Sleeping in my bed

[LynnC]

DD has just turned 1yr and over past couple of weeks has ended up in my bed sleeping every night. I know its bad and really want to put an end to the vicious cycle I have got into. She took ill at new year and couldnt breath properly and was getting so upset trying to sleep I took her in with me one night, then two nights and so on. She was bad before hand with teething and I would sit up for hours on end cuddling her to go back to sleep sometimes only getting 3-4 hours each night which was just killing me when I have to get up for work but at least she was in her own room. I just dont know how to break this cycle, I either sit up in her room with her or take her in with me and hope to get some sleep. Getting very emotional through worry of her sleeping with me, lack of sleep and thought of how long it will last. Any advice please?????

What do you want? What don't you like about it?

Things don't need to be done by the textbook, things need to fit in with your family life. What i'm trying to say is if you don't mind dd sleeping in your bed then don't worry about it.

My dd used to be a terrible sleeper, she'd go down in her cot but then get up in the middle of the night and sleep with us for the rest of it. She is now three and still doing that. We don't mind she walks silently into our room and climbs into our bed ( i often wonder if she is sleepwalking) so this doesn't disturb either of us and we enjoy the cuddles!

If it suits you then don't change it.

I suppose what I really want is just to get her to sleep right through again in her own cot and get a good nights sleep myself. I know it is nice for her to lie beside me but I just cant sleep, worrying if she too hot/cold, is she got her face in covers etc. But its nice to hear someone say its ok rather than telling me I have to stop it - thanks Hattie

Has anyone used a pick up/put down method? Or any other advice? Really would like to get dd to sleep through night in her own cot.

bump - another night ended up beside me, anyone please help how to break this cycle.

If you really don't want her getting in your bed, then you will have to prepare for a few sleepless nights to retrain her.

Why don't you try pick up put down for a few nights and see how it goes?

You need to break the habit basically, which pick up put down could do. You just need willpower

Good luck

Thanks Hattie, I know your right just easier sometimes (most times) to give in rather than cope with the crying. Never used CC or pick up put down so not sure how it will go but think I will need to try something soon. Hopefully be strong enough to try this weekend. No point putting it off........maybe invest in some earplugs - not looking forward to this!

Hi

Just wanted to wish you luck! Sleep training method used IMO really depends on your parenting style and what you're comfortable with and your little one, and what they respond too best. I tried controlled crying first of all and because I wasn't 100% comfortable with it, ended up caving in after about an hour and dd then refused to go near her cot ever again because she associated it with bad feelings. Long story short, she ended up with her cotbed, minus the bars, beside my bed in a sidecar arrangement, (with one side against the wall) for a while and then when she was just over 12 months, we added a bed rail between the two to start the separation process. Now, at the age of 16 months, she's back in her own room with the cotbed converted into a bed and with the bedrail still in place.

I loved co-sleeping but I do agree that you don't sleep too well. Just do whatever feels right for you and your little one - trust your instincts.

Hope it goes ok.

Lynn, it's not bad to sleep with her, it's fine as long as both of you are happy and you follow a few basic precautions. It can work very well if your child is the sort who is up a lot in the night as you never have to get out of bed to them

However if you do want to get her back in a cot good luck. She is very young to try controlled crying though I think. Sorry I don't have the answer but just wanted to reassure you that sharing a bed with her is not wrong at all.