Sleep - Tacoma,WA

Wear her! A baby sling is a necessary part of attachment parenting because it's the best way to get things done while she's still right next to you. That would be my first recommendation. Another thing you could try is putting her in a baby swing or bouncy seat and try to have her fall asleep that way. But a baby sling might be the best way to go, so she's always right next to you. Good luck!

I would not expect your baby to know that one day she CAN co sleep with you and another day she CANNOT. Since you do it sometimes you have probably brought her to the point where that is what she expects and the only way she can fall to sleep. I know you don't like CIO but let me tell you from experience you are doing your child NO FAVORS by teaching her to get to sleep with you as her lovey. You are setting her up for many years of difficult sleep. I know b/c I did this with my son. He is 9 and still has much difficulty falling asleep and when he wakes in the middle of the night he has to find me to get back to sleep.

It's kind of doing your daughter a disservice by teaching her that the only way she CAN sleep is if mommy is laying with her and with nursing. She will be completely miserable and cranky if she can't sleep unless you're there with her--because you just can't when you have all the other children. I was completely against CIO too until it actually worked. My son is 2.5 and my daughter is 8 months and they are both excellent nappers. My daughter would only nap while I was nursing her for the first 5/6 months of her life until I started to just lay her down and let her fuss a little. After 2 days she was going down for naps like butter on warm toast and is a much, much happier baby. They desperately need sleep, and its really not fair for babies to not learn to sleep on their own (because as busy parents we simply can't lay down with them whenever they're sleeping)

I agree that by nursing and co-sleeping you have to be ready for years of nighttime parenting, but I don't agree that it's doing your daughter a disservice. We have done this with both our kids, and a slow steady weaning from nighttime parenting worked just fine (at about the three year mark). Since you obviously can't leave the daycare kids alone, just pop your daughter in a sling or ergo or wrap carrier and go about your business. She will fall asleep peacefully and you can then lay her down. This will help break the nursing/sleeping association, but keep her secure and enjoying going to sleep. As the months go by, you'll be able to get her to sleep by laying near her and patting her back, you can practice this on your days off. Doing things differently day by day might actually help, as she will learn to sleep in different ways and different environments!

Can you wear her? At that age my son would sleep anywear - being held, on the floor, in a stroller, in the car - it just didn't matter to him. Ambient noise or activity didn't faze him either. Your daughter might do fine falling asleep in a sling or just in a safe place (where she won't be trampled) but still in the daycare space as long as you are around. I would not worry at all that you are setting her up for bad sleep habits. As long as co-sleeping works for you I don't see a problem (I assume you do not smoke or drink, allow other children in the bed etc).

How do you feel about wearing her? You can get a front carrier. I recommend the Ergo for nursing and carrying at the same time. That way you can nurse to sleep and maybe transfer her into a safe stop once she is sleeping.

I couldnt handle crying it out. It just tore at my heart strings too hard!! I hope you find something that works for both of you!!!

Would she fall asleep in a baby carrier/sling?

I think a sling or an ergo might be the solution. Then she can be with you and sleep-hopefully.