Two Month Old Sleeping Question

I actually slept with my daughter until she could roll over (for fear of rolling out of the bed), then she slept in a bassinet in my room. Babies at that age are not old enough to be spoiled and don't really seem to mind where they're sleeping. I never had any problems getting her to adjust to sleeping in her bassinet at night since that's where she always took naps. They're only that little once, so enjoy every moment.

I would go for the crib and only use something else if the crib wasn't working. I'd have a baby monitor so I could listen for her. If you want to cuddle, I think that's ok. In the long run- the more used to sleeping in the crib she is, the better for you so you can get stuff done when you have to.

I am a crib person. The sooner you get them use to a crib, the better it is for you and baby!! Of course there is always a little room for cuddles and holding. Occassionally, I'd even let my babies fall asleep in a swing or some place else near me during the first few months. For the most part though, I wanted them to get use to sleeping in a crib. It helps teach them good sleep habits and it allows you to get stuff done also!

I agree, if you are going to be putting her in a crib, get her used to it now. However, you already know how fast she will grow up so by all means, if you feel like cuddling her, do it! There will be plenty of time for you to urge her into a bedtime routine later!

I would just start with "bedtime" now. Put her down around whatever time she goes to bed in her bed. You may rouse her to feed one last time before you turn in and then let her sleep until she wakes to feed. I've used this approach with both my children and they were great sleepers for us! Of course now that they are older we have had different issues here and there, but bedtime is still 8 o'clock seven years later!

I'd say at only 2 months, hold her as much as you want. There is plenty of time for a set sleep schedule, but they are only this young for such a short time.

I held my first all the time and she never had sleep issues, so I don't feel it will cause sleep problems if that is what you are worried about. My son on the other hand was a terrible sleeper, but more than 10 years have past and he sleeps great now, so I do not regrete holding him either!

What does your heart tell you to do? Follow it:)

I have a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old and both are wonderful sleepers. With both, I did bath, then jammies, then story, then song, then bed. When they were still nursing, I would always nurse before bath. That way they never fell asleep nursing (except during those first couple weeks when they eat all the time!) With my son, I rocked and sang to him till he fell asleep. Then I laid him down. We did this until he was probably 6 or 7 months old. I laid him down in my bed when he was asleep because we coslept. When he was about 7 months old (when I felt he was tough enough), I moved him to his own crib and put him down awake. It took a few nights of crying it out and he was fine. My daughter was more independent. I tried to rock her to sleep, but she is not a cuddler. At a couple months, she was squirming and squirming while I was singing. I just laid her down in my bed and she fell asleep. She went down on her own from that point on. Again, we moved her to her own bed when she was 6 or 7 months old.

I think the key is the same routine every night (without fail). My son will still start to yawn when I start singing his song. It's like magic.

Good luck!

Get her started right away, would be my suggestion. Put her in the crib at the time you want her to go to sleep and do it consistently. She's still very young and does not have a regular sleep schedule yet, but the sooner you start one the better. I kept my travel crib upstairs with me when my daughter was small (the bedrooms were downstairs) so she napped in the travel crib during the day and then at night I put her down in the bedroom in her crib. It took some time, her bedtime at first was around 11 pm, but I just started putting her down earlier and earlier until she was going down at 7:30. I put her down awake, too, so that she would learn to sooth herself to sleep. If she fussed, I went down and soothed her but I didn't pick her up. She took a long time to sleep thru the night, but I've never had any trouble with putting her down to sleep and she's 16 months old now. I did the same with my son. He's now 4. I've never had any trouble with him waking at night either. But yes, don't let her get used to sleeping in your arms or a bouncy seat or something. Get a schedule started. It may not work right away, but be consistent and as she gets older she will adhere to it. Good luck!

I found that holding an infant to sleep while very cuddly and a good bonding experience can lead to a very bad habit. My oldest was 3 1/2 before he could go to sleep on his own, without me holding him.
My youngest never had a problem. He slept in the bassinet or playpen almost right away. I never held him to sleep and always tried to put him to bed awake so he could learn how to put himself to sleep.
I do have a couple of pictures of him at 1 1/2 to 3 where he fell asleep standing against his bed. Both kids knew that when the door was closed they were to stay in (or now, out). My youngest never was never in a crib. He always slept in the playpen. When he could climb out, I moved him to a toddler bed.

I would say start a bedtime routine now that you want her to have when she is your son's age. Obviously the schedule for bedtime will change, but if you eventually want her to go to sleep in her crib on her own, you should probably start that now, rather than waiting until she is older and more manipulative :)

I would almost always put my son in his crib. He's 8 months old now and prefers to sleep there vs. cuddling with anyone. Occasionally, he'll want to cuddle before bedtime, but that's usually when Mommy is needing some baby/mommy time anyways! :) Do what works the best for your family. If you still feel like you can get things done with the baby sleeping downstairs, then let her sleep there, but if not, then put her in the crib, but keep a baby monitor on so you can hear if she wakes up. It certainly is nice to know what to expect from your baby when they are on a pretty predictable schedule.

J. ~

I know your issue. I am a stay at home mom with a 9 month old. Because I had to get stuff done around the house, I always put my son in his crib for his nap and he did very good. My husband and I moved and now I have family closer (more help from grandma), so I find myself leaving my son on the floor to sleep or snuggle while we both take a nap. He really did much better sleeping in his crib on a regular basis. He tends to wake up more often when he's put in his crib now. Babies love routine and familiar surroundings. Of course, every baby is different.

Good Luck!
K.

My son always slept in his crib (at least at nighttime) from the day he came home from the hospital, and I don't regret it. I would often rock and cuddle him for a while after feeding him before I put him in his crib. He has never had any sleep issues and has always been quite confident sleeping in his own room/crib/bed. During the day when he was an infant he often slept in the living room in the swing or pack and play or in his car seat but nighttime was strictly in the crib. I think getting her used to the crib early will be to everyone's benefit. Good luck!

Unless she is sick, she should sleep in her crib everytime she is sleeping. Except for in the car, or when you are visiting someone.

I almost always put my kids in their crib - for naps and night-time sleeping. Occasionally, I'd let them nap near me on the floor (or in my arms because they don't do that for too many months). When they were little, if I was going to be downstairs (and their rooms were upstairs) I always had a baby monitor on just in case. My feeling is get them used to their bed as soon as you can and teach them that their bed is for sleeping. But your little girl is still quite little, so I don't think there is really any harm if you want to hold her or have her nearby you for a little while longer. You know this time goes by all too fast.

Hi,
I have a 9 month old that we now put to bed after a bottle but while he is still awake so he knows how to put himself to sleep. From birth to 5 months old we used a Fisher Price soothing motion glider instead of a crib. We swaddled him tightly & then laid him in the glider, again while he was awake. And at night time we dim the lights & turn sound low so our baby understands it's a different mood than during the day. My sister-in-law tried the exact same thing but it didn't work for her baby so each one is so different!
T.