I’m going to start this with the question that is the basis for this whole post – just in case you don’t read the whole thing you can still contribute your opinion:
How does one get a baby out of their bed and into their own?
For many reasons I am a huge fan of co-sleeping. I love snuggling with Brady of course, and nothing is easier in the middle of the night than rolling over and pulling up your shirt for a feeding when you feel him start to stir. But I can’t do it anymore. I’m exhausted and I want my bed back.
I never intended to be a co-sleeping kind of mom, never wanted him to even nap in my bed, but when he came home and was 5 pounds with awful acid reflux I changed my mind. I could never lay him down without him spitting up immediately and the new-mom in me thought he would surely die. Seriously.
So the only thing to do for me to get any sleep at all was to just hold him. After I got sick of that and decided, ok I’ll put him down now, he already had developed a habit. Now, the minute that I lay him down he wakes up and either cries immediately or cries within a couple of minutes. If on the rare occasion he does stay asleep, he only lasts about 15 minutes, sometimes 30.
I’ve tried many approaches except for cry it out, which I’m not prepared to do at this moment in time. If I am still working through this unsuccessfully soon I will consider the Ferber method, which if you learn about will realize it is much more than just setting your child in your crib and leaving him to cry. I didn’t realize.
So… Suggestions? Words of encouragement? Offers to babysit? 🙂 I would love to hear how everyone dealt with their babies sleep habits!
Sher Bailey has been a dedicated voice for the Love and Marriage blog for over a decade, sharing practical advice on everything from stretching a grocery budget to finding the best homeschooling resources. She writes from the unique perspective of a full-time traveler, living and working on the road in her motorhome alongside her husband and their two cats. Sher’s diverse body of work is fueled by her belief that with the right tools and a little creativity, any challenge can be turned into an opportunity for growth and adventure.
Demetrius' mommy. says
im going through the same exact
thing!! my son seriously had never
slept by himself.
and i refuse to let him cry it out
at 3 months i just think thats
the worse way for baby to get to sleep
from sheer exhaustion of crying
its heartbreaking..
well if you ever find a way please
tell!! and i will do the same:)
A Mother...Again says
What about trying a Swaddle blanket? I know my 3 month old sleeps better at night when he’s all swaddled up – it keeps him from jerking and startling himself awake.
I also do a big “no no” and let him sleep in his Boppy pillow in his crib…I think that he feels like he’s being held…obvisouly every baby is different, but maybe one of those ideas will help?
Kris says
Hi Liz! My name is Kris and I’ve really enjoyed following your blog. My little girl just turned four months on Monday and it’s been really fun to check in on you and Brady… it seems like whatever I’m going through, you have also. I have had some ups and downs with breastfeeding, dogs feeling like step children and did the mom haircut. Anyway – I saw your post this morning and wanted to weigh in… have you read or heard of the book “Happiest baby on the block” – by Dr. Karp. I am a HUGE fan. My pediatrician reco’d it to me on Katie’s 2 month visit (I think the massive circles under my eyes were a sign that we were struggling with sleeping!)The book is a little more geared to teeny tiny newborns but I still find alot of it helpful. It focuses on recreating the womb experience for the baby. So that the baby falls asleep naturally and happily vs. crying itself to sleep – which seems so mean to do to such little people! He focuses on the 5 S’s… swaddling, shhing, swinging, side position and sucking. For instance, apparently the sound of a womb is as lound as a vaccum to a baby, so getting a white noise machine and turning it up loud and leaving it on throughout the night creates a very natural and soothing environment for them. Katie’s been happily sleeping in her crib for about a month now, we got our first 9 hour night last night! I totally expect her to make up for it tonight and wake up every 3 hours – but I’ll take sleep whenever I can! It seems like you are doing a great job at raising a happy and healthy little boy – this too will work itself out! Good luck with it!
Kristen says
good luck Liz! And I’ve told you before that I’m up for babysitting! 🙂 I’d go for the swaddling effect and noise in the room. I always put a fan in the room to help with noise
bekapaige says
I’m not a mom so I don’t really know but I love the picture 🙂 What a cutie. Hope you get some more sleep soon!