Anyone else unsure of whether the baby sleeps better alone or cosleeping?

[Beauchamp]

My DD gets the longest stretches of sleep alone in her crib, which is in our room. Is this simply because its the first stretch of the night, or because I haven't come to bed yet, and therefore haven't made noise, or changed the room with "mama smell" or something?

I want her to sleep where she sleeps best. I love waking up with her. The other day I woke up to a tiny finger poking the tip of my nose. However, she wakes up a lot at night. So, I'm just confused over whether she'd sleep better away from me. I know it would make me sad.

My DH has been bumped out of our king size bed, so that is creating tension. We are also in the process of moving, so I don't know if it's a good time.

Thoughts?

[kismetbaby]

Sorry, no words of wisdom, just wanted to say that I am in a similar place right now. Wondering if my DS would sleep better on a mattress on the floor next to our bed instead of in our bed. He still wakes up at least 4x a night. . .doesn't really wake mind you, but stirs and snuffles and wants to nurse. Would he do this if I wasn't right there? Would he sleep more or would it be worse?

I love cosleeping Dh not as much. With moving though, my instinct would be that she will need to keep cosleeping. . .as there will already be a lot of change and she might need the stability of her normal nighttime.

[kalamos23]

I wouldn't change things while you are moving (we are moving as well and moved 3 months ago) - there is just too much going on, and that is a good constant. DD is a horrible sleeper on a good day and she has always had her best sleep in the first stretch of the night with or without me - I think they are just the most tired from the day then and more likely to sleep better.

[kalamos23]

Have you thought about sidecarring the crib? Then your DH could be in bed again (keeping DHs happy is a good thing!) and you could start her off in the crib. We have a queen with a sidecarred crib and love it - and DH and I are not small people! DD ends up in bed with us by morning but starts off in the crib.

[akind1]

DS is 6 months and I think that it is partly he does sleep better in his own space, and partly the longest stretch is the first one. Now I have noticed (since he comes to bed with us for that middle of the night feeding and stays there) that he will continue to sleep so long as I am in the bed. Once I get up, it is not long and he is awake too!

He would probably do just as well in a crib in the next room, if not better. but I would not! so we will continue to at least room share as long as he's nursing.