Thursday, November 13, 2008

Co-sleeping

We started the co-sleeping with our first when she was about 3 weeks old and she stayed in our bed until she was ready to leave and has been a great sleeper. We have co-sleep with each child after her and it has been wonderful. The boys each left our room when they were ready for their own bed and have also been good sleepers. Now I mentioned before that Peanut has been waking up every 2 to 3 hours at night to nurse. J and I decided it was time to nighttime wean her. We moved the bed rail to J's side of the bed and have for the last two nights put Peanut on his side. The first night she woke up about an hour after I had gone to sleep and she was crying as J held her because she wanted me and she wanted to nurse. I was so tired I could feel myself about to give in and tell him to just give her to me so I could nurse her, so I got up and slept on the couch. He got her back to sleep within 5 minutes and I didn't hear her cry the rest of the night. Though J told me the next day she woke up throughout the night. I slept :) Last night I nursed her to sleep and placed her on J's side. I didn't hear her wake up at all! Once again J said that she woke up a few times. She didn't cry or anything and he was able to get her back to sleep peacefully. Once she gets the sleeping through the night down we will put her back in the middle or on my side so I can cuddle her! I really love having my kids in my bed where they feel safe and secure until they are ready to be in their own rooms. I will say even though Peanut didn't wake me up last night Monkey had a bad dream and was calling for me from his bed. I got up and went into his room to find out what was wrong. He told me he had a bad dream and I reassured him he was safe and asked if he wanted to come to our bed. He said, "No." He just wanted to know he was safe normally he would of come into our room instead of crying but the dream really scared him and he was too scared to get out of bed. I hate those types of dreams. I can't even remember the last time one of the kids had a bad dream like that.

Peanut walking update: She has gotten really good at walking and is trying to run now which is just too funny. She will get going and then fall and instead of getting back up she'll just start crawling. I will say her favorite mode of transportation is walking now. So glad as she is close to 22 pounds!

12 comments:

hestermom said...

We were much too strict at the beginning, and didn't ever let our oldest two into our bed. With our third, we finally relaxed a little!! He slept mostly in his bassinet, but if he felt like snuggling, he came into our bed. And, now with the new one, he sleeps mostly in his bassinet, but can come snuggle whenever he wants. But I am sad for my oldest especially, because even though our kids really are better sleepers in their own space, I feel like I missed out on some good cuddles.

KC said...

We had a bag of water, water bed when We had Princess so I never let her sleep in bed with us. BUT I also didn't nurse my 1st two(too young and dumb LOL) But I rocked her to sleep every night until she was 2 years old and would hold her in my arms for hours as she slept before I put her down in the crib next to my bed. When she was 2 and we got a normal bed she started sleeping in bed with us.. by the time she was 3 she was ready for her own bed, but I would lay with her till she fell asleep in her bed.. Not because she needed me, but more cuz I needed her.. When she was 4 and I had Mr Man, I quickly became a cosleeper even though I was still bottle feeding him.. I would feed him right in bed next to me LOL.. So by the time Sweet Pea came along and Mr Man was in a toddler bed in his own room.. I didn't even bother setting up a crib LOL.. I was a cosleeper and BFing mama who nursed Sweet Pea till she was 29 months old.. and I think the only reason she weaned then was because the taste of my milk changed because I was PG with Little Man.. who will sleep in his own bed now but just started but if he wants will still sleep in bed with us also.. He nursed until a month after turning 3. even though the middle of the night.. silly thing could lift my shirt up and nurse without he or I waking up.. He has been weaned for 5 months now.. but sometimes when he is sick and feverish and sleeping with me I will still find him in the middle of the night rooting around and starting to put his hand up my shirt.. LOL.. silly boy..

I love cosleeping with my kids, when DH is working though the night I still bring the 3 younger ones in my room and we all sleep in my bed.. my oldest doesn't want to be bugged LOL as I'm sure most teenagers would rather not share a room with them mom anyways LOL

Good luck with the night time weaning..

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

Glad the night weaning is going so well! That will make life a lot easier for you, I'm sure.

Kimberly said...

Can I ask how old Peanut is? We ended up semi co-sleeping with Bryce (who is now 3) and my 7 month old is now 100% co-sleeping. She wants to nurse all.night.long though, and I'm fast becoming exhausted. Any tips? I don't think she's ready to wean yet, but I also don't know what else to do to make the nights more productive for both her and myself as far as sleep goes.

Anyway, sorry to hijack your post and be all "me, me, me". I hate when people do that. LOL!

Congrats on your sucess so far in night time weaning. Co-sleeping can be so rewarding. I'm always happy to read about others that enjoy it as much as I do. :)

mikeanddebbie said...

I have co slept with all 4 of mine. Micah is still in with us. The older two are great sleepers--Rachel still will come in during the night but that's ok. Glad the night time weaning is going well for you. And glad to hear there are others who co sleep!!

Kristin said...

HEY...CHECK YOUR EMAIL...in regards to our playdate!

Anonymous said...

My first two daughters couldn't sleep in our bed. We tried because they weren't great sleepers but they wouldn't fall asleep! My third is a month old now and sleeps best next to me. Finally! It is kind of exciting for me but I don't think I will be able to let her stay with me for too long. I have such a hard time sleeping with her in the bed.

Good luck with your night weaning. I think no matter where a baby sleeps this is hard!

Mamarazzi said...

co sleeping is not for me but i like reading about it workign out for other people.

thanks for stopping by my blog.

Kristin said...

I second mamarazzi's comment about co-sleeping! Don't think it's bad/wrong, just isn't the best for our family. Don't get me wrong...we get the occasional young one sneak in with us! I feel the sooner everyone's in their own beds, the sooner/better everyone sleeps, and aren't mama attached for bedtime;)

WML said...

Looks like you hit a chord with this one!

I loved co-sleeping! As a working mom, I really liked the extra moments with my girls. g liked her own space, even as an infant, so we had a little bed in our bed, but I could still rest my hand on her all night long. We didn't have a problem transitioning any of the 3 to bed, but everyone started the night in her bed and moved to ours when we went to bed.

Let me tell you, every morning about 5:30, at least one of the girls makes her way into our bed, and on days when we stay in bed a little later, it is all three (ages 10, 7, 5). Both my husband and I are sad that it won't always be that way. I would love to fall asleep with a little one all curled up in a ball on my chest one more time.

Martie said...

That's so cool that your husband is willing to help you like that! We did co-sleeping with many of our babies as well, but that night nursing was really draining, and I didn't have any good way to quit. Congratulations! I'll bet you were very happy to get that sleep! :O)

Martie

sarahgrace said...

We have co-slept with each of our children as well- it is just easier that way to get sleep (for mom, anyway.) I recently have been training Selah to sleep in her own crib though, and she's doing great. There are many nights when she sleeps all the way through, and it's been nice! Now I think she prefers to sleep in her own crib, because when she does awake for the occasional midnight feeding she fusses until I put her back in there!