If your newborn slept on you...

[thisisreallyfunny]

...at what point did they sleep in their cot?

Mine is currently 8weeks and getting quite chunky so am wondering how much longer I can keep this up!?

Mine slept in with us till he was around 1 1/2. The transition was ok for him as I’d always put him down for naps in his cot and would start his evening sleep off in the cot, then go and get him when we went to bed.

I’m in the same boat as you OP. 8 weeks old and will only sleep on my chest (with me propped up). He has reflux so prefers to be upright, I’ve tried propping up his crib and using a wedge cushion but he still won’t sleep in his crib. He is super alert and fights sleep at the best of times so this is the only way we get any. I’m worried I’ve made a rod for my own back already. He’s such a light sleeper too, the slightest sound or movement wakes him so I can’t even transfer him once he’s asleep. I can’t get on with any jobs in the house as I’m either carrying him or he’s sleeping on me

9 months for us before he would sleep not on me. We still co sleep now he is almost 2, although we do put him to bed on his own (but in our bed). He’s getting his own room in the new year though. Enjoy the snuggly times, they go by in the blink of an eye!

How on earth do you sleep with a baby on top of you though? I've often wondered this and 30 weeks with number 2 and scared it's going to be a very different experience from my first who slept in the crib quite nicely...

My dd would only sleep on my chest for the better part of the night until somewhere between 3 and 4 months. I then tried to train her to sleep in the co sleeper, never really succeeded though and she ended up sleeping next to me in bed (done as safely as i could). Although when she got to 6 months she did start to settle ok in a cot at the end of our bed, but still ended up in with me most nights until 10/11 months. Now (20 months) generally sleeps ok in her own room. It's hard and it often feels relentless but it does get better!! 8 weeks is still so tiny, don't stress about routines or what they "should" be doing

I slowly made the transition by using the cardigan/wrap i had worn as the top sheet and made it nest like. Then used a sleeping bag type gro/bag to make them not feel in open space.

Not what you want to hear, but about 6 or 7 years! The cot was a complete waste of money, although it was a cot bed so we got some use out of it, as a bed. The cot sides were useful as makeshift barriers, tied to my bed frame, when they were sleeping in my bed. 😂

I know the feeling my 9 week old starts off in his Moses basket but nearly always ends up on my chest anytime between 2-5am. I've started putting my hand on his belly/shoulder as if he was lying on me or holding his hand (when he's in Moses basket) and it's settled him. Thinking of putting his next to me crib up this week, hoping that helps!

Also it's good seeing so many people who's baby's have slept on their chest, usually I only see co sleepers who sleep beside their babies on here

My eldest from about 4.5 months. He was a cracking sleeper. My youngest, still doesn't. I feed to sleep and sneak away. He's 10 months. Both exclusively slept on me for at least 3 months

Mine always slept this way for naps. Until they no longer napped. Was able to sleep in the cot (beside my bed) for the night though. I loved it, it was such a lovely time, I would have a book, snack and drink, settled onto the sofa and feed them to sleep then have a bit of peace while I watched their angelic faces and read my books or faffed on mumsnet for an hour or 2.

The answer from me is, I'm afraid, never!

I battled and battled to get DD1 to settle in her cot. After a few months I gave up and co-slept. With DS and DD2 I didn't even bother trying the cot: we co-slept from day 1. I found we all got a lot more sleep co-sleeping (following the safety guidelines of course).

1.5 and 2 straight into a toddler bed.

So people safely sleep with babies on their chest? I thought that was a big no no?! I’ve been making DP stay awake as I thought it was dangerous for some reason, although I’m not sure why?

If it’s safe to do that would be amazing.

I did always wonder why people suggested co sleeping was the magic solution to babies who only sleep on you, as surely beside you isn’t really a help.

It's not recommended. But life with babies is tough and you do what you have to do.

Mine mostly slept beside me (with their heads wedged in my armpit) but if they were unsettled I'd put them on my chest.

Patrick, I found that if I was lying down flat in bed and they fell asleep on my chest I could generally slowly ease them off to lie next to me and they were fine. But I appreciate that this might not be the case for others.

@Nothisispatrick the V pillow is my friend to help stay propped up but also have a layer so he doesn't fall off the bed. It's not a deep sleep it's very light and I couldn't do a full night of it or I'd be seriously ill so fast, mostly early mornings after early morning feeds!

Mine starts in the cot but still ends up coming in our bed in the night and spends part of the night pretty much on me at 14mo. I don't recommend this, she's pretty effing heavy now! Never intended to co sleep but DD has been adamant about it from birth

He still naps better on me (or someone else) than on his own and he's nearly two. That's ok with us though so we've never tried to change it