Question for co-sleepers (day time naps)

[Wiggy29]

Did you find the fact that you co-slept meant that your dc expects you to be there for day time naps?

DS is 13 weeks, never feeds to sleep but has a dream feed at 11 and 4 where he feeds and goes straight back over. During the day, we do the usual school run/ visiting/ shopping etc and I'm getting concerned that he's either sleeping with me in the bed or in his car seat/ pram and therefore never really learning how to put himself to sleep.

At the moment, when he naps during day (and we're not out and about) I normally just sit on bed with him (but he's not cuddled in) while he falls asleep but worry this may cause issues when he starts to sleep on his own (which I plan to start when he's not waking in the night to be fed).

Would love to hear about your experiences.

[Forgetfulmog]

I co-slept (until tonight!) with dd & she has always (& still does) nap on me in the sling. She will also sometimes sleep in the pushchair, but only if moving. Dd is 8 mo

[melonribena]

My 10 mth old has co slept from birth. In the early months he would just sleep on me and refused his cot, the pram and the car seat, preferring to scream when in them!

At about 4 months we changed from his pram to buggy and he decided he liked this! He then would sleep in his buggy, the car seat and on me! This continued until about 6/7 months when he stopped feeding to sleep! Nightmare!

We gradually introduced the cot, trying to settle him in that. One day, at 7 mths he decided the cot was ok. I think he'd stopped needing me to sleep all the time. He now settles with the Tomy projector, blackout curtains and me holding his hand in his cot for all his naps.
He also settles at night too. We still co sleep for most of the night because he wakes about 9.30 and refuses the cot. He still wants to snuggle up to me for most of the night. To be honest this is ok. I enjoy the cuddles, get a part evening to relax and bf in the night is easy!

It is something I want to improve on but know that it won't be forever, I've never let him cry, just read the signs when he's been ready to change!

Hth!

[Wiggy29]

Oh dear, it doesn't sound too promising! This morning I put him in his little rocking hammock which goes down
Virtually flat&he fell asleep in there with just his dummy&without being rocked or cuddled. Think I'll have to make a conscious effort to try and let him put himself to sleep during the day.

[melonribena]

That's a good plan Wiggy. He will gradually get used to it. Good luck!

[Wiggy29]

Thank you! Seems so be working now, had a couple of days of him not being rocked to sleep, just sit close to him. Plan is to gradually move away until just putting him down&leaving the room.