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transition from co sleeping to cot?

1 reply

kandymouse · 05/11/2007 09:32

I have co slept with my 20 week old DD. If lucky, some nights in moses basket next to our bed. Our exclusively breastfed DD is getting a bit big and a such a wiggler when she sleeps that DH and I are not getting much sleep at night. We have ditched Moses basket for few weeks so she has been co sleeping with us (DD herself sleeping brillantly waking up only about 2 3 times from 7am to 7pm to breastfeed) but we feel that it's time she slept in her own space. We put a cot next to our bed with side that comes down a bit hoping that we can settle her from bed if she wakes. I tried all night trying to settle her in cot but the only way she slept, if she had a snooze at all was clinging onto my arms. I didn't get any sleep at all for about three nights and ended up putting her in bed with me around 6am at which point she slept soundly for an hour and woke up at her usual 7am. I feel defeated and feel that I will never get any sleep either way.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
RuthChan · 05/11/2007 23:42

Hi Kandymouse

It sounds like you're having a really tough time at the moment.
Lack of sleep is a real killer, isn't it.

Your DD is finding it hard to make the transition from co-sleeping to sleeping on her own in a big cot. That's really not surprising. It must be cold and lonely in comparison to the warm safety of mummy and daddy's bed.
It will take a few days for her to get used to the idea, but she will eventually.
In the meantime, there are a few things you can do.

For example, you can put her in the cot sleeping across it, not length ways. By then adding some bedding etc beside her you can make her sleeping space smaller, cosier and less daunting.

Do you put her down in the cot for daytime naps? That could help her to get used to the cot as her new sleeping space. Daytime naps are often more relaxed and casual than night time sleeping and there may be less pressure from you for her to sleep urgently. Of course it doesn't matter if such naps are comparatively short either.
You can also put her in the cot during the day to play so that she feels at home and comfortable in there.

It really seems that babies are so stubborn when it comes to sleep. They will sleep any time any place when they want to, but when they are determined not to sleep they have amazing stamina.
However, she will get used to it soon and when she does, you and your DH will sleep so much better. This short (feels long!) time of struggle will seem worth if for the gain in the long run.

I'm sorry if my advice is all obvious and things that you've already tried, but I thought you needed a positive and supportive reply.
Good luck!!

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