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Original poster

Moving baby into own room at 4 and a half months

91 replies

velveteenwabbit · 03/06/2019 08:48

We are considering moving DD into her own room to sleep as she is a very noisy sleeper. DH wants to move her, I wanted to keep her with us until 6 months but we already do let her nap in a separate room to us with a video monitor on.

Has anyone else done this? I'm not sure about it as I know it's recommended they're in a room with an adult until 6 months.

OP posts:
DoNotDisturbPlease · 03/06/2019 08:50

Moved my DD into her cot in her own room at this exact age. Best thing we ever did. She is a tough strong little girl and outgrew her moses basket so we had no choice but I also wasnt worried about her breathing etc. We had a good monitor and breathing mats so we could monitor her really well. We all slept soundly and still do! She is now 3.

Houseonahill · 03/06/2019 08:51

I had to because she put grew the Moses basket and I could fit a cot in my room. I followed all the advice wrt safe sleeping (nothing in the cot but a blanket feet at the foot of the cot etc) and had a monitor. DD was fine.

Didiusfalco · 03/06/2019 08:51

I think lots of people do this, but my sister died of cot death, so I think mine were both in my room until after they were one. Of course the balance of probability is that your dc will be totally fine, but it’s not something I would be comfortable with.

itscallednickingbentcoppers · 03/06/2019 08:52

Chances are it'll be ok but the guidelines are there for a reason. I couldn't have settled without DS near me at that age.

herculepoirot2 · 03/06/2019 08:54

I can’t even remember when we did it. I think she was 7 months. The risk is low, but it is there, and only you can decide where you start to feel comfortable.

Pinkvoid · 03/06/2019 08:54

I wouldn’t do it. They are only young for such a short time and the SIDS risk is just not worthwhile.

AliceAbsolum · 03/06/2019 08:56

No. If she died would you forgive yourself? Sorry to be harsh.

Bigmango · 03/06/2019 09:00

If you don’t want to Then don’t. Another 6 weeks is nothing...

Celebelly · 03/06/2019 09:01

It feels a bit early to me but then I put DD down for naps in another room and also to bed at 7 when I don't go up till 10 so I suppose that's not quite following guidelines either. We have an Owlet and video monitor so I'm comfortable with it, but I still want to be in the same room as her for the majority of her overnight sleep till she's six months I think. But she's not a noisy sleeper!

SIDS risk does peak at 2-3 months and then goes down.

HowDidItEndUpLikeThis · 03/06/2019 09:02

Due to medical reasons, my son was in his own room at 3 months & was fine.

User12879923378 · 03/06/2019 09:03

Lots of my friends moved their babies before 6 months and they were fine. We didn't - she was with at least one of us until 12 months - but we did take turns in the spare room so that one of us was able to get a decent night's sleep.

OpportunityKnocks · 03/06/2019 09:04

Tricky one.
I had a look at the lullaby trust to see what they say about thr risk factors of having a room to themselves. Nothing.

Does anyone have any info on what the risks are of sleeping alone? Interested as we might move our little one before 6 monthd

my2bundles · 03/06/2019 09:08

I moved my eldest at 4 months because she outgrew the moses basket and no room in my room for a cot. She was fine. I moved my youngest at 10 months because he was tiny and only outgrew the moses basket at 10 months, he was also fine. Do what's right for you.

MRex · 03/06/2019 09:09

The SIDS risk isn't much greater beyond 4 months, but it is still a risk. Other risks are illnesses, which will only just be starting at her age as you begin to socialise her; in another room you'll be less aware if she suddenly develops a fever or vomits, so you'll need to check on her a lot more and have a backup plan for any nights when she's very ill and you need to be near her. We still have DS with us at 14 months and no sign of moving him yet, but he's a particularly cuddly one and it makes us all happy; you have to balance what's best for your own family. I'm not sure it's always helpful to ask a question like this, you'll get responses to tell you it's fine and responses to say it's dangerous; that won't help you make a decision. Write up your pros and cons, work out a plan for illness and do whatever looks best to you.

LegoPiecesEverywhere · 03/06/2019 09:11

I wouldn’t. My dc were noisy sleepers so we put on white noise.

Chilledout11 · 03/06/2019 09:11

I waited until 5 months / 5 and a half I think (bought a travel cot as ds outgrew basket)

Celebelly · 03/06/2019 09:12

I suspect they are minimal if other safe sleep guidelines are followed. Netherlands has the lowest rate of SIDs but there it's common for babies to be in their own room from early on. I believe the advice there is (or was) very anti co-sleeping too for the first three months, although co-sleeping is apparently a more socially acceptable SIDs risk on Mumsnet!

gingerpaleandproud · 03/06/2019 09:12

@OpportunityKnocks the Lullaby Trust does say babies should only sleep in a room with someone else, including naps, until they are 6months.

OP I really wouldn't move them yet. The risk is small but present, and this can help reduce it. It's 6 more weeks. Get earplugs, take it in turn to sleep in a different room. Just keep your baby in with you as per the advice.

BertieBotts · 03/06/2019 09:14

Personally I'd be comfortable with it after 4 months. The risk is extremely low.

Opportunity, we don't actually know why babies are safer in with a parent, it's just a correlational evidence thing. Some of the theories:

  • Baby is in a lighter sleep due to being disturbed by noises which means they are more easily aroused and do not go into an extremely deep sleep which may cause SIDS
  • Baby hears the rhythm of adult breathing which "reminds" them to breathe.
  • Slightly higher concentration of CO2 in the room due to adults breathing out stimulates babies' breathing.

But although some people will claim this is "the reason" we don't actually know whether any of these are actually the explanation.

The research doesn't actually specify an age, the guidelines do because it makes more sense in the context of guidelines. But we don't really know whether it is as protective at a year as it is at two months. The guideline age of six months seems to be a best guess based on other risk factors (age, likelihood of rolling over) and based on cultural practices (most parents in the UK prefer to move babies out before a year)

Tigger001 · 03/06/2019 09:15

The chances are your LO will be fine but I personally would not be able to settle at that age. My cousin has experiences cot death, so for me, it would be a no.

AllyBamma · 03/06/2019 09:16

I moved my noisy sleeper to his own room at 4 months, just across the hall and with a video monitor. Best thing we ever did, improved sleep immensely on both sides

Bojangles33 · 03/06/2019 09:16

DS was in his own room around 5 months I think, because we were disturbing him. It helped (until the sleep regression around 7 months).

If you don't feel comfortable moving him, try earplugs. The silicone ones are good

pinkdelight · 03/06/2019 09:16

Some people do it but I didn't and wouldn't. Why doesn't DH sleep in the other room if it's a problem for him?

Mumbaikar · 03/06/2019 09:18

Could you get your husband ear plugs or could he sleep elsewhere? No way could I have slept without my baby at that age.

OpportunityKnocks · 03/06/2019 09:23

@ginger it does, but it doesn't say what the risk factors are. It just says to keep them in the same room.

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