9 week old baby, and health visitor advice on sleep

[feekerry]

Hello. My dd is 9 weeks old and i'm a first time novice mum. I'm super laid back and chose not to follow any routine, bf on demand, totally baby led for sleep and naps etc. Baby comes to bed with us when we go to bed. Usually about 10pm. We co sleep and she usually sleeps thru till 4 or 5 then has a feed then sleeps thru again till between 8 or 9am. She sometimes wakes thru the night but will fall back asleep. The health visitor says I should be putting her down for bed at about 7pm in her crib so we can get our evenings back. Not sure how I feel about this. Whilst the idea of getting our evenings back sound nice she doesnt seem tired at 7pm and she's used to sleeping with us. The health visitor said I should have a routine and i'm now unsure what to do. . . Help!

Ignore her! At 9 weeks, it sounds like you're doing brilliantly.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

And fwiw, ds is 16 months and we still do the same as you. It works for us, and everyone's happy :)

I don't bf, use a routine, and have never co-slept, and even I think the HV is wrong.

Routines - only work for parents and babies who WANT them
BF - BF babies need more frequent feeds than FF babies and co-sleeping helps with this
EVenings to yourself - if you are happy, then stick with it, you've got a lifetime of evenings together ahead of you

In short, if it aint broke.

Ignore the HV. You're not obliged to see them or take their advice.

Did she mean put her in the crib upstairs and you be downstairs? If so, that is the opposite of SIDS advice and that is the info she should be giving out.

Ignore her! What you are doing is clearly working for you, everyone seems to be getting good sleep. If it works leave it alone

Do what works for you. If you're happy with it, then ignore the HV.
Honestly - not everyone needs "their evenings back" - so do what you like, so long as the baby is thriving and you're all getting enough sleep, you're doing fine.

Ignore the HV. I never understood the whole "evenings to yourself" blurb. Our DD stayed downstairs with us when she was a baby, until we went to bed. She would normally drop off about 8.00 p.m. and not stir again until she wanted a feed.

If you're cosleeping and bfing then you will find ways to get all the sleep you need. I did the same and never had a bleary-eyed morning, always felt very rested and refreshed as did my colleagues who did the same, and we all worked full-time too.