Trying to get 9mo to nap in crib

[wakymadlib]

A little back story.
Out daughter is 9 months old and we have full time EC'ed since 3 months and part time before that. We have always used cloth diapers without a cover in summer but now that it's cold, with cover. We have also co slept since she was about 4 months old before that she was in a bassinet next to the bed. We were cosleeping because it gave us a better night sleep until she started waking up every one to two hours and not being able to go back to sleep with out breastfeeding. So we decided to move her into the crib. Once we came across the idea of sitting with her until she was asleep, night times are no problem its naps that are the issue. I have tried sitting with her in the same way but she can cry for 2 hrs and not go to sleep. At that point I give up and get her out and she promptly falls asleep on me or the big bed. Side note: She also requires a few diaper changes during the time of crying, she even poops in her diaper which is unusual for her.
I would be fine with her napping in the big bed but she has fallen off and that is not good. Help.

[sgmom]

My daughter hated the crib from day one. If she'd fall asleep on me and I put her in the crib, she would wake up the second she hit the mattress. But if I lay her in our bed, she would stay sleeping (peacefully). We ended up ditching the crib at 6 months and co-sleeping with her on a twin size mattress in her bedroom (so we could sneak out once she was asleep). Which was fine by me. I hated that thing more than she did, I think.

Like you, we had no problems having her in our bed, but our bed is just too small for the three of us, and napping alone wasn't safe. This was the best solution for us.

I would suggest that you spend as much time on your bed as you can (or every chance you get) to teach her how to crawl off backwards. It won't prevent her from rolling off while she's sleeping, but you won't have to worry about her trying to crawl off face first when she wakes up.

For naps though (in your bed), if you put some large pillows UNDER the blankets (to create a little depression) and tuck the blanket again under the pillow (so they don't slip out), you can lay her between them (on top of the covers) and she won't be able to roll off during her naps. Just throw a second blanket on top of her and voila! Safety.

You would then just have to keep a VERY close ear on her when she wakes up, so she doesn't try to crawl over them and off the bed. Do you have a baby monitor?

Edited to add (since this is an EC forum), that this solution would also be MUCH easier for pottying or cleaning up any sleepy messes.

[sapphire_chan]

How's your daytime nursing and supply? I'm asking because nighttime nursing got a lot more frequent around 9 months for us as she got too distracted during the day. For us, if I'd moved her out of our bed at that time it would've probably weaned her. If you notice her interest in nursing dwindling or your supply going down, you'll probably be able to fix it by moving her back into your bed. A lot of people who don't bedshare seem to end up weaning between 9 and 12 months from the baby "not liking to nurse anymore" and I'm pretty sure it's because all the nursing should've been moved to the night.

Unless it's needing to eliminate that's keeping her from sleeping, you'll get better sleep ideas from the Family Bed and Night time Parenting forum.

[wakymadlib]

thanks guys

I posted this query in the family bed section as well. We'll see if they have any ideas. Its nice to get advise other than "you just need to let her cry"

thanks