co-sleepers/BFers, tried something out of desperation, it worked, but...

[bohemianbint]

...not sure what to do now...

Basically had two horrific nights where I got no sleep for being kicked and non stop feeding. Out of desperation last night, I settled DS in the evening, fed on demand, but at 11pm I went upstairs to sleep on my own (I really needed to get some proper sleep) and left DS with DH.

So get this, DS fell asleep, almost instantly, and slept through until 7am. I went down at 6am and he was fast asleep, apparently he'd woken twice, but DH just rocked him back to sleep in minutes and they slept soundly together. Without me!

So, while this is great, it raises some questions:

• If DS goes that long without a feed at night I'm worried that he won't breastfeed for as long. (DS1 slept through from 6 months but stopped feeding just before his first birthday)

If he can sleep this well it's obviously better for everyone, but* do I have to move out of my bed and into the loft permanently?

• Do we seriously have to lie in the dark with him from 7pm just to make sure he sleeps?

What do you think? Very interesting experiment I thought, but not sure what to do with the results...

how old is he?

good point, sorry - he's 26 weeks on Saturday.

I don't think anything that happens over one night or two really predicts what will happen for the next few months or years.

So - lets count our blessings here - you've had a proper sleep. Your ds has had a good sleep. Your dh has stepped up and done a bloody good job. It's all good!

I certainly don't think you should feel you have to lie with him from 7pm - eventually he will learn to self settle because we all do - unfortunately nobody can say when. How old is he anyway?

x posted

Rigt so he's going to get more mobile soon and start having some solid food as well as milk if he hasn't already? Both those things can change sleep patterns and behaviour - as can his natural development. Lots of babies find the world becomes a scarier place at 6 months plus and they need a parent's presence to feel safe. I think you should go with the flow but remember that this has worked for you last night and could do so again in the future, Good luck.

Thanks NL.

He did, probably by coincidence have half a weetabix last night (first food he's actually eaten rather than just explored IYSWIM) but he was awake all evening from 7-11pm because we were disturbed at the time he usually goes to sleep, so he just didn't.

I really don't want him to sleep on his own at this stage - what would be ideal would be for him to settle in his co-sleeper, sleep alone for a couple of hours, and then carry on sleeping when we come up to bed. It's been the last couple of nights of nobody getting any sleep at all that have been the killer and something needed to alter.

I think we might try something similar tonight and see how it goes- it didn't really bother DH as he still managed to sleep, I just missed being in my bed, but it's not the end of the world until I catch up.

Do you think that 7 hours is too long for a 6m old to go without milk or am I being a bit bonkers?

It's longer than dd3 would have gone - but my dd1 went from 12 till 7 from a very early age so no I don't think it's too long ime.If he is demand feeding at other times he will be getting enough.

Regarding sleep - it varies so much on individual baby doesn't it. Dd3 was a light sleeper so when she shared with us - before we moved house - she woke every night after we went to bed. When we moved and put her in her own room (she was a year old) she started sleeping through - greatly to my relief! I think you need to do whatever gets you all through this stage with the greatest ease.

why not keep him up till 11 and settle him then? i think i was taking ds up at about 10pm by that stage. i started moving my ds into bedside cot about 9m, although that is a way off for you.

Could you and DH swop sides of the bed??

All my dc went 12 hours without milk at this age even the 3 that were bf, one as early as 10 days old (large birth weight)