occasional co-sleep confusing?

[claremoss]

Hi,
currently my LO is feeding 3 hourly at night (4.5months) when she was going through till about 4am at 3 months. Because she does not settle well at the moment after the 4am feed, I bring her in with me to sleep. Someone said that she may get used to that and not settle in her cot?? Or that it will confuse her?? Can I do it occasionally? My partner and I always bring her in on a Sunday morning with us for a lie in, and even though we have decided not to co-sleep it is so lovely to do it occasionally and harmless surely? Help?!

you might find she starts making earlier and earlier to come in with you. I co sleep for half the night and it works well for us.

I have found sleep to be an ever-changing, illogical whirlwind of chaos without any rhyme or reason to it (DD is now 13 months). Just do what works for you at the time and yields the most pleasant nights.

Agreed that whatever works one week won't be the same the next, so don't stress about it.

I co slept with my DS from 4am ish for about 3 months! Last week we were on holiday and the travel cot provided was pretty manky so we co slept all night. He is now back home and sleeping 12 hours in his cot in own room. He's 8 months. Just go with the flow, you'll be much less stressed overall!

I agree with delilah. DS2 (8m) also doesn't settle well after the 4am-or-thereabouts feed and I often take him into the spare room bed with me to try and get an extra hour out of him. It's completely unpredictable, and so far it has had no effect on whether he'll sleep in his cot at other times or other mornings when he goes through the 4am blip without a problem. I don't think babies get nearly so confused as their parents do - they just know what's right for them when that's what's right for them. When it changes, it changes and we just have to keep up. Co-sleep when you want if it's what works and don't worry about habits - cross one bridge at a time!

Thanks guys!