear plugs. Now granted I live in the inner city of Philadelphia. I hear Isaac cry over all of these noise reduction tools. I hear phantom noises enough as it is, I don't know how any mother gets a good night of sleep with a monitor next to her. Maybe I'm just a light sleeper.

Isaac is now 18 lbs. He was around 12 at Amelia's age. Do get the book - I guarantee you it will help and at the very least you'll understand baby sleep so much more. And it doesn't make you do the cry out method (extinction is what it's called). There's also "graduated extinction" and "check and console." Extinction offers the least crying in the long run though so that is what we went with. He rarely crys now and when he does it's not usually to do with sleep but rather to let me know he's hungry. You do need a method though for consistancy sake. Unfortunately letting babies dictate their own sleep can mean some trying battles for years to come. With my cf we knew we couldn't have that. I entered into studying baby sleep for selfish reasons, then realized it would prolong my life which isn't so selfish, then I learned that lost sleep is lost forever so by helping him be a good sleeper he'll reap many benefits.

 

[LouLou]

I highly suggest the book <i>Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child</i>. Everyone comments what a pleasant baby Isaac is and how he's so happy. Although I think some of it is his personality, he is a very well rested boy. Some might say I'm "lucky" but I've spent a lot of time analyzing his sleep and doing my best to help him be a good sleeper. Studies have shown that the brain develops most during sleep so I feel it is my duty to help him be a good sleeper.

He sleeps 12 hours at night and 2-3 1/2 hours during the day. He is beginning now to have more of a routine with his afternoon nap and his am nap has been predictably 9:30 or 10 to 10:30 or 11 for quite some time. THose of you with older babes when did their afternoon nap get set to clock time? and does your baby still to the late afternoon variable nap?

Sleep definitely bequests sleep. Keeping the baby up and denying naps will not make a baby sleep through the night more.

From birht we had him sleep in the Arms Reach Co-sleeper on hubby's side. Our routine was for hubby to get up and change the diaper and then bring him back to bed for me to nurse him. With this routine we hoped that baby would associate hubby as a provider of the food as well. I enjoyed nursing in the glider though so most nights I'd meet the boys in the nursery during diaper change and feed Isaac in there. Then it was back to the co-sleeper. At 3 weeks we introduced one bottle of ebm each evening fed by daddy. After 3-4 weeks we moved the co-sleeper away from the bed. This was when breastfeeding became easy and very enjoyeable. By 6 weeks he no longer enjoyed swaddling. By 7 weeks his movement noises during the night annoyed me. Swaddling is wonderful. We felt lucky to him enjoy it for 6 weeks and I think this is largely why he is such a relaxed sleeper / not fearful. At 8 weeks we moved the co-sleeper into the nursery and one week later he logged his first night of uninterupted sleep (9.5 hours). Then a week later we introduced him to the crib because he had outgrown the Co-sleeper and was annoyed with touching the sides. He probably would have enjoyed being out of the co-sleeper a week or two earlier but I didn't want to make too many changes at once (co-sleeper to crib and from our room to his). It was around this time that I crept his bedtime back to between 8 and 9pm. He'd eat before his bedtime then would sleep until 4 or 5 am. If he went earlier than that that evening I'd feed him before I went to bed by waking him for a feed. We carried on like this for a few weeks and then I pushed his bedtime back to between 7 & 8. At 3 months of age he started sleeping every night through the night 12 hours. Still only breastmilk and no waking him to feed him. Feed at 6-7pm, then sleep until feed at 6-7am. This coincided with my return to work. Funny how God gives you what you can handle. Now this carried on for a few weeks and all of November he has been waking 30% of nights usually around 3 or 4. I feed him and he is back to sleep. I am not sure what is up with him night waking. Since I know he is good at putting himself back to sleep I think he is hungry so I'm happy to feed him but now that it's carried on for a few weeks I broke it to hubby a few nights ago that he needs to take everyother night. Personally I think he's waking because his afternoon nap is being disrupted but that's another story that I'm not going to get into here. Maybe its because he needs to eat and God didn't have me waking in early Oct. because I needed my sleep to get back into the rhythm of work, who knows....he works in mysterious ways.

