[ncdoppler]

Hello,

While we were waiting for trip 2, I read books on attachment and even induced lactation in order to help the attachment and sleep with our son and breastfeed him. When we picked him up I soon saw he was very busy and had lots of teeth so he gets breast milk through the bottle. In preparation we also bought an Arms reach co-sleeper, but after spending a week in the same room with us, he didn't and wouldn't go to sleep unless we were laying down too. Once we got home he took to his own crib in his own room right away! He sleeps through the night!

Maddox started daycare today as I go back to work tomorrow. We aren't sure if it will work out or not, too early to decide but I was wondering if I should try and start sleeping with him to form more of an attachment to make up for the time at daycare which will only be 2 days one week, 3 the next.

My question is, for those Mommy's and Daddy's that do this, how do you do it? Maddox goes to bed at 7:00, there is no way I can go to bed that early, also I wouldn't want to leave him in the co-sleeper unattended as he walks and runs and jumps now!

Any suggestions?

We already get good holding time in, he loves it!

Nichole

[Kasey]

We co-slept alot, it started out just me napping with him, we always put him to bed in his crib, he always went right to sleep (we rocked him to sleep in the beginning and by one year, he just would go in, talk with Elmo a minute or two and fall asleep), how we did it was if he awoke in the middle of the night, crying, I would pick him up right away, if he did settle within 5-10 minutes of rocking or rubbing his back, he came to bed with us and generally fell asleep immediately, we have weeks where he may be in our bed in the middle of night several times, or we go weeks without it, but we just go by him and what he needs. These times generally are when he is sick or teething or some change has gone on.
If he is doing well and sleeping well, I see no reason to start this, you can spend lots of great time with him after day care, that is what we do, I also started our bed time routine a half hour earlier when day care started, so we would have extra snug and reading time.
Just watch him for his cues, if he awakens crying or fights bed, do what you need to do, but I personally wouldn't immediately start co-sleeping, if you haven't done it before and if he is sleeping fine in his crib--he will let you know what he needs.
This has worked well for us so far!

[mckenna]

when my son was younger, he slept with me and i layed with him til he fell asleep, then i got up and did other things. i never had a problem with him falling out of bed or getting up as i went to bed 2-3 hours later anyway. if he likes his bed and is not interested in co-sleeping i would not go back to it. there are other ways to bond with your child and make special time for him in the evening before bed, than co-sleeping (unless he prefers it)

[angelkisses0102]

Nichole~
Can you move his crib into your room? That is what we did for Alex at first. He was much younger when we first tried co-sleeping and it didn't work out.

I am not familiar with co-sleepers as I said I would never ever sleep with my kids...LOL~see what motherhood does to us~but can it be set it up so he is contained?

We did put Alex to sleep in his crib and then once he awoke...which was every night...we brought him into our bed. Now that he is bigger and in a toddler bed...we lie down with him until he falls asleep and then during the night if he feels the need...he comes to our room. We also do this with Arianna...we started when Alex came home and Arianna needed some extra luvin'...I lie down with until she falls asleep and she knows if she needs us...she can come into our room and go to sleep.

Good luck...

[2Bulgarianbeauties]

I would really recommend not doing this. My DD had trouble getting to sleep at night, so it started with her going to sleep in my bed, alone, while I was downstairs. Then it turned into her not being able to be in bed without me. This is hard, as I then was going to bed at 8:00! I finally got her in hew own bed, going to bed without me upstairs. 6 months later, she got sick, so I put her in my bed, because it was easier to take care of her. Now, we are back to the nightmare of her not being able to be in her own room, and not being able to be upstairs without me there. Personally, I think If he is happy in his own bed, leave him there.

Kay

[DelMarie]

Hi Nichole:

Our daughter was 15 months old when we brought her home in June 05. originally she slept by herself in the crib but would awaken alot so we moved the crib to our room.

After I started back to work (Sept 1st-after 3 months of being off work), she started to wake several times during the night. Initially she would just fall back to sleep after awakening, than she would cry for longer periods of time. We could not console her and get her to fall back asleep. After for crying for 1/2 hour or longer with multiple episodes we were getting exhausted. Finally we started putting her in the bed with us. She would fall right back to sleep.

She has no difficulty going to sleep in the lazy boy while taking a bottle and than being placed in her crib. The crib is immediately next to the bed with the rail at half down position.

Some nights she awakens at about 12:00 or 1:00 and crawls into bed and falls back asleep. Some night she is in her crib until about 6:00am.
We let her decide if and when she wants to come to bed. This seems to be working well for now.

DelMarie

[Javalita]

Been sleeping with our son for about 5 months now. That's been since he was about 13 months old - he's 18mos now.

We have had attachment challenges. I have to say the biggest (BY FAR) thing to help us has been co-sleeping, or some call it the family bed. The first time we tried he just screamed and hated every minute. But I made him stay - holding him. Very diffucult. Then he accepted it but tried to make an immediate break for it as soon as he woke. Had no interest in cuddling. Now he cuddles all night, wakes and we cuddle more. He'll often stay in bed w/us for at least 15-20 minutes before wanting down. It has really helped.

We have a portable crib in the room. he stays there until I go to bed and then I put him into bed with me. Works great. Naps in the crib.