How Do I Transition From Co-sleeping To Crib?
My 5 month will only stay asleep for the entire night in my arms. The initial attempt to put him in his crib around 10pm works out fine but he’s awake about an hour later.
So, I then rock him and he falls asleep easily, however the minute I put him in his crib he wakes up. After a few attemps, I give up and bring him to bed with me..
Another thing that I’m having a hard time with is that when he’s in his crib I still can’t sleep. I keep worrying that he’ll suffocate under his blankets, or somehow the cats will pry open the door and decide to cuddle with him.
So I kind of have to “wean” myself from him too.
Because I can’t sleep without him. But I also know that he needs to be independent and sleep in his crib.
Another thing is is that he only falls asleeps with motion.. I always have to rock or nurse him to sleep. How can I get him to just fall asleep? Is he too young still?
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Bless your heart for being such a good mother and for putting the needs of your little baby first.
First of all I want to tell you that you do not have a problem. It is totally unnecessary for a little five month old baby to know anything about being independent and sleeping in his own bed. What you have been doing up until this time is following your instincts and doing what felt natural to you. Well, guess what? You have been doing the exact, best thing in the world for you and your baby! I sense that this “problem” that you have is coming from a source other than you or your baby.
You say that you can not sleep without him. Why should you have to? You say that he is not happy unless you bring him to bed with you, then why not do it? This is one wonderful, delightful time in your life when what feels good is actually the right thing, the best thing! So often in life the right thing is also the very difficult thing to do. When it comes to being a successful breastfeeding mother this does not hold true. Do what feels good! Do what you and your baby want to do! First and foremost comes the needs of a nursing couple….that is what you and your baby are. The bond that exists between you is every bit as important and as real as when he was still inside of you.
When the time comes to put him in his own bed you will know and so will he.
Why on earth should you stress yourself out because of some idea that you should be doing something other than what feels right to you? After all YOU are his mother. It is your decision and no one has the right to tell you what to do. I never did understand the stories of sleep deprivation that bottle feeding mothers talked about. From day one my baby and I slept all night…..oh he nursed off and on and I changed sides now and then…changed diapers now and then…but for the most part we slept, and nursed and cuddled and slept. Each of my babies were given that special one on one time that each baby deserves. They slept with me until they, and I, were ready to move on.
One word about the cats….all 5 of my babies slept cuddled up with the family cats….they loved each other and there were never any adverse effects from this. Of course my babies were closer to 10 months old when they were sleeping in their crib…with the cats!
Enjoy this precious, short-lived time with your baby. All too soon he will be on his own, believe me. Before you can blink he will be walking out the door on his way to kindergarten. He is the baby right now, give him his time and his space next to you. He has the rest of his life to be independent but right now he is your baby and this is what he wants and needs. All three of my sons have grown into strong, big, handsome men and not a one of them ever had a moments problem with being independent. For that matter my daughters have been plenty independent also!
Relax. Trust yourself and do what you know is right.
Blessings to you
Lady Trinity~
I don’t want to repeat what others have already said but here is something extra: If you’re worried that he’ll be too cold with just a sleeper but are worried about the blankets as well, try one of those sleep sacs. I still put my daughter in one and she’s 9 months old. They can’t suffocate in it and it will keep them warm since they can’t squirm out from underneath it.
I agree with one of the others about moving his crib to your room to start – it may be easier for him and for you that way. Then you can move him back to his room once he (and you) becomes comfortable with his crib. And definitely put him in there for all his naps so he can get used to it. Good luck and don’t forget that it will work out eventually, even if you have to go through some rough nights. He’ll figure it out and he will get used to it – hang in there!
What my sister did to get her daughter to sleep in the crib by herself was to put her in the crib by herself and then when she would cry, my sister went in the baby’s room and laid down on the floor, no eye contact, no talking, nothing. Go back to bed when the baby falls asleep.
Your baby has to learn sometime how to fall asleep by himself.