Co-sleeping mommies?

Question

I have been co-sleeping since my son was born with no problems, he is now 6 months old. Lastnight I woke up and he had rolled off my bed! I had no idea, I just woke up to him crying. This is very strange because I have always known EXACTALLY where he is and how close he is to the edge. My bed isn't far off the ground, there are 2 boxsprings and a mattress, and he wasn't hurt. Is it time to put him in the crib? If so, how did you wean your baby from your bed? He HATES sleeping alone, any ideas would be great!

Answer 1

I co slept with my oldest son and he rolled off the bed around 5 mos and I just put my bed up against the wall of my room and I always slept on the outside after that....I DID end up weaning him from co-sleeping a month or so later...I ended up making sure he was taking all naps in his crib and then I ended up sleeping in a separate room all together from him...He cried a bit but he realized mommy would come to check on him and it was ok...He's old enough now that if he's crying for you as long as everythings taken care of (clean diaper,not sick,fed etc..) just go in and pat him a few times before you pick him up to cuddle and then set him back down...good luck:)

Answer 2

my son who is now 9 months old use to co sleep with me and his father as well he use to hate sleeping alone too the easyest way i  found was to start by making him sleep in his crib during all his naps and then he got use to it after a couple time of that i got his sleeping in his crib though the night......dont give in be strong you'll be thankfull you did it in the long run

Answer 3

omg same thing happened to me when my son was six months.. i just woke up to him crying scared me! he landed on a pillow thnk goodness

I know its time for my son to sleep in a crib too but we're in the process of moving so he doesnt even have a crib set up. If you already have a crib start gettin him used to it. May b kinda tough at first but just keep puttin him in crib n he'll get used to it,

Good luck. Start puttin pillows on edge of bed so he wont roll off if u continue to co sleep.. thats what i do... It works if u have enough pillows lol, or a heavy one!

Answer 4

My brother and his wife are having this same problem, except their daughter was a year old. Anyway, what has worked for them, and it doesn't work every night, but having a regular sized pillow in the crib, and one of those "heartbeat similators" that make the rhythmic beating sound. It seems to lull her to sleep more easily. You may also try keeping the crib near your own bed, so he can see you or if need be, you can hold his hand while you're both falling asleep. It's a hard step. Good luck!

Answer 5

Yes its time to put him in the crib. Let him fall asleep with you, and then gently move him to his crib. Or, put the crib on the side your bed, with one of the side bars down so it's "connected" to your bed so he still thinks he's sleeping with you. After about a week, move it a little further with the bar up, and little further the next week, etc.  

Answer 6

I've heard it's really dangerous to sleep in the same bed as your infant.  Too many risks... pillows, blankets, rolling over on him, falling out of bed etc.  You're lucky he wasn't hurt.  I would get him in the crib as soon as possible even if he hates it... ..for his own safety and your peace of mind.

Answer 7

A Barbie Doll.

Answer 8

When I had my twins my husband was away with the military, and they were really preemie (29wks). Once they came home I was so attached, and over protective I wanted them to sleep near me so they didn't cry, and I was always the type to check if they were breathing every 5 minutes. Anyway when they were about 7 months old my husband came home, and he said its time for the crib. I was terrified, and wanted to rock the babies to sleep still. He made me get them ready for bed then put them in the crib alone (with a baby monitor of course) shut the door, and they cried a lot at first. It took every ounce of strength to stay away, but after a week they stopped crying, and slept alone in the crib every night. It was the BEST thing ever when they learn to put themselves to sleep. Its hard, but just do it. He will get used to it, and you will only feel bad for the first few days. The longer he sleeps with you - the harder it will be to get him to sleep on his own later.

Answer 9

If I were you I would put the crib in your room so that he isn't alone.That way you are both happy and he won't roll off your bed anymore!

Answer 10

I went through the same thing with my son, but a few months earlier. I wasn't getting any sleep, because I was always worried he would fall and my husband was worried he would roll over on him. But we didn't know what to do because he would not sleep in his bed. We sent him to his grandma's for his first night away from home and he slept in his pack and play for her! I was astonished that he would sleep in the crib perfecly fine for her, but not for me. So I started the next night putting him in his crib, and he hated it and screamed at me. It broke my heart, because he cried for an hour the first night. The next night though he only cried for 30 minutes and then it was 15 and then 5. Then he would only cry for a minute or less before he would calm down and put himself to sleep. It doesn't work for everyone, but it worked for me. Good luck.