For me co-sleeping was not a priority. I considered it for the scenerio that my sleep was poor because I wasn't able to sleep well without my baby as some of you have mentioned. Well I never experienced that. I enjoy my private sleep. I'm not much of a snuggler in bed either. I can only sleep on my left side due to lung bleeding. also sleep with a wedge. Even napping with Isaac I found disruptive because he wiggles in his sleep. I do enjoy napping with him though. For me, the biggest risk in my mind of having a baby was disrupting my sleep so I've made it a priority to get my sleep since he was born. Now I have lower lung function than most of you so I'm sure that's part of the reason I can't tolerate not sleeping. For me, Isaac and hubby it's a no brainer not to co-sleep. I associate mommy's disrupted night sleep with fewer nights of sleeping here on earth with my 2 boys as depressing as that sounds. If I'd lost much more sleep than I did we probably would have had to hire a night nurse. I felt very sleep deprived even with his excellent track record.

I feed him on demand by breast when I'm home. I am gone 9-5 and he is fed expressed milk by bottle during that time. I have a $200 baby monitor that I was given as a gift that I didn't even take out of the box. I feel it's mothers instinct to hear her baby. He's just next door. When I experienced waking due to his movements in my room at 6-7 weeks old I knew then the monitor was not something I wanted. I also sleep with an air purifier on that makes significant noise and ***drum roll*** ear plugs. Now granted I live in the inner city of Philadelphia. I hear Isaac cry over all of these noise reduction tools. I hear phantom noises enough as it is, I don't know how any mother gets a good night of sleep with a monitor next to her. Maybe I'm just a light sleeper.

Isaac is now 18 lbs. He was around 12 at Amelia's age. Do get the book - I guarantee you it will help and at the very least you'll understand baby sleep so much more. And it doesn't make you do the cry out method (extinction is what it's called). There's also "graduated extinction" and "check and console." Extinction offers the least crying in the long run though so that is what we went with. He rarely crys now and when he does it's not usually to do with sleep but rather to let me know he's hungry. You do need a method though for consistancy sake. Unfortunately letting babies dictate their own sleep can mean some trying battles for years to come. With my cf we knew we couldn't have that. I entered into studying baby sleep for selfish reasons, then realized it would prolong my life which isn't so selfish, then I learned that lost sleep is lost forever so by helping him be a good sleeper he'll reap many benefits.

 

[LouLou]

I highly suggest the book <i>Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child</i>. Everyone comments what a pleasant baby Isaac is and how he's so happy. Although I think some of it is his personality, he is a very well rested boy. Some might say I'm "lucky" but I've spent a lot of time analyzing his sleep and doing my best to help him be a good sleeper. Studies have shown that the brain develops most during sleep so I feel it is my duty to help him be a good sleeper.

He sleeps 12 hours at night and 2-3 1/2 hours during the day. He is beginning now to have more of a routine with his afternoon nap and his am nap has been predictably 9:30 or 10 to 10:30 or 11 for quite some time. THose of you with older babes when did their afternoon nap get set to clock time? and does your baby still to the late afternoon variable nap?

Sleep definitely bequests sleep. Keeping the baby up and denying naps will not make a baby sleep through the night more.

