11wk old sleep advice - am I going wrong?

[Giraffe888]

Morning All 😃

I’m just after some advice/opinions as I’m unsure what to do for the best.

We co-sleep.

My DS has had colic since 5wks and every night he’s been woken in pain by his tummy from 2am so has then been unsettled/upset/in pain for the rest of the night resulting in no sleep for either of us.

We’ve got a snuzpod which he hated at first but on the odd occasion he has settled in it and sometimes after the first feed but he now won’t entertain it at all.

A few nights ago in desperation as I was ill, when he woke at 1am I put his head in my elbow join then laid his body down the side of my body (if that makes sense?!) to see if that would settle him better. I’ve now done it for the last 3 nights and he’s sleeping a lot better and seems a lot more settled.

He hasn’t been writhing and screaming in as much pain the last few nights. I don’t know if that’s because of how he’s sleeping or if his colic is easing as he’s getting older.

My question is, am I creating problems for myself by doing this? Should I stop doing it now? or is there an age when I should stop doing it and be trying more to get him to sleep without sleeping in my arm?

I just feel like I don’t know what to do for the best and that any decision I make is the wrong one and I’m doubting myself as to whether I’m actually helping us out or making things worse 🙁

I’ve not described how he’s sleeping properly! My arm is tucked in my side, his head and body are on my arm running down the side of my body. The snuzpod is next to my arm if he was to roll

See a doctor about DS colic before your arm drops off. You havn't mentioned breast feeding, so there could be a milk problem. Being this attached ATM is not too bad, the sooner DS can be independant in the snuzpod or cot, the better, and certainly within 6months. I look forward to seeing some more replies. Best wishes.

Sorry yes I am BF. My arm doesn’t ache it’s fine. I’m hoping the colic might go soon as he’s 12wk next wk!

OP, my nearly-six-month-old daughter sleeps mainly in my armpit; she also used to entertain the Snuzpod but currently doesn't.

Her sleep patterns have changed frequently though, so I'm not too worried – despite the ominous-sounding advice above about getting them to sleep independently by six months... Some nights she cuddles right in, some nights she starfishes away. At some point she'll bugger off to her own bed with some gentle nudging I hope. And if she doesn't, or migrates back, I do think that's down to the child's temperament, not bad habits.

@burritofan thank you that’s helpful to know! 😃

I have a similar pattern to burritofan with my 4mo.

Whatever works...

I do agree that to some extent it is down to the individual childs temperament, having said that there are plenty of OP on here wondering how to get there 4YO to sleep in their own bed. Presumably you wind DS before he lays down in the crook of your arm, that angle doesn't seem high enough to burp him. Once settled he should be delivered to the snuzpod. You did say that you were unwell when you first tried this technique, I still think it is wiser to burp him and lay him in the snuzpod, you could try leaving a warm water bottle there ready, to avoid the shock of a cold sheet.