Changes for 9 Month Old

Too many changes are rough on children. If she is used to sleeping with Mommy and Daddy and then when Daddy is gone and not sleeping with you either, that is a big shock for her. It would be better if she slept in her crib all the time and then have some cuddle time in the morning together with both of you or you when hubby is gone. Nine months old is a good time to decide what you want to do when she is older. One family we cared for the oldest slept with his parents until he was 5 years old and they never got any sleep with his kicking and head butting them all night. So with their next baby, she didn't sleep with them at all but did cuddle in the mornings. To help her adjust, put her bedroom together first so when she goes to sleep it looks like her room pretty much.
F.

I agree with Molly. Don't wean and change sleeping at the same time. Too many changes.

Just curious, why are you not comfortable sleeping with just your daughter and you? Most moms would want their little baby with them even more under the circumstances.

C.,

Why don't you want to keep her in the bed? Have you been co-sleeping since she was born? Just curious as to why--I would be the opposite. I think you should do one thing at a time---weaning, changing her home environment and also putting her in a crib is a HUGE transition for a little 9 month old! Spread it out at least a month or so a part--

Good luck!

Molly

Dear C.,
You do have a lot of changes going on, but it's not the end of the world. My son was 3 months old when we moved the first time. I know you're weening her, but I would start letting her get used to her crib now. Before all the hustle and bustle of moving starts. The new house will have new smells, etc, and she might actually find her crib a comforting place to be once you get there. Not to mention you know she'll be safe in it. If you're not already doing so, put her in her crib during the day for naps and if it's not nap time, put her in her crib while you work in her room packing her things...just to get her used to being in it.
I think working on the crib thing now, while you are weening, would make things easier than trying to wait until later.
I got both of my kids used to their cribs from the very beginning and as a result, they would literally sleep anywhere. They were happy in the bed with me if we were travelling or in a pack-n-play, or in a hotel crib. Having to sleep in one place or another was just never an issue. They're a girl and a boy, 10 years apart, and it worked for both of them. In fact, my son had 2 cribs, one in his room and one upstairs in mine. He slept in both of them. I'll never forget the first time my son rolled off the bed. It scared the heck out of me! He was a little roller. It didn't matter how big the bed was, he would wiggle and scoot and cover every inch of it in his sleep. He actually slept better in a crib where there wasn't quite as much ground to cover.
In my opinion, you can get a 3 week head start on things if you begin the crib transition now.
I wish you the best!

C.,
We moved when my daughter was 6 mos old. We weaned (I was pregnant) and we put her in her own room/crib. She did wonderfully and actually slept better. Go with your gut feelings.
Good luck!

Any decision you will make has its pluses and minuses. With so many changes, if you keep her in your bad - when will be a good time to add this change? If you put her in her bed now - is it too much?
My recommendation is to look at your stress level and see what will be easier for you to handle. Right now. can you deal with a screaming baby in her crib (and winning her...) and the payoff is you do not have her in bed alone, or her being in your bed is OK for you for a little longer so there are less changes in your baby's life. The baby needs you confident and relaxed, so the decision that is overall feels right for yo - is the right one for her.

D. Orr
daliacoachesparents.com

The earlier you make the changes the better. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages co-sleeping. Put her in the crib with a nice evening routine and say good night...It works...

My advice would be to put her in her crib as soon as possible before you move to teh new place. Babies adapt very easily, so it won't be the house where she sleeps as being the issue, but more the change from sleeping next to a warm body, to sleeping in a bed by herself.
But when you do move her to a new home, teh crib will be the same, so it won't be different for her.
I would make sure to put in things that smell the same as your bed, and start the transistion now. when you move, don't clean the bedding for a week or so unless there is an accident so that even if the house smells different, the bed won't, making it easier for her to sleep.

good luck
K.

oh and as for the rolling off the bed part. If you want to keep her with you for a while longer in bed. Put a side rail on the opposite side of the bed from you. It will prevent her from rolling.