If your baby would only sleep *on* you...

[rhiOrion]

If you had a baby who would only sleep literally on top of you, when did that start to change?

DD will take naps in the swing. I can occasionally get an hour or so nap in the side-carred crib. But at night it has to be ON me. Even on the bed in the crook of my arm won't do.

I posted a while back for tips on getting her to transition to the crib (which, as I said, is side-carred, so basically co-sleeping), and have had no luck at night.

So, instead of focusing on how to get her to the crib, I think I'm going to just focus on the idea that it can't last forever!

She's 2 months today and 11 pounds and a reflux baby.

Basically, even though I intellectually know that I won't have to go to move into her first apartment with her so she can sleep on my chest, I need some reassurance that at some point this WILL change!!!

[trauerweidchen]

Congratulations on your new baby girl!

I haven't had the same experience you're having exactly, but I can tell you that the only constant thing with babies seems to be that nothing lasts very long. DS is a little over a year now, and I remember some early issues with him (like having trouble getting him to go to sleep), but all that passed amazingly quickly in retrospect. Perhaps it has something to do with her physiology--maybe she really needs the comfort of your breathing, and it probably is helping her body establish sleep and breathing cycles, something which is known to occur with mother-baby pairs who sleep together.

As the mother of a busy one year old, looking back, I miss the days when he would sleep on my chest more often. We still get lots of cuddles, but it isn't the same as when he was a newborn and a young infant. So although it seems right now that it will last forever, one way or another, it won't. You may even look back wistfully on this time and wish it had lasted longer.

Good luck!

[foodymama]

I don't want to put you in a panic but my DD was about 14 mo. when she finally started sleeping aside of me instead of on top of me. I had to be real sneaky about getting away for nap times. Like letting her sleep on her boppy and slowly roll away after she was asleep and quickly but gently shove pillows in front of her so it felt as if I were still there. But in no way would I recommend that for an infant. We started that like I said at about 14 mo. And now at two we have a family bed and she usually still sleeps tight against me all night but she will sleep through a nap without me there.

We tried everything and you just couldn't lay DD down anywhere as an infant. The minute you stood up with her she would wake up so we just stopped trying. Sorry I couldn't have better info. for you. But hopefully your LO will be different.

[YayJennie]

My son was the opposite...he would go down at night on his own, but I needed to hold him for every.single.nap. Around 11 months I began to transition him so he could nap on his own, and by a year old, he was napping for 2 hour stretches without me holding him

But he also didn't start needing me to hold him like that until he was 4 months old. In the early months, he slept anywhere. Do you think the issue with your babe is the reflux? Are you breast feeding? Have you tried an elimination diet? What about one of those baby positioners that makes the baby sleep slightly more upright? I never bought one with my son, but looked into them (they're like wedges).

The only other thing I can offer is a promise that it will definitely change. No one can say for sure exactly when, but it can't last forever! Hang in there and good luck!

[sunnygir1]

Both of my children went through a phase like that. Ds was over it around 4 months, and dd sooner, I think.

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by YayJennie

My son was the opposite...he would go down at night on his own, but I needed to hold him for every.single.nap. Around 11 months I began to transition him so he could nap on his own, and by a year old, he was napping for 2 hour stretches without me holding him

But he also didn't start needing me to hold him like that until he was 4 months old. In the early months, he slept anywhere. Do you think the issue with your babe is the reflux? Are you breast feeding? Have you tried an elimination diet? What about one of those baby positioners that makes the baby sleep slightly more upright? I never bought one with my son, but looked into them (they're like wedges).

The only other thing I can offer is a promise that it will definitely change. No one can say for sure exactly when, but it can't last forever! Hang in there and good luck!

I haven't done a total elimination diet. But I did give up dairy and chocolate (both seemed to be issues), and cut back on excess wheat/soy/etc. I've discovered that I can eat small amounts of dairy (like, a bite of cheese, or hidden dairy in bread, or a bit of butter in a sauce, etc).

We have a sleep wedge, and it doesn't seem to help. Partly because I don't really feel comfortable putting her on her side on the foamy wedge. I think I'm going to try elevating the end of her crib mattress. Anybody have luck with that?

I don't really mind if she's still sleeping in the side carred crib at 1 year (we did the side car because our mattress is super plus memory foam pillow top, etc), or even later. But the whole ON me thing is getting old already! I love it for small amounts of time, it's just so sweet to look down and see her sleepy little baby face. Just thinking about it is making me teary. But... sometimes it would be nice to turn over in bed without worrying. I'm hoping to at least get it to where she'll sleep the first part of the night in the crib.

[mizzoh]

ds was ok next to me at night, but he had to be on me for naps. i think he was around 16 months when he was finally napping next to me. it was a very slow process starting with him napping in his sling as a baby, to on napping me, to next to me...it was very gradual

[momma_bear]

We have this problem. DD is 11 months now and I have to rock her to sleep for every nap and at bedtime. Won't fall asleep breastfeeding. Won't go into the crib either asleep or awake. Driving me crazy! She will allow me to lay her in my bed once she's asleep as long as I lie next to her for a few minutes, after which I can usually sneak away but not always She sleeps in our bed at night. The rocking is driving me nuts, especially as I have an older one who needs attention (who did not have this problem at all, BTW!). Lately she occasionally will fall asleep lying next to me in bed (i.e. without the rocking) but only if she's very very tired.

We've been rocking her to sleep since the very early days and were never able to wean her off it. In the early months she went into the crib but it's been harder and harder. She's got a lot of separation anxiety right now so I think that's also part of the problem...as soon as DH or I leave the room she cries (even if she's left with the other parent!). I know this is a phase will pass. So bad habits + sep anxiety = going to sleep issues!

I'm hoping it will end soon...it's been a long road. I understand how you feel. No idea what advice to give. All I can say is that you're not alone! I'm sure it won't last forever *sigh*

[butterfly_mommy]

DS had to sleep on me for nights and naps (unless he was in the car or in the sling) Till he was exactly 3 mons old. I still remember that blissful day that he let me lie down and nurse him side lying and he fell asleep and stayed there on the bed. He still had to be snuggled up to me but at least I could get a bit more comfy. He was just over 4 mons when he could nap in the side cared crib without having to touch me. Now he is 2 yr 4 mons and he naps well without me and he goes to sleep nursing and stays asleep maybe stirring once around 1 am but usually sleeping through till about 6 before needing to nurse again. However when i come to bed he does like to snuggle me but will even snuggle my back now

[jmo]

My second was like this. He had to nap on me (either in arms or in the ergo) until about 9 mos. Then suddenly he just let me lay him down one day and took like a 2 hr nap ALONE. It was a long haul, those 9 mos of having him on me all the time, but now at 14 mos he naps alone with no problems. I just kept trying once a week or so to get him down alone. If he fought it too much I just gave up. You're right that it can't last forever - just ride it out.

[philomom]

My second child, a boy... slept on my chest for six months. It was tough but we got through it.

[Mom2M]

DD1 slept on my chest for 8 months every single night but would nurse to sleep and go in her crib. I admit I started it the first night I had her because I was so nervous about being able to feel her breathe, etc...and after she stopped sleeping on me every night, I did miss it even though I loved being able to roll over.
She would start out sleeping on me for a little while (after 8 months) and then roll over and lie down next to me.
She's almost 5 now and still remembers sleeping on me and says how wonderful it was