[dawneg]

Everyone has such good ideas and experience, I can't resist asking how your first night went. I have a 3 1/2 year-old who still rarely sleeps through the night, so I'm trying to imagine how a 7-month-old thrown into a room of strangers will settle down and sleep through the night either.

Thanks SO much, as ever.

[Saya]

We did our first visit trip in mid-august when our little girl was 3 and a half months old. The foster parents had been co-sleeping with her, so of course we did too. I have to say - she slept like a pro, but I couldn't sleep a wink! It's our first child, and I was completely not used to having a baby in the room, let along in the bed! I was up all night, completely hyper-sensitive to every breath and every movement. She, however, didn't seem phased and slept through the night. (She did stop eating for a little while though - but that wasn't so much a night issue . . .)

[ej-momtobe]

On our first visit trip, he slept all night ...he was 9 weeks old. We slept with him in the bed.
On the second visit trip be got a crib, because he sleeps in a crib at the FM house, he was 5 months old, and started screaming loudly at night when it was sleeping time. So DH and I had to take turns staying up with him in the baby room of the Marriott.

[njnik]

We visited in June, and I was really nervous about the first night. Someone had told me to get allot of sleep before we get there since the first night is always rough. To be honest, it wasn't that bad. It did take us an hour to get her to sleep, but once she was alseep she woke up on the schedual her foster mom said she was on. The houses in Guat are not that large so your baby is probably use to noise. I'm sure you will all do great. Enjoy your trip
Nicole

[mcmom]

I visited our daughter over her first birthday. Her FM told me she went to bed at 9, woke at 3 for a bottle and then woke at 7. She was right about all of it except she slept through the night for me all week. She didn't even stir. I think this may be the exception though from what I have heard.

[Katelyn's Mom]

We went to visit our DD when she was 9 1/2 months old. She cried a lot the first night. I talked to parents who had 6 month olds that did not have as hard of a time adjusting. I really think it was her age. The first night we all slept in the same bed. She slept all night long but she thrashed too. I have heard from several parents that their children also thrashed throught the night. I think it is because although they are sleeping they still know they are in a different place. The second night we got a crib and everyone slept a lot better.

Have a safe and happy trip!

[MNStarr]

Foster mom told us she would go to bed around 8 and wake up at midnight for a bottle and again around 4/5. We were super prepared... and paranoid. SHe also was used to being co slept so we put her between us. I listened for every breath and would wake up just to make sure she was breathing. She fussed a little but never actually woke up and by then we had a new bottle in her mouth and she went right to sleep. Our last night there she actually slept through the entire night so me not knowing what to do woke her up in the morning. NEVER wake a sleeping baby.

[Travelkid]

We visited our son at 3 months old. His FM said he went to bed at 8:00 pm and woke up at 6:00am. Of course, we didn't believe that, but guess what he slept through the night, every night (4 nights)! We would walk with him to get him to sleep and then he was out. I agree with the post above - one day he was still asleep at 7:00 am and I woke him up (b/c I wanted every possible waking minute with him!) and learned the lesson of not waking up a sleeping baby!

Have fun on your trip - you wil treasure every minute of it!

[Justhavfaith]

We just visited our 6 and 1/2 month old a few weeks ago. The first night was a little rough. He kept waking up at every noise or movement. It wasn't until the next morning that I realized that the FM said that he slept on his side. Night two, I rolled him on his side until he was asleep and he rolled on his back and slept 10 hours. Ugh - why didn't I review my notes the first night. Who knew that he just wanted to lay on his side until he was asleep?

[amymole36]

We just got back from our visit trip and found out that our daughter is just like our son was...not a good sleeper. The fostermom said she would go to bed at nine, be up at 2 for a bottle, then sleep until 8. Well...she tossed and turned all night...didn't cry much, but really didn't sleep well either....so needless to say...I didn't get any sleep either. The next 2 nights were a little better, but not much. It was fine with me... I got to spend more time with her!!!!

[JohnnaMJH]

It may go just fine. My 7mo old was dropped off at about 1 in the afternoon. We hung out all day, spending some of the time in the playroom with other families from our agency. I put him to bed, he fussed a little but after I put him on his belly he was sound asleep in a minute. He didn't get up until 5:30am. He slept very well, and always has, from the minute we got him.

Good luck,

[DeeVee]

DD slept through the night in her crib all 3 nights. Our 3 1/2 year old son, however, was very wound up the first night and kept us up most of the night.

We watched Elmo in Spanish at midnight to occupy him .

[Slatond10]

I visited DD when she was 3 1/2 months old. Like others said her FM said she would go to sleep about 8 and sleep through the night and then wake about 5:30 - 6. She did every night I was there for visit and pick up.

HOWEVER, as a new first time Mom. I still did not get much sleep. I was SUPER HYPER SENSITIVE to every move, when I could not hear breathing... everything. I woke up I think every 30 min to 1 hr to check on her. I used to be one of those people that could sleep anywhere / with any noise. Being a Mom has definitely changed that. She is almost 2 now and I still struggle to sleep through the night and not check on her. And she has had very limited sleep issues ( mostly when sick) Makes me feel like a crazy woman But the little lost sleep is worth knowing she is fine!

[adoptnky]

We also just got back from visiting my almost 4 month old. Our FM said he would go to bed at 9:00 up at 3:00 for a bottle and then back to sleep until 7:00. The first night he did exactly that....to the minute. I put him in his cirb at 9:00 and he promptly went to sleep - gave him a bottle at 3:00 and he went right back to bed.

I couldn't believe it!

Kim

[Mandy4President]

Addy slept all night, every night. She woke up one night at 4:30 ( I got up to go to the bathroom, I think I woke her) but I gave her a bottle and she went right back to sleep.