Velcro babies...come talk to me about yours?

[vlc]

My dd is 12 months old. We co-sleep, and bf, night and day. In the last year (which has undoubtedly been the most fabulous of my life, so I'm not complaining), she has only ever fallen asleep either

1. bf to sleep
2. in a sling
3. in a car seat or pushchair (moving, obv)
4. being bounced or rocked in arms

She's never fallen asleep without this help. The concept of her sleeping in a cot seems almost unimaginable. To my mind, though, she's made great natural progress over the year. She used to hate the pram / carseat but now is fine with them, she used to stay attached to my nipple all night (at least she detaches these days). In addition, she used to wake instantly the second she was put down once asleep, but now if I'm lucky, she'll stay asleep for 20 minutes once put down without me lying next to her.

I can see that, slowly but surely, she is growing towards being able to sleep independently. Still, she sleeps best and longest when touching me.

Now, I'm not complaining, we're fine with this most of the time. But I just can't identify with most of what I read of other people's 'normal' sleep experiences, like "putting the baby down for a nap", "sleeping through", "getting XYZ done whilst the baby sleeps" and so on.

I have been there, helping her fall asleep, and staying with her for almost every sleep of her life except a handful of rare occasions.

I just want to know there are others like me out there. Still doing this kind of thing after a year, hoping that nature will take its course and that one day she will begin to gently fall asleep of her own accord.

Come and talk to me?

[Washersaurus]

Have you read this?

No Cry sleep solution helpful too.

sorry about my typing poorly baby on arm

[vlc]

I've read that, thanks Washersaurus. I remember thinking I could wait until 12 months and then consider night weaning, but actually I'm OK with the night feeds for now, they don't really bother me unless (like now) she's teething and sleeping dreadfully.

(Although I think I may consider it if my periods don't return soon.)

I think I'll get the no cry book, it's often recommended her on MN.

I just wondered if anyone else's lo had pretty much never slept independently - how did yours sleep?

[Washersaurus]

badly!

No cry helped with naps and settling in cot, but a month or so in we are still usually up shushing at all hours. I couldnt do co-sleeping any more it was killing me. We are at 12mo now - hardest year ever!

[vlc]

Oh, that's bad luck about co-sleeping not working out for you . I think it has probably saved my bacon. DH works away so I'm the only one who'd have to get out of bed in the night if I didn't co-sleep - I'd never manage.

Interesting about the naps though. I'll be ordering that book, I think!

[Washersaurus]

Oh co-sleeping with DS2 was the best option for 10 months but we got into a situation similar to yours and I was so tired and scrawny I had to stop.

[thumbwitch]

vlc - sorry to hear you're having troubles and not sure I'm going to be much help. I co-slept with DS until he was 6mo and then started to put him into his cot after his 9pm feed, when he seemed to be in a deeper sleep. Prior to this age, he was a v. light sleeper and would wake up as soon as he was moved, but at that age, he started to sleep better.
For a while, he woke 2 or 3 times a night and I would bring him back into my bed as he wouldn't settle back to the cot; but eventually at 7mo I started "dreamfeeding" him (NOT what the she-who-must-not-be-named book says it is, but simply not waking him up or putting the lights on), sitting in a chair in his room and then putting him straight back in his cot when he dozed off again.
Have been doing this for a month now and he has gone straight through the night most of the time, except for the last few nights because of the mugginess/heat. He sleeps better by himself now as we don't disturb each other. He will be 8mo next week.

hope something in there might be of help to you