6 Months and Sleeping

Go back to your normal bedtime routine. If you did not have one before then start now. Make sure you put the him in his own bed and read to him or whatever works for your family. We personally always had a family bed and eventually the kids did not want to be in our bed they wanted to sleep in their own beds. I know it can be hard on you and your hubby so you need to talk and find out system that will work for the whole family.

You will get all kinds of responses to this question. I have four children and all of them slept in the bed with us when they were little. When they were babies they usually started out in bed with us and when the baby would fall asleep my hubby would gently move them to the crib. If they woke up in the middle of the night we would put them in bed with us to nurse back to sleep. In the morning I would nudge my hubby and he would put the baby back in the crib. I think babies need the security of having their parents close by. It helps them fall asleep easier. When the baby is asleep everyone gets more sleep. When they were all toddlers they would fall asleep next to me on the couch and then my hubby would gently put them in their beds. If they woke up in the middle of the night and were afraid they would climb in bed with us. My hubby would gently move them to their own bed when they fell asleep. Sometimes we fell asleep too and then we would just move them in the morning. You just have to figure out what works for you and your hubby and the baby. Talk it out with your hubby. They are little for such a short time. Just give them what they need from you as parents. I have found that if you listen to your children's needs and give them what they need from you it seems to all work out.

since your baby is under a year he needs to be sleeping in your room. the sids risk is soooo high at this age and by sleeping in the same room as the mom they baby gets signals from mom to keep breathing. get a pack n play or other small crib and place it next to your bed. at exactly one year move him to his bed. hope this helps!

As a marriage and family therapist I take a completely different view from some of the responses. What worries me is the statement that you "kicked your husband out of bed". This makes it sound like it wasn't a mutual agreement. While attending to your baby's needs is important, so is tending to your husband. The best gift we can give our children is to take care of their parents' marriage. Putting a child in bed between you and your husband (or instead of) is not good for the marriage long-term. I must respectfully disagree with one response, sleeping in bed with you or in the same room does not protect your child from SIDS. You need to go back to the routine you had before the baby went to grandma's. It might take a couple of nights but your baby will get used to the old routine. For a good way to handle this situation, check out Dr. Spock. It really helped when my son started waking up in the night at 9 months. As long as you and your husband are okay with whatever decision you make, your baby will be too. Good luck.

Hi J. - it sounds like he slept in a crib before he went to stay at g-ma's house. If he slept in a crib before, he can do it again. Yes, I know you will get plenty of e-mails about co-sleeping and the positive's and negative's, blah, blah, blah.... The reality is, you do what works for you not for anyone else. You state that you don't want to co-sleep - that is perfectly fine and nothing to feel badly about. Put him in his crib and he will adapt right back to it within a week. If you need to snuggle with him initially to get him to sleep and then move him to the crib, then do it. Just don't wait hours and hours to move him, do it as soon as he is either almost asleep or just asleep. Eventually, you'll be able to put him straight into the crib to sleep. Or, just do what you always did before he went to his grandma's house. But, do it now. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will become. Good luck

Hi J.,

Many people co-sleep and many people think that it's wierd, lol. It's completely your decision. Have you thought of keeping him in his crib but pulling it to the side of your bed so he can be near you? Remember, this little one slept closely with you for nine months and there is a strong attachment there. I believe there is a weaning process here as well as in other areas...

God bless,

M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

Hi J.. I am cutting an pasting my reponse to another question similar to yours. Some of it won't apply but I think most of it does.I think it certainly could be separation anxiety!! M.

I want to say that I am not a professional brainiac degreed in academia...but I have had wonderful opportunities to be involved with many different children and their families. I am raising three super-nice,well-adjusted kids, was a nanny for a family of 3 children,then longer for a family of five children, and have worked with preschoolers in centers and had a certified,state monitored home childcare center...all of this because I love kids...I just get them :). Kids,even the very young are so in tune with mommies. I am wondering if you are worried about your husband being deployed(or other big fear) and your lil guy is picking up on your anxiety? If anything unpleasant or worrisome is going on at home, our babies will feel it,absorb some of it...and let it out in various negative ways. Just an idea. Also, I put my first child in bed with me and I couldn't get her out until age 7(oh well! We had super snuggly story nights and it was very sweet!). My second child was very happy in her bed though I was prepared to scootch a little more..she just was a very independent baby girl! :). My third child was a little more clingy and unhappy with the separation, so he is still in the "big bed" at age 3. My first child graduates this month with great grades and a promising future,:)....all kids are designed beautifully different, and sometimes we just need to change our "rules" for them. It all works out well, without anxious babies. I just do not see the logic in forcing them away from us at early ages... it would be totally different if they were 14,lol.
Most people will not be able to explain WHY the kids aren't allowed in bed with them.It makes some things more difficult to arrange of course, but again, happy babies make for happy mommies. Also, I am studying sociology considering a Master's degree in criminology because I am always interested in human behavior,especially crime, so I have watched and read in my 40 years a lot of info about criminals...NEVER ONCE did I read or hear some investigator say anything like "The mass murderer/nutjob/pedophile,etc..was in his parent's bed until age 5"...lol. Good luck,so the bed debate rages on, and do whatever feels right to you.

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