AIBU to start co-sleeping 8 months in?

[Eminybob]

DS is 8 mo and has generally been an ok sleeper, waking 1-2 times a night, with various issues here and there but has slept through a couple of times.

The latest issue is I am struggling to get him back in his cot after he's woken up. I breastfeed him to sleep (I know this will need to be addressed at some point - but not today ) and it takes forever to unlatch him once he falls asleep, he'll keep waking up, and once eventually unlatched he wakes while I'm transferring him to the cot. It can take me up to 2 hours to get him back down. I'm knackered.

So while DP was away at the weekend, when DS woke at about 5.30 am, after 1.5hrs of trying to get him back in his cot,I took him into my bed, fed him lying down and we both fell asleep. We got another 2 hours each and I felt human the next day for the first time in ages. I would have given up and just got us both up at that point usually.

I took him to the spare room and did the same this morning.

Am I just making a rod for my own back now? After all, I know that he can sleep in his own bed. It could just be a phase which I'm making worse? But the extra sleep is a godsend. I have read about safe co-sleeping and feel confident we are safe so that isn't an issue. It would only be from when he wakes in the night (can be any time between 1 and 6!)

Nope go for it! I tried everything with my first to settle her in cot etc etc in the end around 10 months brought her into bed and we both slept much better..she is 5 now and sleeps happily in her own bed..
DS I co slept with from the start, he is nearly 3 and also happily in his own bed..
Go with whatever gets you the most sleep I reckon!!

I have been co-sleeping from the start with my 5mo ds. I honestly don't know how I would have coped otherwise. If it works for you then go for it.

I randomly co sleep with DS 6months. I also breast feed, not to sleep. He will go to sleep on his own in his cot most evenings but like you after a night feed he just won't be put back in his cot!! Some nights I manage, others in too exhausted so he comes in with me.

My problem here is - if I can get him back in his cot he sleeps for several hours, as much as 8. In bed with me he wants feeding again after 2 hours!
I have dd 2.5 to contend with as well during the day so I end up co sleeping and feeding as I must have the sleep!!

I also co slept with dd for about 2 months during an illness from 6-8 months and she now sleeps in her own bed so I'm not worried.

There's something magical about co sleeping. I love cuddling with ds

Thanks, that's what I figure.

I'm sure once he starts sleeping through (hahaha) we won't have this issue. I am transitioning to formula feeding at the moment (slowly) so I will eventually knock feeding to sleep on the head. Just didn't want to start anything I couldn't undo (I have enough of those already!)

The extra sleep for him seems to improve his daytime sleeping, he's just gone through the half hour barrier on his morning nap which he hasn't done for a while!

I started co-sleeping with DS at 4 months because he was crying when I put him back in his cot and I didn't want him waking up DD. Will address it at some point but, for now, we're all sleeping and that's the most important thing!

Sleep promotes sleep apparently

My 2 are/were both rubbish sleepers as babies. Dd didn't sleep through til she was 1. DS has been better but not much! He still hasn't slept through. Best night was when he only woke up once!!

They all sleep eventually. DS will do a 2-3 he nap during the day but then other days he just does several 30 minute naps and is grumpy as hell

We started cosleeping fri wake ups after midnight at about 10 months. We had an awful sleep regression where she'd wake every hour from midnight but sleep perfectly in with us.

We did this for about 3 months and now she sleeps 7-7 in her cot (almost 18 months).

Just do it. Nothing is permanents its small children. Do what you need to do to getwnoughsleep to function.

I resisted co sleeping with dd2 until she was about 9 months, neither of us slept. Bringing her in to sleep with us was the best move I made - restored my sanity, made a big difference to how I was able to cope with the day ahead.

It was about that age that DD started actually sleeping in our bed - before that she had a cot side-car attached. We coslept for quite a long time (we both work full time, stupid hours so it was often the only time we spent with her). At about the age of 3 she started wanting the odd night in her own bed, and now she is 5 she sleeps every night in her own bed with snuggles in our bed on a weekend morning. I wouldn't change it, and I'm sure that cosleeping has helped us avoid any sleep difficulties. She readily goes to bed at 7 and sleeps through until 8 or 9 at weekends.

Do whatever is easiest for you and your child, and ignore the nay sayers.

I miss the night time snuggles.