[cjanelles]

My babe is newborn...12 days old.

She is my third and my husband's first. I was a single mom with my two oldest (now 10 and 14), and I tried co-sleeping with both of them, but it didn't suit either of their personalities.

My husband and I knew that we'd both be wanting to at least keep the new baby in the room with us, if not actually in the bed...so, we've spent the last week and a half trying to figure out what's going to work with us (and I know that it's probably too soon to have figured it out).

Her bassinet is at the foot of our bed (won't fit on the side). We have a king bed and have tried to sleep her in the middle of the bed, between us. I try to put her in her bassinet during the day for naps, but she usually won't sleep for more than an hour at a time. And she doesn't do well in the middle of the bed, either.

She will, however, sleep for three hour stretches if she's laying on someone's chest--mine or dh's. And since I'm a SAHM and BFing, I often find myself holding her throughout her daytime naps simply because it's the only way either of us get any rest.

The last two nights, I've tried sleeping with her snuggled to my side, and while it works great for her, it is terrible for me. I can barely get to sleep because I'm worried about smothering her. Plus, she is a noisy little thing and every little sound she makes rockets me right up out of sleep. I don't think I'm getting more thank 2 hours of sleep a night, and that is cumulative.

Any suggestions? I don't want to force the issue of putting her in her own bed...she obviously needs the closeness with us to feel safe and secure during her sleeptime...but I've got to start finding a solution before I get to my exhausted wits end and can't function, ya know?

 

[Ivana&4Kids]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjanelles My babe is newborn...12 days old. She is my third and my husband's first. I was a single mom with my two oldest (now 10 and 14), and I tried co-sleeping with both of them, but it didn't suit either of their personalities. My husband and I knew that we'd both be wanting to at least keep the new baby in the room with us, if not actually in the bed...so, we've spent the last week and a half trying to figure out what's going to work with us (and I know that it's probably too soon to have figured it out). Her bassinet is at the foot of our bed (won't fit on the side). We have a king bed and have tried to sleep her in the middle of the bed, between us. I try to put her in her bassinet during the day for naps, but she usually won't sleep for more than an hour at a time. And she doesn't do well in the middle of the bed, either. She will, however, sleep for three hour stretches if she's laying on someone's chest--mine or dh's. And since I'm a SAHM and BFing, I often find myself holding her throughout her daytime naps simply because it's the only way either of us get any rest. The last two nights, I've tried sleeping with her snuggled to my side, and while it works great for her, it is terrible for me. I can barely get to sleep because I'm worried about smothering her. Plus, she is a noisy little thing and every little sound she makes rockets me right up out of sleep. I don't think I'm getting more thank 2 hours of sleep a night, and that is cumulative. Any suggestions? I don't want to force the issue of putting her in her own bed...she obviously needs the closeness with us to feel safe and secure during her sleeptime...but I've got to start finding a solution before I get to my exhausted wits end and can't function, ya know?

Why not use a comfy cotton baby wrap sling and wrap her close to your chest for naps and trhoughout the day. Then when come bedtime,try a co-sleeper. www.armsreach.com

 

[Jane Plane]

I like the idea of a sling, too. She's so little and moving through so many different phases, I wouldn't worry about this lasting too long. If you don't like using a sling or a wrap, just keep trying with putting her down, and someday you'll see that she is okay with it.

Oh, and congratulations! 12 days old!

 

[Enudely]

I second the baby wrap idea. Also, just let her sleep on your chest. My dd did this as a newborn and I cherish the memories! They grow so fast

 

[cjanelles]

I love having her sleep on my chest during the day...I was so young and "busy" with my big kids that I feel like I rushed right through their baby-hood...

I am determined not to do that with Willow...I cherish the moments she's sleeping on my chest. It is just difficult to get any sleep at night that way.

I do have a sling, but I have to admit that I haven't even tried it yet.

I think I'm sort of afraid of it...or at least intimidated by it. It's irrational, I know. Every day I say, "I'm going to practice with the sling today" and then I don't.

We have a convertible crib, and I wonder if we shouldn't rearrange our room for the time being and set up the crib side-car style.

I haven't looked at the co-sleepers like Arms Reach, but I will.

Thanks for the suggestions and the congrats.