From birht we had him sleep in the Arms Reach Co-sleeper on hubby's side. Our routine was for hubby to get up and change the diaper and then bring him back to bed for me to nurse him. With this routine we hoped that baby would associate hubby as a provider of the food as well. I enjoyed nursing in the glider though so most nights I'd meet the boys in the nursery during diaper change and feed Isaac in there. Then it was back to the co-sleeper. At 3 weeks we introduced one bottle of ebm each evening fed by daddy. After 3-4 weeks we moved the co-sleeper away from the bed. This was when breastfeeding became easy and very enjoyeable. By 6 weeks he no longer enjoyed swaddling. By 7 weeks his movement noises during the night annoyed me. Swaddling is wonderful. We felt lucky to him enjoy it for 6 weeks and I think this is largely why he is such a relaxed sleeper / not fearful. At 8 weeks we moved the co-sleeper into the nursery and one week later he logged his first night of uninterupted sleep (9.5 hours). Then a week later we introduced him to the crib because he had outgrown the Co-sleeper and was annoyed with touching the sides. He probably would have enjoyed being out of the co-sleeper a week or two earlier but I didn't want to make too many changes at once (co-sleeper to crib and from our room to his). It was around this time that I crept his bedtime back to between 8 and 9pm. He'd eat before his bedtime then would sleep until 4 or 5 am. If he went earlier than that that evening I'd feed him before I went to bed by waking him for a feed. We carried on like this for a few weeks and then I pushed his bedtime back to between 7 & 8. At 3 months of age he started sleeping every night through the night 12 hours. Still only breastmilk and no waking him to feed him. Feed at 6-7pm, then sleep until feed at 6-7am. This coincided with my return to work. Funny how God gives you what you can handle. Now this carried on for a few weeks and all of November he has been waking 30% of nights usually around 3 or 4. I feed him and he is back to sleep. I am not sure what is up with him night waking. Since I know he is good at putting himself back to sleep I think he is hungry so I'm happy to feed him but now that it's carried on for a few weeks I broke it to hubby a few nights ago that he needs to take everyother night. Personally I think he's waking because his afternoon nap is being disrupted but that's another story that I'm not going to get into here. Maybe its because he needs to eat and God didn't have me waking in early Oct. because I needed my sleep to get back into the rhythm of work, who knows....he works in mysterious ways.

For me co-sleeping was not a priority. I considered it for the scenerio that my sleep was poor because I wasn't able to sleep well without my baby as some of you have mentioned. Well I never experienced that. I enjoy my private sleep. I'm not much of a snuggler in bed either. I can only sleep on my left side due to lung bleeding. also sleep with a wedge. Even napping with Isaac I found disruptive because he wiggles in his sleep. I do enjoy napping with him though. For me, the biggest risk in my mind of having a baby was disrupting my sleep so I've made it a priority to get my sleep since he was born. Now I have lower lung function than most of you so I'm sure that's part of the reason I can't tolerate not sleeping. For me, Isaac and hubby it's a no brainer not to co-sleep. I associate mommy's disrupted night sleep with fewer nights of sleeping here on earth with my 2 boys as depressing as that sounds. If I'd lost much more sleep than I did we probably would have had to hire a night nurse. I felt very sleep deprived even with his excellent track record.

I feed him on demand by breast when I'm home. I am gone 9-5 and he is fed expressed milk by bottle during that time. I have a $200 baby monitor that I was given as a gift that I didn't even take out of the box. I feel it's mothers instinct to hear her baby. He's just next door. When I experienced waking due to his movements in my room at 6-7 weeks old I knew then the monitor was not something I wanted. I also sleep with an air purifier on that makes significant noise and ***drum roll*** ear plugs. Now granted I live in the inner city of Philadelphia. I hear Isaac cry over all of these noise reduction tools. I hear phantom noises enough as it is, I don't know how any mother gets a good night of sleep with a monitor next to her. Maybe I'm just a light sleeper.

Isaac is now 18 lbs. He was around 12 at Amelia's age. Do get the book - I guarantee you it will help and at the very least you'll understand baby sleep so much more. And it doesn't make you do the cry out method (extinction is what it's called). There's also "graduated extinction" and "check and console." Extinction offers the least crying in the long run though so that is what we went with. He rarely crys now and when he does it's not usually to do with sleep but rather to let me know he's hungry. You do need a method though for consistancy sake. Unfortunately letting babies dictate their own sleep can mean some trying battles for years to come. With my cf we knew we couldn't have that. I entered into studying baby sleep for selfish reasons, then realized it would prolong my life which isn't so selfish, then I learned that lost sleep is lost forever so by helping him be a good sleeper he'll reap many benefits.

 

[LouLou]

I highly suggest the book <i>Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child</i>. Everyone comments what a pleasant baby Isaac is and how he's so happy. Although I think some of it is his personality, he is a very well rested boy. Some might say I'm "lucky" but I've spent a lot of time analyzing his sleep and doing my best to help him be a good sleeper. Studies have shown that the brain develops most during sleep so I feel it is my duty to help him be a good sleeper.

He sleeps 12 hours at night and 2-3 1/2 hours during the day. He is beginning now to have more of a routine with his afternoon nap and his am nap has been predictably 9:30 or 10 to 10:30 or 11 for quite some time. THose of you with older babes when did their afternoon nap get set to clock time? and does your baby still to the late afternoon variable nap?

