Is it possible to get a co-sleeping baby to nap separately? - Page 2

[Knitting Mama]

Originally Posted by TreeRose

We have a similar issue, though she's only 2 weeks old. She doesn't actually nurse to a deep sleep. Rather, she's "drunk happy baby" after nursing and then will either fuss or will have to be rocked, swaddled, and "moved" to sleep. She requires so much movement. And we never know if she's going to wake in 10 minutes or 2 hours. This has been so difficult and yes, very hard to have alone time! I am so impressed and amazed by all these moms on the forums, doing what it takes and keeping your babies close to you. I'm determined to keep her close to me as well, while trying to learn how to meet her needs. If she's in a deep sleep, she can be laid in the bouncy chair (while turned on) and sleep for 20 minutes or more, which is great. Otherwise, her deepest sleeps are in the wrap (didymos) while I'm moving - not helpful at night or for alone time!

If you swaddle her before nursing rather than after you might find the transition easier. And a swing might help if she needs movement. Although, thinking back, my Cecilia (who also loves movement and sleeps better that way) didn't actually like sleeping in her swing until 2 months-ish. Before that it was on me, or in the wrap so I could do stuff. I did everything wearing this baby!

[kismetbaby]

My guy only slept on me or DH until about 3 months old, then I was able to nurse him to sleep while laying next to him on the bed and carefully roll away. For awhile he would not sleep as long as I knew he would have on/with one of us, but I stayed consistent with it and now at almost a year he takes all of his naps and does his first couple hours of night sleep alone. He will not be transferred though. . .if he falls asleep anywhere other than the bed I can't move him or he will wake up.

When he got mobile we put a crib mattress on the floor next to our bed and now that's where he naps and falls asleep at night. When DH and I go to bed he *always* half-wakes up and wants to get into bed with us, no matter how quiet we are. Fine with me as I like sleeping with him, but anything that we want to do together must be done in another room. So we do get a couple hours of adult time these days, which is nice.

You may just have to experiment a little and find out where/how your LO is willing to sleep alone.

[octobermom]

We do it all here..
Typically
AM nap - in her crib I nurse her down then lay her in th crib and she typically naps 2 hours

Afternoon nap- cosleep if she clearly needs to sleep jsut abotu the only way I can is to cosleep with her which is fine with me I can use the rest around 4pm..

The other thing is she sometimes needs a little break from everything but not necessarly sleep I'e found putting her in her pack N play which is in our living area with a few toys and some music seems to work she'll play around 30 mintues and its jsut enough to not over stimulate her and she rests..

Sleep- 95% of time in her crib I nurse her and lay her down ussually awake and she jsut puts her self down the rest of the way.. Sleeps typically around 80% of the night them we cosleep the rest untill moring. On days she having trouble falling asleep I jsut bring her into bed with me and often fall asleep before shes does

I'm pretty consistant in our sleep rountinue as far as when but how I play out by the situaton..


Deanna

[nicole528]

BTDT!!!

Our DD wouldn't sleep anywhere but next to me in bed or on DH or myself for the first three months of her life. We would have to wear her or just hold her for all her naps. If we put her down, she would wake up within 7 minutes (I timed it numerous times). I remember when she was around 2.5 months old, she fell asleep in her swing and she slept in there for a good two hours and we were so relieved. But that didn't last long. She still woke up every time we put her down and I couldn't even get out of the bed to go to the bathroom at night without her waking up. Then, one day, at around 5.5 months, I nursed her to sleep in our bed and slowly got up b/c I had to go to the bathroom really bad and she stayed asleep. I was shocked! And she has been nursed to sleep in the same fashion every since (She is now almost 10 mos). She now naps twice a day on her own and she goes to bed at around 8....she still wakes up every two hours, but at least I can quickly nurse her back to sleep and slip out of the room.

I think the hardest thing for me during those beginning months was not knowing if things were ever going to get better...so I just wanted to mention to the OP that it can be hard, but it will get better and you will get your alone time sometime soon!

Now I miss having DD sleep when we wear her....she still does every once in a while, but I can tell her sleeping on me days are limited! Enjoy it while it lasts!!! Good Luck!

Nicole
Mama to DD (11/09)