If you co-sleep do you go to bed at 7pm?!!

[annatee]

Just wondering if anyone has any ideas I haven't thought of to help my 8-month old sleep in the early evening when it is too early for me to take her into my bed?

It seems like she can't get to sleep or stay asleep without me in the room, which I am ok to go along with at night time, but it means running up and down the stairs constantly throughout my dinner and only free time

I had hoped she would grow out of it but last night I was up and down 7 times until I gave in at 9.45 and went to bed with her. Going slightly loopy and would very much appreciate any sage advice from co-sleepers! Thanks, annatee

Ooh good question, DD is 9 weeks and is exactly the same. I have also wondered what to do when she is a bit older.

I tried it all with my DD. The only thing that worked, but took some effort, was the retreat sleep method - you sit with them, close by first few nights (3-4 nights), then move a couple of feet away next few nights, then a few more, til eventually your out of the door. The idea being that you are teaching them to sleep on their own, but without actually abandoning them to do it on their own.

Took us a while (about 5 weeks) but we needed weening off us being with her all the time as much as she did.

Time does sort it out too, but I think it depends rather on the child as to how much time (i.e - could be 18mths, 2yrs etc)

THe No Cry Sleep solution book has some good tips too.

Good luck

Second Elizabeth Pantley (have just suggested it on McDreamy's thread , and have also found the gradual withdrawl method helpful.

I've just this minute ordered it!!

we also co-sleep and were 'forced' to introduce a different approach from when our son was about ten weeks old. From that day we started a nice calm bed time routine from 6pm: bath with lullaby music and fairy lights in his room, cuddles and then feed. By 7pm he is usually falling asleep while I bf him in his room. I will put him in his cot and there he will sleep until dh and I go to bed, we will then take him to our room.
We have been doing the exact same routine for almost 3 months now and there has never been one single night for the first stretch of sleep!
good luck!

Yup - been going to bed at 7pm up until the other week. After 8m I can't do it any more and am trying to gently get DS to sleep in the co-sleeper alone. Wanted my evenings back, and also fed up of being scratched, booted and chewed all night.

It is a work in progress though, no real advice as yet...

i just feed ds2 on my lap in the sitting room and cuddle him until i am ready for bed
he is 9 months

i either do the same as franny, or feed off to sleep in our bed and sneak off - but that will generally mean a wake-up every 45 mins or so (i think the length of one sleep cycle?).

Being able to leave is v recent (dd is 7.5 months) though. Or, I pop her on the sofa on a blanket (safely - she can't roll off due to layout of chair and we are sitting right near her)

i like it, snuggly baby is in my lap right now!

sorry not to be more helpful though OP i do sympathise. i just decided to go with it as can't be arsed to do anything about it. also a lot of people have said their babies start sleeping more deeply around 10 months so not too worried.