Sleep definitely bequests sleep. Keeping the baby up and denying naps will not make a baby sleep through the night more.

From birht we had him sleep in the Arms Reach Co-sleeper on hubby's side. Our routine was for hubby to get up and change the diaper and then bring him back to bed for me to nurse him. With this routine we hoped that baby would associate hubby as a provider of the food as well. I enjoyed nursing in the glider though so most nights I'd meet the boys in the nursery during diaper change and feed Isaac in there. Then it was back to the co-sleeper. At 3 weeks we introduced one bottle of ebm each evening fed by daddy. After 3-4 weeks we moved the co-sleeper away from the bed. This was when breastfeeding became easy and very enjoyeable. By 6 weeks he no longer enjoyed swaddling. By 7 weeks his movement noises during the night annoyed me. Swaddling is wonderful. We felt lucky to him enjoy it for 6 weeks and I think this is largely why he is such a relaxed sleeper / not fearful. At 8 weeks we moved the co-sleeper into the nursery and one week later he logged his first night of uninterupted sleep (9.5 hours). Then a week later we introduced him to the crib because he had outgrown the Co-sleeper and was annoyed with touching the sides. He probably would have enjoyed being out of the co-sleeper a week or two earlier but I didn't want to make too many changes at once (co-sleeper to crib and from our room to his). It was around this time that I crept his bedtime back to between 8 and 9pm. He'd eat before his bedtime then would sleep until 4 or 5 am. If he went earlier than that that evening I'd feed him before I went to bed by waking him for a feed. We carried on like this for a few weeks and then I pushed his bedtime back to between 7 & 8. At 3 months of age he started sleeping every night through the night 12 hours. Still only breastmilk and no waking him to feed him. Feed at 6-7pm, then sleep until feed at 6-7am. This coincided with my return to work. Funny how God gives you what you can handle. Now this carried on for a few weeks and all of November he has been waking 30% of nights usually around 3 or 4. I feed him and he is back to sleep. I am not sure what is up with him night waking. Since I know he is good at putting himself back to sleep I think he is hungry so I'm happy to feed him but now that it's carried on for a few weeks I broke it to hubby a few nights ago that he needs to take everyother night. Personally I think he's waking because his afternoon nap is being disrupted but that's another story that I'm not going to get into here. Maybe its because he needs to eat and God didn't have me waking in early Oct. because I needed my sleep to get back into the rhythm of work, who knows....he works in mysterious ways.

For me co-sleeping was not a priority. I considered it for the scenerio that my sleep was poor because I wasn't able to sleep well without my baby as some of you have mentioned. Well I never experienced that. I enjoy my private sleep. I'm not much of a snuggler in bed either. I can only sleep on my left side due to lung bleeding. also sleep with a wedge. Even napping with Isaac I found disruptive because he wiggles in his sleep. I do enjoy napping with him though. For me, the biggest risk in my mind of having a baby was disrupting my sleep so I've made it a priority to get my sleep since he was born. Now I have lower lung function than most of you so I'm sure that's part of the reason I can't tolerate not sleeping. For me, Isaac and hubby it's a no brainer not to co-sleep. I associate mommy's disrupted night sleep with fewer nights of sleeping here on earth with my 2 boys as depressing as that sounds. If I'd lost much more sleep than I did we probably would have had to hire a night nurse. I felt very sleep deprived even with his excellent track record.

I feed him on demand by breast when I'm home. I am gone 9-5 and he is fed expressed milk by bottle during that time. I have a $200 baby monitor that I was given as a gift that I didn't even take out of the box. I feel it's mothers instinct to hear her baby. He's just next door. When I experienced waking due to his movements in my room at 6-7 weeks old I knew then the monitor was not something I wanted. I also sleep with an air purifier on that makes significant noise and ***drum roll*** ear plugs. Now granted I live in the inner city of Philadelphia. I hear Isaac cry over all of these noise reduction tools. I hear phantom noises enough as it is, I don't know how any mother gets a good night of sleep with a monitor next to her. Maybe I'm just a light sleeper.

