Co-sleeping nightmare and new baby due

[emmalinewre]

Hi!
We began co-sleeping with our now three year old and are now in a total pickle.
He wakes up around three hours after being put to bed and demands his daddy come in to sleep with him.
If DH does sneak out once DS has fallen back asleep, its only a few hours tops until the same thing happens.
This is every night. Often DH will just give up, and stay in with him until morning - which of course means he sleeps through.
Our new baby is due in a few weeks!
What are we going to do?! I have some mobility issues so can't be solely responsible for new baby during the night - also unable to breastfeed so we're formula feeding.
Also booked in for a section, so will be basically crippled for at least the first week anyway! Not able to change nappies etc at least initially.
Has anyone been in a similar predicament?
Thanks!

Your three year old is old enough to explain to. Your husband just needs to be tough about putting to bed and leaving after a quick hug and kiss and repeating for any get ups so they know this is the new routine. We had similar anxiety about moving our three year old out from cosleeping before a new baby and had expected pushback for weeks but it turned out to only need two days of a bit of back and forth and then he stayed in his room- they pick it up surprisingly quickly. Do it as soon as you can before the new baby is here.

Would love this to happen, alas he has never fallen asleep by himself - its always been snuggled with a parent. I'm not sure he's capable of learning to at this stage! Ahhhh!

I've been recommended the sleep fairy book, my lo is a little young for it yet but melons to try it as they get older heard good things for using it with 3 years olds

He can if you persevere with teaching him. It won't happen spontaneously. There are different methods outlined on google - probably best to choose the one you can be consistent with.

You definitely have time to sort this, but I'm not sure why you think you won't be able to change nappies after a section? Or do nights? Most people will be doing this alone in hospital straight after it?

Er.. ok. Its different for everyone. Have you had a c-section..?
I had a section before and I couldn't lift myself out of bed, let alone bend over and change a nappy. Apparently healing from a second section is even worse.

They don't do it alone - the nurses on the ward did any nappy changes and lifting baby out of the cot on the night I spent in hospital post-section.

This. Time to be consistent. Your DH will need to instigate and carry out a routine for your child to learn to stay in his bed.

@emmalinewre - actually I was left to it after a section. In fact, the night of my section I was told to walk 2 floors away and deliver my own colustrum where my baby was in nicu for the first night. The second day he came back to me- i stayed for 5 nights and he didn't change a single nappy. So don't take it for granted they'll do it all again for you.

Aside from that- I'm in the same position re co sleeping with a toddler and new baby coming. So no answers. But sympathies!

*they didn't change a single nappy for me

Not taking it for granted, I've already checked with the hospital, which is a different one than where my first baby was born - they won't be making me lift/change on the night (hoping I'm only in for one!)
I'm sure it depends which hospital etc.

Troll/Psycho/Bot
Can't decide.

What about buying a double bed for the second room so your partner can put your child to bed and stay until he falls asleep, if you do this now maybe by the time baby gets here it will be an easier transition. Sorry if it's not much help but an idea? All the best with your pregnancy and congratulations! 💐

Yes, more than one. Like PP, there was no one on the ward who would change nappies/lift out the cot etc.

It was fine, just change on the bed so you're not bending over so much.

I healed much faster from my second section then my first and have heard a few women say the same so hope you do too. There was also a lot more help in the hospital with the first but they should help if you ask them too.

Theres less than 2 years between mine but before the youngest arrived we started getting the eldest used to being a bit more independent. Those wheat filled toys you warm in the microwave worked quite well as she used to kick off her covers and get too hot and also started making sure she had that one special toy for comfort. She still came in with us sometimes but nowhere near as much. A couple of sleepovers at Nanny and Grandads helped too.

Good luck and congratulations on the pending new arrival