I am co sleeping but don’t want to - tips on getting baby in his cot

[lavenderandwisteria]

Ds used to sleep in a next to me crib with a purflo sleep nest, and he slept reasonably well, waking once or twice in the night.

He is six months next week and all of a sudden became very mobile, rolling around a lot and so the purflo wasn’t really suitable. Tried him in his cot but he just keeps waking and crying. I end up taking him in bed with me where he does sleep but I don’t really want this long term!

Any advice? He generally goes to bed between eight and eight thirty in the evening but then wakes sometimes before 10 crying.

Everyone keeps saying babies often sleep better in their own room but mine isn’t!

Loads of babies hate cots. Look it up, it’s definitely a thing. In a rage one day I dismantled our cot, which DD and I had both grown to hate, and I put her on the cot mattress on the floor by our bed. Lots of countries use floor beds for babies and children. I fed her on the floor then rolled away when she nodded off, she settled on it happy as Larry from the first night. She carried on waking up but she’d literally just sit up and wait for me to cuddle or pat her silently instead of waking, grabbing the cot bars and crying. She’s 2 and still on her cot mattress floor her and loves it.

Well, I know many do but he did sleep well in a crib so would like to continue with him in a proper bed of sorts, I don’t mind cot alternatives but not sure about the floor!

Okay, then carry on as you are and hope things improve. Just sharing my experience.

I know - I’m not sure why you’re being snippy with me to be honest, I wasn’t rude in my reply, I just don’t really want my baby sleeping on the floor!

Tbh op it’s either your bed or cot.
He’s too young to have his own ‘proper’ bed so to speak.

Where does he nap?
If elsewhere and not in cot, start with one nap a day in the cot. Case of putting back down if they get up and walk out the room. If you again, go in and put back down.
Once one nap is good, go onto another nap and build it up until you know he’s happy and going to sleep well in it before introducing sleep on a nighttime in there.
Do you spend time in his room?

Can you try using the cot for naps to begin with? Might then be an easier transition to overnight?

He naps everywhere to be honest! Sometimes on me, or his rocker, or the bed or the pram / sling / car. He has napped in the cot without a problem, so I’m not sure if I’m panicking a bit too much when he wakes up crying.

We do spend time in his room, it has toys and so on there so he’s familiar with it.

Your maybe over thinking it, we all do!
Try him with naps in it and build up, you may be surprised how well he does!

If he naps okay in the cot then whenever you're at home use it for all naps so he starts to equate the cot with sleep and then just go for it overnight. You're bound to have some unsettled nights to begin with but allow him a minute or two to self- soothe and I'm sure he'll get there. Good luck.

A gradual retreat method helped my baby when he was 6 months to get used to the cot. Look up 'The baby sleep solution' book by Lucy Wolfe if interested. You stay with them whilst they fall asleep in the cot and gradually over a few days move further towards the door.

Yes, he goes to sleep okay but he doesn’t stay asleep, is the problem! Just keeps waking up! Do I just need to be persistent with that then? I feel a bit mean

Don’t feel mean honestly.
Keep persistent, because if he knows you’ll just put him in your bed if he doesn’t sleep he’ll keep doing it. Babies are clever 😉
Have you tried white noise before? I swear by it

Yes, there’s actually a small fan in his room at the moment because of the heat.

Right then, will have to be a bit firmer

Good luck op!

Could try waiting initially for ten mins to see if self-settles. If doesn't do some gentle soothing talking or stroking or sit quietly in the room with them. If that doesn't work give a quick cuddle then put back down. If you want them to stay in the cot try and use coming out of cot as a final resort if really not settling. Good luck

Next to me without purflo in his room? Then once settled try cot again. Maybe just to many changes all at once? Says she who has moved baby same age from my bed, to next to me, then next to me to sitting room, and now hall, making its way to her room!

Not sure what the deleted post said, but just to update he’s sleeping really well now, just waking once in the night (usually!) long may it continue!