[NewAtThis]

I have a newborn dd, who is nursing frequently around the clock. We have an Arm's Reach co-sleeper, but since we've had her (less than 2 weeks), she has slept in our bed, curled up next to me, and the co-sleeper just holds all our extra pillows! Whenever I try to put her in it, she'll wake up and get agitated, but I really want to start her using it so I can sleep better at night.

Also...how do you keep your infant warm in the co-sleeper? It is warm when we go to bed, but by morning, it is quite chilly. Do you swaddle...or pull your baby into your bed in the cooler temps?
I can see why dd wants to be in the bed next to me...but what is the point of having a co-sleeper if she never uses it?

Any suggestions? How did you get your newborn to sleep in your co-sleeper successfully?

 

[DaisyQDuck]

I hope you get an answer! After 6 months or so of climbing around it to get out of bed we put ours away unslept in...

 

[BeanyMama]

Really it is sooooo much easier to just let them sleep with you. My DS#1 was 5 mths before I gave up with the co sleeper. He was happier, I was happier. You adjust quickly to sleeping with them, and that contact is so good for them!

 

[jyurina]

I used one briefly with my daughter. It was mainly used as a barrier to keep her from falling out when she was cuddled next to me. My kids both hated swaddling so they slept the best in warm jammies, next to us. Once they were a couple weeks old they slept the best between mommy and daddy.

 

[Dido]

We used a co-sleeper up until a week ago when DD figured out how to get up on her knees and lean over the edge. Our routine was - DD went to sleep cuddled next to me. When DH came to bed an hour or so later, he would take her and put her in the co-sleeper. Occasionally, he tells me, she would open her eyes a sec but then go right back to sleep. When she woke up to nurse in the night, sometimes I'd fall back asleep before putting her back in the co-sleeper and she'd stay with me in bed, but other times I'd put her back. I never had a problem with her waking up when I put her back. I get up early in the morning and when I woke up I would nurse her then lay her in our bed next to DH so she co-slept with him until they both woke up. So basically she slept in the co-sleeper for the middle part of the night, but started out the night with me and ended up in the morning with DH.

In cold weather, we put her in thick jammies and a sleep sack. When it was extra cold (we have a drafty NY apartment) we'd do a blanket for her as well. I know that's not recommended but we tucked it in well and didn't pull it up very far, so I think it was safe.

I know a lot of people never use their co-sleepers but we loved ours and were sad to put it away!

 

[L'lee]

We have slowly worked on helping DS to feel comfortable in his cosleeper. We put him in there during the day when he was happy and mellow, based on an idea from the No Cry Sleep Solution, and quietly play with him or sing with him. Over time, he got more used to it and now he'll sleep in there, at least if he's pretty much asleep ahead of time. We also started putting him in there after a couple of sleep cycles when he got super wiggly, plus my back was aching from lying on my side and he would wake up if I rolled onto my back. Now at 3 mos I can put him in there after each time he eats if I want to. I love snuggling with him, though, so I don't always put him in there. It took quite a while, though, we haven't been able to put him in there at night until recently. Now, if only we could figure out the nap thang...

 

[Lovin' It]

We used the co-sleeper and really liked it. We swaddled but not until she was about 2 mos. old. It didn't interest her before that. She is 15 mos. and in with us all the time. We have taken off the frame and have just the boxspring and mattress on the floor now, in case of roll outs. I prefer a bed off the floor, but I am trying to keep in mind that it won't be forever.

 

[Mama Poot]

Henri is 3 weeks old, and spends probably 90% of the time sleeping next to me. We have an Arm's reach as well, and I keep all diapering and clean clothes and blankets at the end of it, but leave plenty of room for him. I have some ongoing, severe back problems and sometimes I need him to sleep there for a few hours so I can stretch out. He's starting to get used to it, but I much prefer to have him next to me. I just wish my back didn't hurt so damn much

Anyways, I did find that temperature has a lot to do with keeping him happy in the co-sleeper. He wears a short-sleeved onesie, then I swaddle him with a thin recieving blanket, and tuck a warmer knitted blanket over him ( only up to just below his chest though ) He seems to enjoy this arrangement and sleeps very well when he's bundled.

 

[Taryn237]

We're having the same problem so Joshua just sleeps curled up with me. For most of the night he has a boob in his mouth too lol. He'll fall asleep nursing and then I'll try to put him in the co-sleeper but he wakes up and if I keep reinserting a pacifier for like an hour he'll stay there. But lately I've just been keeping him in bed with me the whole night. I sleep better when he's next to me. And of course he sleeps better too. Our co-sleeper is full of diapering stuff etc. We have a snuggle nest we put in it so he would sleep in that so I can use the other 2/3 of it for storage lol.

 

[chandasz]

I thought I would use a co-sleeper with #1. I found myself having a hard time sleeping at first with baby next to me. So worried about rolling on her etc.... I tried putting her in the co-sleeper and found that I was waking up just as much to make sure she was OK because I couldn't feel her or see her too well.

Eventually, I realized that I was beginning to sleep better with her next to me. She's 2 1/2 now and slowly transitioning into a toddler bed next to our bed....

Give yourself some time to find what feels right to you. It's only been a couple weeks. You're both still figuring things out!

 

[NewAtThis]

Thanks mamas! I am getting more used to her sleeping next to me... and I'm hoping I can get more and more used to the feeling of such a tiny person next to me! It looks like I have my work cut out for me in transitioning to the co-sleeper eventually, but I'll try it when it feels right.
And if you have any more suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

 

[alegna]

I'm so glad I didn't waste the money. Babies do best next to mama.

-Angela