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Parenting

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Original poster

DS doesn't like his cot!

18 replies

boundarybabe · 26/09/2009 21:15

has anyone else encountered this? DS has decided he doesn't like his cot. He was going down with little or no problem-sometimes fighting sleep but the cot itself not an issue. Recently when he has gone down in the cot he has started screaming and crying inconsolably if he wakes up - sometimes at night that can be 5 mins after going to bed if he is disturbed, but often in the middle of the night he will wake naturally.e will quite happily fall asleep on our bed, the spare bed or the sofa. The last couple of nights we have had him in with us all night

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Original poster

boundarybabe · 26/09/2009 21:17

sorry, meant to add he will fall asleep on another bed whether we're there or not so don't think it's a separation thing.

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mum23monkeys · 26/09/2009 21:47

how old is he?

LynetteScavo · 26/09/2009 21:49

It's not that he doesn't like his cot; he doesn't like being seperated from you.

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Original poster

boundarybabe · 26/09/2009 22:12

he's 7 months. He will fall asleep without us there, just not in the cot- so i don't think it's separation anxiety- i don't mind co-sleeping but would rather it wasn't our only option. We think it might be a comfort thing- when he's on a bed he's lying on a duvet - perhaps that's just more comfy?!

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fannybanjo · 26/09/2009 22:17

Yes, we had this with DD1. We worked out that she kept waking herself up by getting trapped in the cot bars. We ended up moving her to the travel cot (we bought a proper mattress for it) and from that moment on, she slept wonderfully!

lowrib · 26/09/2009 23:02

I'm finding recently that DS sleeps much better in the travel cot than the cot - I reckon it's because there's more room. He moves about quite a lot when asleep and ends up in uncomfortable positions and in the bars.

I'm not happy with him sleeping in a travel cot long term though as the mattress is very thin and I'm not sure if that's good for his back?

I'm considering either moving him to some kind of bigger cot-bed, or maybe even getting a bespoke mattress made for the travel-cot if that's where he seems to be happy long term. (I found a place online which will make them).

fannybanjo did you have to get one made - where did you get yours?

Watching this thread with interest.

Original poster

boundarybabe · 27/09/2009 07:27

hmm- again i don't think that's the issue as once he's asleep he hardly moves. It's literally wake up, lift head, scream. He's only got a foam mattress and i wonder if it's uncomfortable. Bit loathe to spend out on a decent one when it might not work! (skint)

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sandcastles · 27/09/2009 07:52

Maybe he has too much room either side of him, have you tried swaddling him?

Original poster

boundarybabe · 27/09/2009 11:17

he has a sleeping bag, and i've tried packing the sides of the cot with rolled blankets etc. I just spent half an hour trying get him to nap in the cot- he had a complete tantrum- put him on my bed and he passed out instantly! He woke up twice in the night crying even though he was in bed with his dad (i spent the night in the spare room catching up!). I really don't know what the problem is.

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sandcastles · 27/09/2009 12:59

Have you tried puttinug him in there awake, to play? Or do you have a bassinet? Maybe put him in that, in the cot to get used to it?

Original poster

boundarybabe · 27/09/2009 15:39

no bassinet- he doesn't fit anymore! He's been in the cot with no problem for about 3 months, it's just the last couple of weeks. I have been creative with a duvet to try and make his cot more 'nest-like' -obviously without creating a suffocation hazard! So we shall see. Hopefully just a phase but will keep on with the suggestions.

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fannybanjo · 27/09/2009 18:34

Unfortunately boundary, some babies just seem to be slightly picky over where they sleep! I doubt there is a "problem" with him, he is just shouting out with his preference. Unless you want to leave him to cry it out in his cot, you will be up and down with him. That decision is up to you.

lowrib, it was an internet site but it was over 6 years ago and I can't remember which one!

Original poster

boundarybabe · 27/09/2009 20:07

yes, i think that may the case fanjo- who'd have thought he'd prefer a king size double to a tiny cot? The little beggar . He's had the hump all day today anyway - think he may have a dicky tummy so that won't help. If any co-sleepers are reading this i'd be interested to know how long you ended up co-sleeping for?! Any tips for someone who wasn't planning to co-sleep but may have ended up doing it anyway??

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Original poster

boundarybabe · 28/09/2009 11:10

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone with suggestions - DS slept the night in his cot 'nest' last night - looks like he's just a child who likes his creature comforts!

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GentleOtter · 28/09/2009 11:16

Please talk me through how you did it, boundarybabe?
We have been having exactly the same issue and last night was utter hell. Ds ended up in our bed alone.....sleeping nicely.

I keep droppping things and bursting into tears today. Ds is bright as a button.

Original poster

boundarybabe · 28/09/2009 12:33

Well I don't profess to be an expert.....

But, I think through a process of elimination we worked out that DS liked sleeping on a bed because it was more comfy than a cot mattress (he was on top of our duvet). Also, when you're on top of a duvet you sink a bit, so I think he didn't feel as exposed. So we bought a single duvet and wrapped it around the cot mattress (luckily the width of the duvet was the same as the length of the mattress), obviously making sure the ends were firmly underneath - they actually overlap a bit. We just put a duvet cover on instead of trying to fit a sheet over the finished article. We let him fall asleep on our bed instead of trying to settle him in the cot so he wasn't in anyway upset and transferred him once he'd dropped off. He did wake up about two hours after going down and I just gave him a cuddle to calm him and put him straight back in the cot. He went back to sleep straight away and only woke once in the night (but didn't cry). The plan now is that that can be his duvet which should give him some continuity once he transfers to a bed.

Of course, this may have been a one off but hopefully we've cracked it. Good luck with yours! How old is your DS?

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GentleOtter · 28/09/2009 13:03

Thank you.

Ds is 2 and it is our own fault for taking him in beside us - it was easier feeding him through the night.

Now he wants our bed which has a wool mattress with one of those fancy pants memory foam mattresses on top - it is super comfy.

We will try anything. I lament when he outgrew his Amby hammock as he slept all night in it.

Original poster

boundarybabe · 28/09/2009 13:16

Maybe you could get a memory foam topper for his bed/cot...? Or as he's a bit older perhaps create a hammock by suspending a duvet from the cot sides (may be stretching the creativeness there a bit!)

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