When to start putting baby upstairs to bed?

[Sparrowlegs248]

Ds2 is 5.5 months old. So far, has had his bedtime feed and gone to sleep downstairs in his sleepyhead, on the sofa.

However, he's a big baby, and taking him.up in the sleepyhead is not easy. I think ds1 started going 'to bed' at around this age.

I have a few issues though. First, he's in a cot with the side off next to the bed. He's been rolling since he was 3months old, though I suppose the sleepyhead stops him doing this. Was worried about him rolling across and off the bed. He's quick! Will ultimately wean off the sleepyhead I suppose.

Second - Ds2 is asleep in the other room from 8pm. Really really don't want to disturb him. He sleeps really well now, but isn't easy to resettle. Worry about ds2 disturbing him.

He had been sleeping 8-3, but recently is more unsettled, often waking once or twice before midnight. Not sure if the light/noise downstairs is disturbing him or if I should not bother with 'bedtime' til he sleeps a longer stretch

SIDS guidelines say not before 6 months.

Mine were all ready by around 5 months old. Once mine were going to sleep early evening and having to be woken by me for when I wanted to go to bed (rather than baby waking up and me using that as my bedtime call), that's when we did upstairs bedtimes. So I was only expecting 7/8pm-11pm ish stretch of sleep, at which point bedtime went upstairs.

We had the side back on the cot by then though, because rolling has started. As you say, the sleepyhead should help with this is you keep the side off. Or a pool noodle under the bottom sheet should help avoid accidental rolling while asleep. As for deliberate rolling around when awake, you'd need to be committed to coming into the room asap if baby wakes, to stop this.

Alternatively, you could just put the side back on the cot now. I'd still have the cot next to my bed, but change the settling techniques to the reaching over he cot side variety. If you're not needing to do much settling any way, this might be your best plan. It'll start teaching independant in-cot settling and is going to be necessary ready for when you start cot daytime naps.

Thanks Fate. This is a very different baby to ds1!! I'm keen not to mess it up too much given how good he is. Also, he's really taken to the dummy these last couple of weeks. Pop it in, off to sleep. Fx it continues.

I don't think we're ready for side back on the cot yet, so will wait til he's a bit more settled in the evenings before taking him up. Or I might try taking him and going with him as I wonder if the light/TV might be disturbing him now.