Isaac is now 18 lbs. He was around 12 at Amelia's age. Do get the book - I guarantee you it will help and at the very least you'll understand baby sleep so much more. And it doesn't make you do the cry out method (extinction is what it's called). There's also "graduated extinction" and "check and console." Extinction offers the least crying in the long run though so that is what we went with. He rarely crys now and when he does it's not usually to do with sleep but rather to let me know he's hungry. You do need a method though for consistancy sake. Unfortunately letting babies dictate their own sleep can mean some trying battles for years to come. With my cf we knew we couldn't have that. I entered into studying baby sleep for selfish reasons, then realized it would prolong my life which isn't so selfish, then I learned that lost sleep is lost forever so by helping him be a good sleeper he'll reap many benefits.

 

[LouLou]

I highly suggest the book <i>Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child</i>. Everyone comments what a pleasant baby Isaac is and how he's so happy. Although I think some of it is his personality, he is a very well rested boy. Some might say I'm "lucky" but I've spent a lot of time analyzing his sleep and doing my best to help him be a good sleeper. Studies have shown that the brain develops most during sleep so I feel it is my duty to help him be a good sleeper.

He sleeps 12 hours at night and 2-3 1/2 hours during the day. He is beginning now to have more of a routine with his afternoon nap and his am nap has been predictably 9:30 or 10 to 10:30 or 11 for quite some time. THose of you with older babes when did their afternoon nap get set to clock time? and does your baby still to the late afternoon variable nap?

Sleep definitely bequests sleep. Keeping the baby up and denying naps will not make a baby sleep through the night more.

From birht we had him sleep in the Arms Reach Co-sleeper on hubby's side. Our routine was for hubby to get up and change the diaper and then bring him back to bed for me to nurse him. With this routine we hoped that baby would associate hubby as a provider of the food as well. I enjoyed nursing in the glider though so most nights I'd meet the boys in the nursery during diaper change and feed Isaac in there. Then it was back to the co-sleeper. At 3 weeks we introduced one bottle of ebm each evening fed by daddy. After 3-4 weeks we moved the co-sleeper away from the bed. This was when breastfeeding became easy and very enjoyeable. By 6 weeks he no longer enjoyed swaddling. By 7 weeks his movement noises during the night annoyed me. Swaddling is wonderful. We felt lucky to him enjoy it for 6 weeks and I think this is largely why he is such a relaxed sleeper / not fearful. At 8 weeks we moved the co-sleeper into the nursery and one week later he logged his first night of uninterupted sleep (9.5 hours). Then a week later we introduced him to the crib because he had outgrown the Co-sleeper and was annoyed with touching the sides. He probably would have enjoyed being out of the co-sleeper a week or two earlier but I didn't want to make too many changes at once (co-sleeper to crib and from our room to his). It was around this time that I crept his bedtime back to between 8 and 9pm. He'd eat before his bedtime then would sleep until 4 or 5 am. If he went earlier than that that evening I'd feed him before I went to bed by waking him for a feed. We carried on like this for a few weeks and then I pushed his bedtime back to between 7 & 8. At 3 months of age he started sleeping every night through the night 12 hours. Still only breastmilk and no waking him to feed him. Feed at 6-7pm, then sleep until feed at 6-7am. This coincided with my return to work. Funny how God gives you what you can handle. Now this carried on for a few weeks and all of November he has been waking 30% of nights usually around 3 or 4. I feed him and he is back to sleep. I am not sure what is up with him night waking. Since I know he is good at putting himself back to sleep I think he is hungry so I'm happy to feed him but now that it's carried on for a few weeks I broke it to hubby a few nights ago that he needs to take everyother night. Personally I think he's waking because his afternoon nap is being disrupted but that's another story that I'm not going to get into here. Maybe its because he needs to eat and God didn't have me waking in early Oct. because I needed my sleep to get back into the rhythm of work, who knows....he works in mysterious ways.

