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Original poster

Co sleepers: how do you get out of bed without your child?

32 replies

NamingGame · 31/07/2022 21:47

Ds is almost a year old. Till recently he has always slept in his own cot (next to my bed) but for the last month or so he's been a horrible sleeper. Wakes up all the time and is inconsolable. At some point during the night I usually put him in my bed and he sleeps better there than in his cot so we both get some rest.

My problem is that I don't know how I can get up while he is still in the bed without risking him falling out of the bed. I make a wall with my massive duvet on one side and on the other side the wall is me. However, he's a very active crawler and the moment he wakes up he tries to crawl out of bed. He can easily get over the duvet wall. I'm a super light sleeper so so far I've always woken up when he has.

I'm going back to work soon so ideally I'd like to be able to get up before him so I can get ready while he's still sleeping. However I can't leave him in my bed unsupervised and I can't put him back in the cot as that would wake him. Dh has to get DD ready for school so he can't help.

What do other people do? How do you stop your baby from crawling off the bed? Is 1 (or any age at which they are crawling) just too old to co sleep?

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Garman · 31/07/2022 21:50

Bed rails.

Original poster
NamingGame · 31/07/2022 21:55

Garman · 31/07/2022 21:50

Bed rails.

But are they enough to stop a one year old? Wouldn't they be able to just climb over them? Also I'd need them on all four sides.

So I'm not worried about him accidentally rolling off the bed. I'm worried about him crawling to the edge of the bed and then deciding that it would be fun to throw himself off it (which he would totally do..on purpose).

OP posts:
GlumyGloomer · 31/07/2022 21:58

Well it's an extreme solution but I took my bed frame apart and started sleeping on a matress on the floor.

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GettingItOutThere · 31/07/2022 21:58

single air bed?? padding?

thre are bed rails you can get that go on all 4 sides of the bed!

Changeableweather · 31/07/2022 21:58

Floor bed and childproof room. Or sleep train and get him back in his cot.

catsnore · 31/07/2022 21:58

Can you put your mattress on the floor?

Original poster
NamingGame · 31/07/2022 22:01

I can't put the mattress on the floor as it wouldn't fit into the room along with the bed though that would be a great solution. I also don't want the co sleeping to be a regular thing or for the full night. I just don't have the nerve or energy to stop it now so was hoping for a quick fix.

OP posts:
QuiltedHippo · 31/07/2022 22:04

I just watch the video monitor closely, usually make a bit of a pillow barrier so they couldn't hurtle off the edge before I got there

Original poster
NamingGame · 31/07/2022 22:06

QuiltedHippo · 31/07/2022 22:04

I just watch the video monitor closely, usually make a bit of a pillow barrier so they couldn't hurtle off the edge before I got there

It's a king sized bed but he could be at the edge in a few seconds. 😮

OP posts:
MolliciousIntent · 31/07/2022 22:08

The people I know who co-sleep go to bed at the same time as their toddlers, tbh, because it is so hard to keep them safe unless you're in the room.

Garman · 31/07/2022 22:13

Then you get a video monitor and see him on that? We have a super king, one extra high bed rail on the side dc sleeps on a normal bed rail on the other side and I lay pillows below them as a slow down barrier, won't stop them. Then I can see them on the monitor so move to go to them as soon as they stir or move out of view.

whatshouldIdo2022 · 31/07/2022 22:51

Can you push the bed up against a wall? Then sleep the outer side. I do this with my 2 year old with some pillows piled at her end of the bed to stop her wiggling down in the night.

Original poster
NamingGame · 31/07/2022 23:20

whatshouldIdo2022 · 31/07/2022 22:51

Can you push the bed up against a wall? Then sleep the outer side. I do this with my 2 year old with some pillows piled at her end of the bed to stop her wiggling down in the night.

I wish but I can't. Also, he would still have 3 open sides to crawl to and fling himself off from.

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Original poster
NamingGame · 31/07/2022 23:21

Garman · 31/07/2022 22:13

Then you get a video monitor and see him on that? We have a super king, one extra high bed rail on the side dc sleeps on a normal bed rail on the other side and I lay pillows below them as a slow down barrier, won't stop them. Then I can see them on the monitor so move to go to them as soon as they stir or move out of view.

Hm we've got a video monitor but unless I'm in the ensuite bathroom I don't think I'd be quick enough to get to him when he starts crawling especially if he does it quietly without crying.

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Original poster
NamingGame · 31/07/2022 23:23

MolliciousIntent · 31/07/2022 22:08

The people I know who co-sleep go to bed at the same time as their toddlers, tbh, because it is so hard to keep them safe unless you're in the room.

Yes, so right now I only put him into my bed when I'm going to bed as well (or usually have been in bed for a few hours). And I've been on maternity leave till now so I could just lie in the bed with him till he was ready to get up.

The problem I have is in the morning. I'd like to get up before him so I can get ready for work before he wakes up.

OP posts:
5zeds · 31/07/2022 23:45

You co sleep in his room with a mattress on the floor and a stair gate (Google Montessori bedroom). Then you leave him there and go to your room.

Garman · 31/07/2022 23:49

Depends on the house I guess but we could be at the bed in seconds as soon as we'd hear or see something on the monitor, we have a bungalow though.

wishing3 · 31/07/2022 23:52

Is there room for double mattress on floor in baby’s room so you can go in and cosleep with them when needed ? Or replace your bed frame for just mattress? Or do you have partner who can watch them while you get ready? Bed rails could buy time if you’re watching on a monitor.

wishing3 · 31/07/2022 23:54

Or you could add cot with no side to bed like a giant next to me as a catch zone.

AegonT · 01/08/2022 20:42

I've put a gym mat down by the bed and taught her to get down from the sofa and other high places backwards. Me getting out if bed wakes her though.

I get up with the baby, DH gets in the shower whilst I get the baby ready and help her older sister get ready. Once DH is ready I get in the shower, he finishes getting the kids ready then takes them downstairs and gets everyone breakfast. I come downstairs, quickly eat breakfast and breastfeed the baby then we all leave for work/school/childminder. We get up at 6am, out the house at 7:30am.

Flittingaboutagain · 01/08/2022 20:44

Floor bed with no bed frame in the room is what most people I know have done for a year or so.

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 01/08/2022 20:45

Bed rails are suitable from 18 months. Mattress on the floor.

Mif4 · 01/08/2022 20:50

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Tractordiggerdump · 01/08/2022 20:57

They fall off once then learn.