My husband and I have co-slept with our daughter for almost a year now and we're ready to transition her to her crib. However, at one point she slept in the play yard in our room and occasionally brought her to the bed. Then it just became easier as a nursing mom to have her in the bed. Now when we go to lay her in the crib or play yard her eyes will open slightly and she'll scream. I've also tried putting her in her crib for naps and she cries hysterically. Have any Mom's had to deal with this and if so do you have any tips or books that helped with the transition.
Thanks!
"The No-Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley is a great book for this. They also have one for toddlers and preschoolers.
Our son didn't sleep in our bed until he was about six months old. He came down with an ugly case of RSV, and my husband worried about him sleeping in the other room. I nursed also, but never in the bed. I would take him to the same spot everytime and at least attempt to lay him in his own bed. But after he realized that he could sleep in our bed, it was never the same. The pediatrician told us to just let our son cry it out. However, he would throw hysterical fits. My husband couldn't handle it. It broke his heart. Me, I just wanted my bed and my privacy back. Realize that this was more than four years ago. He is now going on five. It's a nightmare to me. He tells me that he's afraid to sleep by himself, that he will never sleep by himself, and that I can't make him. Obviously, his tears are more heartfelt with him being older. He can tell me why he doesn't want to sleep alone. This would have been so much easier, had we listened to the ped. and just stuck it out a long time ago. However, if you don't mind having the baby in the bed, it is your choice.
Reading some of your responses has really pissed me off. Sleeping with your baby is not a "new contemporary parenting style." Putting them in a crib and letting them cry their hearts out is. Do your research before you get on your soapboxes moms. Just because some arrogant doctors, men of course, wrote a few books on how to let your child "self soothe" doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. And by the way, self soothing isn't screaming. A child that can truly self soothe should be calm and happy, not hysterical. Don't listen to anyone but your gut R., if you don't want to take her out of your bed yet or wean her, don't. Screw everybody else. We have raised a nation of children with far more disorders and problems than any other. You do what you feel is right for your daughter. Kudos to you for bf and co-sleeping.
We co-slept for months after my daughter was born. I will occasionally bring her into my bed now. Please understand, there is NOTHING wrong with co-sleeping. In fact, we are one of the only cultures that doesn't co-sleep. If you ask people with other ethnic backgrounds, they think Americans are mean and cold hearted because we put our infants in a dark room alone, shut the door and listen to them cry with out comforting them. I applaud you for making the choice to co-sleep. Don't let anybody's negative reaction make you think you've done something wrong.
That said, I dont' really have any advice for you...sorry. I can say that personally I dont' believe in the CIO method. She's probably just used to having the security of mom and dad next to her. GOOD LUCK!!! :)
I too PM'd you.
A.
Hi R.,
My daughter transitioned to her crib quite nicely.
I found it imperative - I say this becasue of what someone else said regarding co-sleeping - to give my baby the gift of co-sleeping. I didn't want to wait too long to transition her bc I do believe the longer you wait, the longer it can get.
Children will be independent regardless what we do, they have to go out to the wrold and face it like we all did. And co-sleeping isn't a deprivation of their independance, I find a lot of kids who co-slept tend to be very confident.
With that being said, this is what worked for my daughter.
I started putting her in her crib for a little while a day, get her comfy in ther crib, her room, her toys, always played really nice lullibies etc
This was when she was 8 months, I'd rock her to sleep and lay her down... she would do what you're describing, wake up and freak out!
I found that if I laid her down awake she did much better because she didn't wake up scared wondering what she was doing there.
I did let her cry, but it was 4 times. Literally, after 4 times, she "got it"
When it was nap time, I used the same work to say bedtime, then took her in there. I walked out and she cried, I went back in andlaid her down, the first time after about 3 minutes, the second after about 5, then she fell asleep.
If you pick her backup, it ruins everything cos then she knowsn to keep crying to get picked up. It's all about coditioning. And she won't resent you....
Hope this may help you a little,
Amy
Hi There!
I sent you a PM.
Good Luck, Mama!
A.