For me co-sleeping was not a priority. I considered it for the scenerio that my sleep was poor because I wasn't able to sleep well without my baby as some of you have mentioned. Well I never experienced that. I enjoy my private sleep. I'm not much of a snuggler in bed either. I can only sleep on my left side due to lung bleeding. also sleep with a wedge. Even napping with Isaac I found disruptive because he wiggles in his sleep. I do enjoy napping with him though. For me, the biggest risk in my mind of having a baby was disrupting my sleep so I've made it a priority to get my sleep since he was born. Now I have lower lung function than most of you so I'm sure that's part of the reason I can't tolerate not sleeping. For me, Isaac and hubby it's a no brainer not to co-sleep. I associate mommy's disrupted night sleep with fewer nights of sleeping here on earth with my 2 boys as depressing as that sounds. If I'd lost much more sleep than I did we probably would have had to hire a night nurse. I felt very sleep deprived even with his excellent track record.

I feed him on demand by breast when I'm home. I am gone 9-5 and he is fed expressed milk by bottle during that time. I have a $200 baby monitor that I was given as a gift that I didn't even take out of the box. I feel it's mothers instinct to hear her baby. He's just next door. When I experienced waking due to his movements in my room at 6-7 weeks old I knew then the monitor was not something I wanted. I also sleep with an air purifier on that makes significant noise and ***drum roll*** ear plugs. Now granted I live in the inner city of Philadelphia. I hear Isaac cry over all of these noise reduction tools. I hear phantom noises enough as it is, I don't know how any mother gets a good night of sleep with a monitor next to her. Maybe I'm just a light sleeper.

Isaac is now 18 lbs. He was around 12 at Amelia's age. Do get the book - I guarantee you it will help and at the very least you'll understand baby sleep so much more. And it doesn't make you do the cry out method (extinction is what it's called). There's also "graduated extinction" and "check and console." Extinction offers the least crying in the long run though so that is what we went with. He rarely crys now and when he does it's not usually to do with sleep but rather to let me know he's hungry. You do need a method though for consistancy sake. Unfortunately letting babies dictate their own sleep can mean some trying battles for years to come. With my cf we knew we couldn't have that. I entered into studying baby sleep for selfish reasons, then realized it would prolong my life which isn't so selfish, then I learned that lost sleep is lost forever so by helping him be a good sleeper he'll reap many benefits.

 

[hopesiris]

Thank you everyone for your great responses!!! DH and I decided that our long term plan is to have Amelia sleep in her crib since we will probably have another baby in not too long and also don't want to do prolonged co-sleeping. We will work towards this goal slowly and do the transition as Amelia is ready. So I took all this info into consideration and while I still need to do more reading, there are a couple of changes we will try:

1. All naps and the first stretch of night sleep will be in her crib since she is already used to it (I have put her in it regularly while she is awake since birth).
2. My bedtime will be pushed earlier so I can sleep alone in bed for a little while.
3. DH will offer her a bottle of ebm or formula (whatever we have on hand/whatever she will take) before bedtime (I'm thinking 9pm and then push earlier slowly)
4. Remove co-sleeper from bed and replace with a bed rail. Co-sleep for the rest of the night after her first waking in crib.
5. Lighter clothing when in bed with us.

Amelia napped peacefully in her crib for 30 minutes this morning, arms stretched out.

 

[hopesiris]

Thank you everyone for your great responses!!! DH and I decided that our long term plan is to have Amelia sleep in her crib since we will probably have another baby in not too long and also don't want to do prolonged co-sleeping. We will work towards this goal slowly and do the transition as Amelia is ready. So I took all this info into consideration and while I still need to do more reading, there are a couple of changes we will try:

1. All naps and the first stretch of night sleep will be in her crib since she is already used to it (I have put her in it regularly while she is awake since birth).
2. My bedtime will be pushed earlier so I can sleep alone in bed for a little while.
3. DH will offer her a bottle of ebm or formula (whatever we have on hand/whatever she will take) before bedtime (I'm thinking 9pm and then push earlier slowly)
4. Remove co-sleeper from bed and replace with a bed rail. Co-sleep for the rest of the night after her first waking in crib.
5. Lighter clothing when in bed with us.

Amelia napped peacefully in her crib for 30 minutes this morning, arms stretched out.

