This is not a post on what's better, or promoting co-sleeping, this is simply my story ...
So, if you have been reading my blog for a while, you will know that sleep, or lack of it is an issue in my home ...
Let me tell you that I have co-slept with 3 out of my 4 girls, my second daughter (now aged 8) was one of those baby's you read about , that sleep, eat and is generally happy and easy to look after!!
The other 3 at some point have slept in bed with me..
My first daughter slept with me only for a couple of months, until I established a bed time routine and some will power, by the time she was 1 she slept in her own room !!
As I said earlier I never had an issue with my 2nd daughters sleep (how lucky was that)
However when I had my 3rd daughter, she was completely different, unsettled, never happy and never really slept for more than 30 minutes at a time, it was tough....
By the time I had her, my eldest daughter had started full time school, so I started co-sleeping with her so she didn't disturb my other 2 girls, those nights were long and hard... It wasn't until she was 3 1/2 that she finally was able to sleep in her own room...
Fast forward to baby number 4, who was born 6 weeks early and weighed 4lbs 15 ounces, she was tiny...
She slept a lot to begin with, and really now she does like her sleep, she starts off in her cot but around 2am every morning she wakes up and then will not go back in her cot, so for the sake of not waking the others she sleeps with us, to be totally honest with you I do enjoy these moments with her, as I know she will only be small once ..
Part of me is looking forward to the day when I will have a block of more than a coup,e of hour sleep, but I suppose until that day comes, I will enjoy the memories and the cuddles...
So, how about you ?? What are your thoughts on Co-sleeping ?
Love
hmm, interesting. OK. Zac was a dream sleeper as a baby but then around 7 months after he'd been happily sleeping in his cot for weeks in our room it all turned sour. So instead of co-sleeping to settle him we did this thing called sleep training on advice from our health visitor. It worked but it was hell for bith Zac and us so we vowed never again!
ReplyDeleteBlake never slept and still pretty much doesn't (age 3) mainly due to his discomfort through allergies - so yes we co-sleep when he can't settle and to be honest, like you I adore my smuggled cuddles! Midn you I don't sleep as I can never quite relax when they snuggle up with us!
Love
Victoria
x
I co-slept with my baby for about 6 months. He was really big at birth (weighing in at 10.5 lbs!) and nursed like a champ. Unfortunately, that meant no sleep for me. He ate every 2 hours for the first two weeks! After driving myself crazy from lack of sleep, I decided to have him co-sleep. Best.thing.ever. When he started moving, I would just start nursing and back to sleep we both went. He transitioned beautifully to his crib. Now he is 2 and every now and then he will sneak into my room. I honestly don't mind. I love the cuddling too! (He calls it "nuggling") I would do it again in a heartbeat!
ReplyDeleteI think, you need to do what ever woks best for your family, although I sleep when my toddler is there, is probably not the deep sleep that my body needs, that bing said some sleep is better than no sleep ...
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing :)
Claire x
Awww, thank you for sharing ,
ReplyDeleteYes 10.5lbs is big, my biggest baby was 8.1lbs !!
It's lovely to hear how co-sleeping as worked out for you :)
Claire x
Co-sleeping now there's a topic close to me, lol. My toddler seems to be a combination of your 3rd and 4th daughters and I'm expecting my 2nd say a pray for my sanity, lol. Anyways, I 'think we have to do what works for us and after months of interrupted sleep every two hours or so and coping with PND I gave in to co-sleeping to be honest, I'd not mind it much if my boy slept like an in ONE SPOT! However he seems to have my sleep style, he rolls he toss and pretty much does a 360 degree turn on the bed through out the night. At the moment I'm hanging on by my bump literaly. I aim to help with this in few weeks or so as my bump is getting bigger, but now I'm torn. After months of having him nudged into my side I've grown used to his cuddles during the night and the little morning kisses. I like being the first person he sees in the morning and I luv his toddler chatter.
ReplyDeleteI think we all have to do what works. I've always started my daughter off in her bassinet/crib/bed. She used to wake up and join us every night, sometimes after a few hours, sometimes in the early morning hours. Then I'd bring her to bed with me. She started sleeping through the night around the age of 2 but at 3 she still comes into our bed occasionally. Personally, I don't mind, I like the snuggles. :) I wonder how it will be when we have our second baby though. I know our bed can't fit 4, it barely fits 3, so we'll have to see!
ReplyDeleteBTW that is such a precious picture. :)
ReplyDeleteyou have such a sweet blog! funny my 3rd was also a tricky sleeper (well, still is at 2... hoping by age 3 she might finally sleep through the night on her own). I never minded co sleeping, in fact I really like having them close when they're babies, either in our bed or just in our room. I agree, they are only little once!
ReplyDelete- Jen
Thank you so much for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteYes, find something that works for you, you may find that your 2nd child is completely different to your first :).
Wishing you all the best with the remainder of your pregnancy...
Don't forget to get some rest, if your son has a nap in the afternoon :)
Claire x
Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteX
Thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteI love snuggles too :)
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy, I am sure when the time comes, you will work something out that works for your family , 4 in a bed is a squeeze, been there hehehehe..
Claire x
Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to know I am not alone with co-sleeping, I definitely think you have to find something that works for you ...
Claire x