My 9 month old sleeps in our bed. This wasn't planned, he was waking the whole house in the first month (my partner and I, and 3.5 year old DD was getting toy trains out at 3am!!) I have ME and my partner a v demanding job – we were almost hallucinating with tiredness and DD was becoming tired at nursery etc
I have to say, it has been lovely having him in our bed and I now wish I had had my DD in bed with us when she was a bubs. My parenting style has changed significantly in the last 3 years.
Anyhoo, we think it is probably time he move into his own cot next to the bed, for various reasons, (my bedtime is now 7.30 so he can get his sleep, I would quite like to have my own later bedtime, and more importantly DD’s behaviour is suggesting a bit of jealousy and I don’t want her to be feeling sad (she sleeps in her own room)
I’m breast feeding so I imagine he will be in and out of our bed for feeds during the night.
I would like to achieve the following:
• DS to be able to go to sleep in his own cot
• For him to be able to sleep for periods in his own cot at night between feeds
I am dreading the change, I expect there to be crying ahead and lots of angst!!
I tried controlled crying with DD, it did work but I found the experience really distressing and in hindsight wish I had found a gentler method to try with her. I don’t want to use CC again – my parenting style has changed over the past 3 years, the thought of it makes me feel distressed still. I do respect it being used by others but it’s just not for me now.
I wish there was a magic solution so there would be big smiles all round, I don’t suppose there is a magic wand to sort this issue out, but if anyone has any gentle suggestions for getting DS out of our bed into his own, I’d be v grateful!!