 

[hopesiris]

Thank you everyone for your great responses!!! DH and I decided that our long term plan is to have Amelia sleep in her crib since we will probably have another baby in not too long and also don't want to do prolonged co-sleeping. We will work towards this goal slowly and do the transition as Amelia is ready. So I took all this info into consideration and while I still need to do more reading, there are a couple of changes we will try:

1. All naps and the first stretch of night sleep will be in her crib since she is already used to it (I have put her in it regularly while she is awake since birth).
2. My bedtime will be pushed earlier so I can sleep alone in bed for a little while.
3. DH will offer her a bottle of ebm or formula (whatever we have on hand/whatever she will take) before bedtime (I'm thinking 9pm and then push earlier slowly)
4. Remove co-sleeper from bed and replace with a bed rail. Co-sleep for the rest of the night after her first waking in crib.
5. Lighter clothing when in bed with us.

Amelia napped peacefully in her crib for 30 minutes this morning, arms stretched out.

 

[hopesiris]

Thank you everyone for your great responses!!! DH and I decided that our long term plan is to have Amelia sleep in her crib since we will probably have another baby in not too long and also don't want to do prolonged co-sleeping. We will work towards this goal slowly and do the transition as Amelia is ready. So I took all this info into consideration and while I still need to do more reading, there are a couple of changes we will try:

1. All naps and the first stretch of night sleep will be in her crib since she is already used to it (I have put her in it regularly while she is awake since birth).
2. My bedtime will be pushed earlier so I can sleep alone in bed for a little while.
3. DH will offer her a bottle of ebm or formula (whatever we have on hand/whatever she will take) before bedtime (I'm thinking 9pm and then push earlier slowly)
4. Remove co-sleeper from bed and replace with a bed rail. Co-sleep for the rest of the night after her first waking in crib.
5. Lighter clothing when in bed with us.

Amelia napped peacefully in her crib for 30 minutes this morning, arms stretched out.

 

[hopesiris]

Thank you everyone for your great responses!!! DH and I decided that our long term plan is to have Amelia sleep in her crib since we will probably have another baby in not too long and also don't want to do prolonged co-sleeping. We will work towards this goal slowly and do the transition as Amelia is ready. So I took all this info into consideration and while I still need to do more reading, there are a couple of changes we will try:

1. All naps and the first stretch of night sleep will be in her crib since she is already used to it (I have put her in it regularly while she is awake since birth).
2. My bedtime will be pushed earlier so I can sleep alone in bed for a little while.
3. DH will offer her a bottle of ebm or formula (whatever we have on hand/whatever she will take) before bedtime (I'm thinking 9pm and then push earlier slowly)
4. Remove co-sleeper from bed and replace with a bed rail. Co-sleep for the rest of the night after her first waking in crib.
5. Lighter clothing when in bed with us.

Amelia napped peacefully in her crib for 30 minutes this morning, arms stretched out.

 

[Keepercjr]

Haley

Logan does still sleep with us but that is the way we (DH, Logan and I) like it. Cosleeping doesn't have to be all or nothing. My cousin is a good example - Her DD started off in the bassinet and then when she woke for her first feed my cousin brought her into bed for the rest of the night. Now at 2.5 she mostly sleeps in her own bed in her own room and it was an easy transition w/ no crying involved whatsoever. She started putting her on a mattress in their room around age 2 and then they moved it into her own room shortly after. She is always welcome in their bed when she needs it.

When you decide that you want DD out of your bed you start the transition. I've recently begun talking up big boy beds to Logan and even bought him some construction bed sheets (he loves all the typical boy stuff). He doesn't have his own bed yet but we're talking to him about it. I actually fully expect to still have him in bed w/ us when the new baby arrives and that is perfectly OK with me. But at that point he'll have his own bed that he can go to if he wants.

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>LouLou</b></i>

IUnfortunately letting babies dictate their own sleep can mean some trying battles for years to come.</end quote></div>

I completely disagree with this and am utterly opposed to any cry it out method, especially extinction cry it out - I won't get into a debate about it here but there are much better ways... thats all I'll say for now.

 

[Keepercjr]

Haley

Logan does still sleep with us but that is the way we (DH, Logan and I) like it. Cosleeping doesn't have to be all or nothing. My cousin is a good example - Her DD started off in the bassinet and then when she woke for her first feed my cousin brought her into bed for the rest of the night. Now at 2.5 she mostly sleeps in her own bed in her own room and it was an easy transition w/ no crying involved whatsoever. She started putting her on a mattress in their room around age 2 and then they moved it into her own room shortly after. She is always welcome in their bed when she needs it.

When you decide that you want DD out of your bed you start the transition. I've recently begun talking up big boy beds to Logan and even bought him some construction bed sheets (he loves all the typical boy stuff). He doesn't have his own bed yet but we're talking to him about it. I actually fully expect to still have him in bed w/ us when the new baby arrives and that is perfectly OK with me. But at that point he'll have his own bed that he can go to if he wants.

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>LouLou</b></i>

IUnfortunately letting babies dictate their own sleep can mean some trying battles for years to come.</end quote></div>

I completely disagree with this and am utterly opposed to any cry it out method, especially extinction cry it out - I won't get into a debate about it here but there are much better ways... thats all I'll say for now.

 

[Keepercjr]

Haley

Logan does still sleep with us but that is the way we (DH, Logan and I) like it. Cosleeping doesn't have to be all or nothing. My cousin is a good example - Her DD started off in the bassinet and then when she woke for her first feed my cousin brought her into bed for the rest of the night. Now at 2.5 she mostly sleeps in her own bed in her own room and it was an easy transition w/ no crying involved whatsoever. She started putting her on a mattress in their room around age 2 and then they moved it into her own room shortly after. She is always welcome in their bed when she needs it.

When you decide that you want DD out of your bed you start the transition. I've recently begun talking up big boy beds to Logan and even bought him some construction bed sheets (he loves all the typical boy stuff). He doesn't have his own bed yet but we're talking to him about it. I actually fully expect to still have him in bed w/ us when the new baby arrives and that is perfectly OK with me. But at that point he'll have his own bed that he can go to if he wants.

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>LouLou</b></i>

IUnfortunately letting babies dictate their own sleep can mean some trying battles for years to come.</end quote></div>

I completely disagree with this and am utterly opposed to any cry it out method, especially extinction cry it out - I won't get into a debate about it here but there are much better ways... thats all I'll say for now.

 

[Keepercjr]

Haley

Logan does still sleep with us but that is the way we (DH, Logan and I) like it. Cosleeping doesn't have to be all or nothing. My cousin is a good example - Her DD started off in the bassinet and then when she woke for her first feed my cousin brought her into bed for the rest of the night. Now at 2.5 she mostly sleeps in her own bed in her own room and it was an easy transition w/ no crying involved whatsoever. She started putting her on a mattress in their room around age 2 and then they moved it into her own room shortly after. She is always welcome in their bed when she needs it.

When you decide that you want DD out of your bed you start the transition. I've recently begun talking up big boy beds to Logan and even bought him some construction bed sheets (he loves all the typical boy stuff). He doesn't have his own bed yet but we're talking to him about it. I actually fully expect to still have him in bed w/ us when the new baby arrives and that is perfectly OK with me. But at that point he'll have his own bed that he can go to if he wants.

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>LouLou</b></i>

IUnfortunately letting babies dictate their own sleep can mean some trying battles for years to come.</end quote>

I completely disagree with this and am utterly opposed to any cry it out method, especially extinction cry it out - I won't get into a debate about it here but there are much better ways... thats all I'll say for now.

 

[Keepercjr]

Haley

Logan does still sleep with us but that is the way we (DH, Logan and I) like it. Cosleeping doesn't have to be all or nothing. My cousin is a good example - Her DD started off in the bassinet and then when she woke for her first feed my cousin brought her into bed for the rest of the night. Now at 2.5 she mostly sleeps in her own bed in her own room and it was an easy transition w/ no crying involved whatsoever. She started putting her on a mattress in their room around age 2 and then they moved it into her own room shortly after. She is always welcome in their bed when she needs it.

When you decide that you want DD out of your bed you start the transition. I've recently begun talking up big boy beds to Logan and even bought him some construction bed sheets (he loves all the typical boy stuff). He doesn't have his own bed yet but we're talking to him about it. I actually fully expect to still have him in bed w/ us when the new baby arrives and that is perfectly OK with me. But at that point he'll have his own bed that he can go to if he wants.

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>LouLou</b></i>

IUnfortunately letting babies dictate their own sleep can mean some trying battles for years to come.</end quote>

I completely disagree with this and am utterly opposed to any cry it out method, especially extinction cry it out - I won't get into a debate about it here but there are much better ways... thats all I'll say for now.