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Original poster

Is it safe for my 7 month old to sleep in the cot?

123 replies

YourZingyLilacDreamer · 18/07/2024 23:28

I'm having an awful time with baby and sleep.

If I put him in the cot and I stay in the bed, is it safe? I will be on the opposite side with a single duvet.

There is a gap where the two mattresses meet where the Ikea cot bar is. Can he suffocate? He can roll and has a snuze alarm on.

I'm worried sick but I need a way to transfer him back to the cot or co sleep safely

Is it safe for my 7 month old to sleep in the cot?
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TheOneWithUnagi · 20/07/2024 15:35

YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 21:54

With you?

Show quote history

I join him at my bedtime and we use a baby monitor when he is in there on his own.
Recently I’ve been able to put him in his cot for the first part of the night but then bring him to the floorbed in the middle of the night.

Hungryatmidnight · 19/07/2024 23:27

We have a setup like this, Ikea Gulliver cot. We have bungees attaching it to our bed so no gap. We have also made sure there is no gap by pushing cot mattress to bed mattress at exactly the same height and using a rolled blanket on the side with the cot rail up…

We started sleeping this way from 4 months. How old is baby? SIDS risk had dramatically reduced by then and I needed sleep badly. It isn't safe being exhausted all the time, that is worse. I totally understand not being able to transfer, both my children were like this. Sure this setup might not be AS safe as a separate cot but if you can’t get your baby in a cot it’s safer than being exhausted and having baby in bed with you by accident. In hospitals bedside cots are often used. This way baby has their own space stand alone. I roll over to breastfeed and baby falls asleep again in a few minutes. Baby is 12 months now.

I slept with this setup with my first child till he was two years old. You’ve got to do what works best for you. Good luck.

Dery · 19/07/2024 23:06

@YourZingyLilacDreamer - I was crap at breastfeeding so my two were mainly bottle fed. Now in mid/late teens and in great health. Breastfeeding is terrific but not all of us can do it and formula is a very good substitute. I felt awful about it to start with but honestly over time it became unimportant in the scheme of things. But I agree that it means you shouldn’t co-sleep.

On the sleeping, when my elder daughter moved into a cot - around 6 months old - for several months, when she woke in the night, I would sleep with my hand through the bars holding her hand. We could both sleep that way. Perhaps you’ve tried it but if not, do you think that might help?

Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 22:58

Lammveg · 19/07/2024 22:15

OP with all your follow up comments I'm not sure if this is a genuine post but anyway.

Here's what I did with my similar baby.

Put firm adult double matress on floor. You can put the matress on slats, otherwise you'll need to lift the matress off the floor occasionally to air it out and prevent mould. No pillows/blankets etc. Settle baby to sleep and then if you don't need to be in the bed just leave?

If the room is baby safe (e.g no furniture/all furniture secured, all cords etc out of reach) then that's fine. If not, I just got a large play pen with mesh sides and put the matress in there. I also have a owlett sock which gives me some reassurance.

Edit to add - I sleep with my baby still because she wakes every hour otherwise 😐

Edited

Not a genuine post?

WTF you weirdo

OP posts:
Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 22:43

Lammveg · 19/07/2024 22:15

OP with all your follow up comments I'm not sure if this is a genuine post but anyway.

Here's what I did with my similar baby.

Put firm adult double matress on floor. You can put the matress on slats, otherwise you'll need to lift the matress off the floor occasionally to air it out and prevent mould. No pillows/blankets etc. Settle baby to sleep and then if you don't need to be in the bed just leave?

If the room is baby safe (e.g no furniture/all furniture secured, all cords etc out of reach) then that's fine. If not, I just got a large play pen with mesh sides and put the matress in there. I also have a owlett sock which gives me some reassurance.

Edit to add - I sleep with my baby still because she wakes every hour otherwise 😐

Edited

That's exactly right in the response I wanted.

Sadly mesh play pens aren't within my comfort level :( can't get a wooden one to fit either.

OP posts:
Lammveg · 19/07/2024 22:15

OP with all your follow up comments I'm not sure if this is a genuine post but anyway.

Here's what I did with my similar baby.

Put firm adult double matress on floor. You can put the matress on slats, otherwise you'll need to lift the matress off the floor occasionally to air it out and prevent mould. No pillows/blankets etc. Settle baby to sleep and then if you don't need to be in the bed just leave?

If the room is baby safe (e.g no furniture/all furniture secured, all cords etc out of reach) then that's fine. If not, I just got a large play pen with mesh sides and put the matress in there. I also have a owlett sock which gives me some reassurance.

Edit to add - I sleep with my baby still because she wakes every hour otherwise 😐

Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 21:54

TheOneWithUnagi · 19/07/2024 19:14

We've had our baby on a floor bed (literally a double mattress on the floor) since about 6 months

With you?

OP posts:
Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 21:54

Vetiver · 19/07/2024 19:33

I found it more comfortable to sleep in my dressing gown, rather than worry about the duvet.

Yeah I need a cover sadly

OP posts:
Vetiver · 19/07/2024 19:33

I found it more comfortable to sleep in my dressing gown, rather than worry about the duvet.

TheOneWithUnagi · 19/07/2024 19:14

We've had our baby on a floor bed (literally a double mattress on the floor) since about 6 months

Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 18:27

Snjsjssh · 19/07/2024 15:31

Hi OP. Sorry that this isn't a direct response to your question, but we had a terrible sleeper too who would only settle when held. Does your little one have any symptoms of silent reflux? It affects lots of babies and could be why your little one won't go down.

