Transferring back into cot - or not?

[teamnomistake]

My DS2 is 6 weeks old and generally doing pretty well with sleep. He generally wakes up twice in the night for feeds - about 1ish and 4ish(he's exclusively bf) So far, so good, but the issue is how long it takes to settle him after a feed. On a bad night it's taken up to 2 hours, which is a killer when it happens twice a night, particularly as we also have a teething toddler.

The set up we have is that DS2 has a cot in what was the guest room, so also has a double bed. It's right next to our room, and we keep the doors open, so I hear him as soon as he starts fussing, but not every tiny squeak. He starts off in the cot in the evening. When he wakes, I go in and feed him lying down on the bed. The last few nights, instead of transferring him back to the cot (which seems to really wake him up), I've waited until he is really sleepy, then moved all the bedding away from him, covered him with the cot blanket and tiptoed out. Hallelujah! Suddenly a feed takes 30 minutes.

But now I'm worrying that I'm making a rod for my back not putting him back into the cot and also that it might not be safe to leave him on the bed. Any wise words?

My philosophy is do whatever makes the maximum number of members of the household sleep at night. I would try to nestle him in with some cushions though. Not sure what your family set up is, but I found when dad holds them after a feed, it takes them all of 5 minutes (as opposed to sometimes HOURS) to fall back asleep.

My solution to this was co-sleeping. We didn't plan to do it, but when I found that I could lie down while feeding DS and just drift off to sleep together if I was tired and he slept about an hour longer in the mornings it was (for us at least) a no brainer.

Sorry I know that's not exactly what you asked, but maybe it'll help?

There I like your sleep philosophy!

Have tried putting a jot water bottle in the cut to keep it warm? I found this worked well. Also bringing the blanket while you feed him and keeping him wrapped in it as a cold bed wakes them up.

I am v impressed that you stay awake long enough to feed and get out of the bed in DS's room and take yourself back to your own bed, I know I can't manage it! I agree with There, whatever gets everyone the most sleep. Worry about sorting out any habits that become undesirable (such as not liking cot, which shouldn't be too difficult to resolve) later on. If you can also feed on your side and get some sleep yourself then go for that!