How many people told us when we had Gabe to NEVER start the habit of co-sleeping? That it would be the hardest habit to break and we would regret the day we started? Too many to count. So here we are 2 years later and Gabe is right there in the bed with us. It didn't start out this way. Gabe was an excellent crib sleeper until he was 1 year old, with just an occasional transfer to our bed in the middle of the night. Then when he was teething so bad, he would wake nightly around the clock and end up in our bed. No problem. Then we introduced the choo choo bed around the 18 month mark. He still slept in his crib, but the toddler bed was also in his room waiting for the switch. By his 2nd birthday we had him napping and sleeping in his new bed which was a HUGE accomplishment.
So where did things go wrong? I don't know. Secretly I have to admit I liked having Gabe in the bed. He used to stay still in the middle and sleep, well, "like a baby". Lately, however, he is all over the place kicking and rolling and hitting us. Not cool. Gary and I are miserable in the morning. Also, up until the last two nights he had no problem going to bed in his room/bed, but would still wake in the night to climb into our bed. But these past two nights he has had to fall asleep in our bed!!! Noooooo
We are in trouble. How did we get so off course? It is hard at the end of the day when you are tired and have things to do (cleaning, cooking, school work, etc.) and then have to struggle with the whole bed situation. No wonder parents opt for the easy way out-like we have. I know Gary is hating this so much, so tonight we will really have to be firm about bedtime. I think what has happened the past two nights is that we fight so long about bedtime, that we start to worry he is up too late now and getting over tired. Then it's like lets just do whatever gets him to sleep. We will see what happens tonight. We have got to get back on track or Gary is going to have to build Gabe this "baby cage" in the picture!
i also love sleeping with my baby (haven't yet tried sleeping with both at one time...)
ReplyDeletehowever, when kendal went through that "i can't sleep in my crib i have to sleep with you or i will scream for an hour or longer until you go crazy" phase, i asked my sister if any of her "herd" went through the same thing. turns out, they all did. she said what worked for her was putting them in the crib/bed and sitting on the floor beside them so they can see you but you are not looking at them. you sit there until they fall alseep. if they get up, you put them back in the bed still making no eye contact. eventually they go to sleep. as time goes on (days, weeks, etc.), you move further and further away from the bed until eventually you are at the door.
right after she explained it to me, nathaniel and i saw an episode about it on supernanny. on her website, you can watch a video about it i'm sure. we fortunately didn't have to do it, as the reason kendal was going nuts was because of those darn molars... but i'm sure it'll happen again and we'll have to try it.
you should email my sister sometime about it and ask her. if you need her email, i'll give it to you... or you can look at her blog (you can link to it from mine).