If that's not the case, there's no shame or harm in trying some sleep training. Ferber worked incredibly for us. Before I had my son, I harshly (and wrongly) judged those who sleep trained. But I personally feel that, at least in our case, it was more detrimental that DS wasn't sleeping, and couldn't sleep. It took a few nights, it honestly wasn't as bad as we thought, and he sleeps for 12 hours now. He's happier because he's rested, and ditto for us!

Hope you get it all sorted soon x

He's not a terrible sleeper when he's in the big bed lol. I don't even need to be in the bed

OP posts:
Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 18:26

TheShellBeach · 19/07/2024 16:26

And I agree about Ferber - it's brilliant.

DD slept through the night for the first time on the third night we did it.

Thats cool and I've tried that method.

My Baby only wants to sleep in the big bed. Baby has a lovely rested sleep in the big bed.... I think the big bed is workable if I get a thing to go around the outside

OP posts:
Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 18:21

TheShellBeach · 19/07/2024 16:25

Can't you just use an ordinary cot and put it in another room?

You'll both sleep better.

Er what. Do I now need another room and another cot? This is babys room.

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 19/07/2024 16:26

And I agree about Ferber - it's brilliant.

DD slept through the night for the first time on the third night we did it.

TheShellBeach · 19/07/2024 16:25

Can't you just use an ordinary cot and put it in another room?

You'll both sleep better.

Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 16:22

ZombieBoob · 19/07/2024 15:24

This is our exact set up too. Since ds was about 6 months we had it like this. Most of the time he still ends up in our bed. You can buy a mattress seam thing to join the mattresses together. We never felt the need though

Am I being weird about that gap? Did you have a small gap?

OP posts:
Snjsjssh · 19/07/2024 15:31

Hi OP. Sorry that this isn't a direct response to your question, but we had a terrible sleeper too who would only settle when held. Does your little one have any symptoms of silent reflux? It affects lots of babies and could be why your little one won't go down.

If that's not the case, there's no shame or harm in trying some sleep training. Ferber worked incredibly for us. Before I had my son, I harshly (and wrongly) judged those who sleep trained. But I personally feel that, at least in our case, it was more detrimental that DS wasn't sleeping, and couldn't sleep. It took a few nights, it honestly wasn't as bad as we thought, and he sleeps for 12 hours now. He's happier because he's rested, and ditto for us!

Hope you get it all sorted soon x

ZombieBoob · 19/07/2024 15:24

This is our exact set up too. Since ds was about 6 months we had it like this. Most of the time he still ends up in our bed. You can buy a mattress seam thing to join the mattresses together. We never felt the need though

dbeuowlxb173939 · 19/07/2024 15:07

At 7 months I would be worried about rolling or crawling and falling out.
You might be better off moving your bed right up to the wall and having the baby between you and the wall in a sleeping bag, single duvet over you. Co sleeping is actually not that risky with just one adult in the bed who has not been drinking or smoking.

Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 14:57

DigitalFunderground · 19/07/2024 14:57

If this is real and not AI then you need to accept he's going to yell for a while while he gets used to the cot. He's not tiddly, it won't screw him up and it won't last forever.

What? Is this real and not AI? WTF

OP posts:
Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 14:57

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 19/07/2024 14:55

You could get a big cellular blanket for yourself, or a sleeping bag for yourself

Yeah, I've got a single mattress cover I could sleep in. I just need to feel like I'm covered. Will look at sleep bags for adults as well

OP posts:
DigitalFunderground · 19/07/2024 14:57

If this is real and not AI then you need to accept he's going to yell for a while while he gets used to the cot. He's not tiddly, it won't screw him up and it won't last forever.

Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 14:55

Bananaadramaa · 19/07/2024 14:48

You can get adult sleeping bags like the ones you put baby in. I’ve seen them before.

I think try and continue to work on getting baby used to sleeping in cot without you being beside them if you are really worried. Maybe start with day time naps and work your way up x

I have lost the will to do it at he moment. Had a few tough months. Think I will buy a giant cot surround for the double bed and have the floor set up for me as well. Than baby is safe and I can soothe him without transferring him

OP posts:
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 19/07/2024 14:55

You could get a big cellular blanket for yourself, or a sleeping bag for yourself

Original poster
YourZingyLilacDreamer · 19/07/2024 14:54

CatchHimDerry · 19/07/2024 14:35

It’s hard OP, mine wouldn’t even be in the glass cot when he was first born at the hospital he’s always had to be held or next to one of us, especially me.

Hell would break loose if we tried to put him in the ikea cot. Same for a next to me. Also had a swinging crib. I’d get an hour or two then he’d realise he’s in there and want out.

It was try as safely as I can to co-sleep or not sleep at all for me.

We ended up with one of the house-shaped floor beds.

Hes just turned two, still BF and still sleeping with me 😂

We couldn’t be in a normal bed as even with bed guards he would scramble about and after the 2nd time falling off enough was enough.

I often find him just asleep, bum-up on the carpet now after rolling off his floor bed.

All you can do is your best OP. Don’t smoke, don’t drink, cellulose or knitted type blankets, warmer pyjamas etc if it’s cold I would say xx

Thanks. I think I'll buy on of those big giant cots for a double bed. I'm terribly sleep. Deprived. He slept in the cot all night after I snuggled with him and transferred him.

I will see how tonight goes!

OP posts: