Co-Sleeping Parents..need some help. Am I doing this wrong?

Question

My little man has been great in his crib, UNTIL he started teething like crazy!! He will sleep fine until anywhere between 1:30 am and 4:00 am and then wake up and refuse to go back to sleep and cry AND CRY. I have started taking him back to bed with me (which calms him down while we cuddle) and then we both go back to sleep!

Hubby is a very thrashy-violent sleeper so I have a wall between us of pillows (and both baby and I are perfectly safe) but because of the "wall" we have little space (in the king sized bed..). My question is: How do you sleep with your little one? I cradle him in my left arm (sitting up) and then lie back so he is tummy to tummy with me (but still laying on my arm). I dont sleep well this way, but it's better than no sleep so I take what I can get!! :-)

How do you do it? should I just lie him beside me? Cradle him like I am? Is this how its done?

I do enjoy the cradle (as poorly as I sleep), he strokes my face while he is falling asleep and it's so sweet, but I dont know if I am "supposed" to be holding him even though he can roll over on his own!

Thanks in advance!!

Answer 1

I vary as I switch the side she's on all night for breastfeeding.  When she's on the outside of the bed, I hold her so she won't roll off.  Wen she is between my husband and I, she and I usually sleep belly to belly on our sides, but that's just because she refuses to sleep on her back now that she can roll.  She used to just sleep on her back between the two of us, but my husband is a very light sleeper.  I think it's about what works for you and your family.

Answer 2

I rarely wind up with my little one in bed with me until this past week. He's 3 weeks and if I didn't bring him into bed with me at least a few hours a night, my hubby and I would be holding him CONSTANTLY in shifts. I've actually found the best way to hold him is for me to sleep sitting up and prop myself up with pillows. My husband is an "active sleeper" as well. On many occasions, he's smacked me and even bit me once!

I would recommend doing whatever is working, though have you tried swaddling your baby and letting him sleep in places other than the crib? For the sake of sanity, I'm letting my son nap in his car seat, even though we have a vibrating chair, bouncer, playpen, crib and bassinet all set up for him, he hates them all. The only seat/bed he likes is his car seat.

Also, I would say talk to your pediatrician as she may tell you to try some motrin. Mine did with my first son and he slept beautifully. Don't give it unless the doctor says OK first, though, so you can get the right dosage.

Some other things to try with teething babies:

ePopsicless are best

Frozen fruit

ice cubes (if baby is old enough and only VERY small peices)

Frozen teether rings

Don't waste time/money with orajel.  

Answer 3

i give my son one side of the bed. We usually start out cuddling and than by the morning we are on opposite sides. When we go camping and my daughter sleeps on us, I worry that she will lay on him and so every time I roll over, I take him with me and hold him all night.

Answer 4

I give my son one side of the bed and let him roll away.  He tosses and turns all night long, lol.

But, I don't have a hubby, so it's just myself and my son in the bed.  

I think the way you are doing it is fine.  As long as baby is safe and you are comfy.

Answer 5

is your bed against the wall- if so then place baby between you and hte wall and you sleep next to hubby. i cradled my son in arms for about the first month and then i couldnt stand sleeping on my back anymore so i just put him next to me since i am a very light sleeper

Answer 6

I swaddle my little girl and keep my arm draped across her or my hand on her diaper and she sleeps very well.

Answer 7

I swaddle my little man & let him sleep beside me either with my hand on him or snuggled close to me with me sleeping on my side.

I have never been a thrasher or deep sleeper, so even having him close to me I can relax & fall back asleep easily.