Answer 11

I had this happen too and it was terrifying!!  After that I laid a body pillow longways on his side of the bed so that he couldn't roll over it.  Good luck.  :)

Answer 12

Oh..the fear of baby falling of the bed...i know this all too well!

I would suggest buying a co-sleeper bed, or pushing your bed up against the wall, make sure its ALL THE WAY against the wall as you don't want the baby getting stuck between bed and wall!

It was hard to get my son to sleep by himself.

But my girls havent been hard to ween to their own beds....for a while it was with one of them, but then we told her she was a big girl! We co slept for a long time, lol! but I put in a link for you to look at the co sleeper...maybe look on ebay for one, too!

I wouldn't use pillows because anytime you use them you take a risk of suffocation!

My friend just told me that her friend woke up the other morning to her 5 week old suffocated during the night....so please be careful...no pillows, no blankets on baby...use a blanket sleeper gown or something else to keep baby warm!

I think almost ALL babies fall off the bed....so don't be too traumatized from it!

(get that bed up against the wall lol)

Answer 13

Having been in the same position with my son...  I was the "mommy" who got up at night to feed him and it was easier (for me) to snuggle with him and he liked the closeness...  one night he fell off the bed.  Don't how it happened.  But, that was the only time and the last time...    This type of thing will happen ore and more as your son becomes more and more mobile...  it is time to wean him despite his dislike for not being so close.

The question to ask is... does he take naps by himself during the day?  If so, you are well on you way.

When he is tired and ready to sleep at night, put him in his crib and stay with him till he falls asleep.  When he wakes and cries which he will, feed him if he is hungry and comfort him, but put him back in his crib.  He is safer there than with a ton of pillows (that he will push away or crawl over soon).

Take care.... Peace

Answer 14

I would definitely put him in his crib or buy one of those co-sleeping things that attach to the bed. Rock him to sleep before putting him in his crib and stand there and rub his back til he is asleep. It may take a few nights of him waking up often but then he will stop and sleep in there.  

Answer 15

You could try pushing one side of your bed against the wall. Or putting him in the middle between you and your partner. Maybe you could use a pillow as a barrier to try to stop him from rolling off. And try putting something soft on the floor to break his fall if he does manage it again. I know a lot of mothers put the cots up against the side of the bed with the rail taken off, so you could try that if you have room (I personally don't).

My son sleeps in the middle of me and my partner. His cot is in our room and about 4-5 months old he started waking up often and having to be resettled like 3-4 times a night. Then he just stopped getting resettled and wouldn't stop crying - so I just put him in our bed as I couldn't be bothered staying up for however long it would take to get him back to sleep in his own bed. And he has been in our bed ever since. Although now he is a lot more mobile and wiggles all around in our bed!

Don't know anything else you could try, good luck with it though.

Answer 16

We took the side off of the crib and put it next to the bed - I think they call this a side-car crib.  It gives us more space, and keeps him from rolling off.

I've also heard of others that take out the box springs and put the mattress right on the floor.

Answer 17

We have always co-slept with our children too. However, this time around (baby #3) my husband and I decided that it probably wasn't a good idea. He has a new job with crazy hours and just seems to be exhausted all the time so he was certain that he would probably roll over on the baby. I too am more exhausted with a 5 year old and a 3 year old to run after all day. But, I breastfeed so I hated knowing that I wouldn't be able to just roll over and nurse the baby without ever having to get out of the bed. So, our solution was to take the side off of the baby's crib and turn it sideways and put it next to the bed. It works great since her mattress and ours are the same height. Now the baby is safe in her own bed but close enough for me to just reach over and pull her near enough to nurse. I know that they make those crib type things that are designed to attach to your bed but I didn't want to spend $ on something else when we already had the crib. Plus it essentially does the same thing. Good luck to you!

Answer 18

You have to be careful using any type of pillow because the child can suffocate.  You can always use the toddler bumpers that come up at the edge of the bed to keep him from rolling off, but again, you have to be very careful that he cannot suffocate.

Answer 19

Just because he rolled out doesn't mean you have to put him in the crib, at least if you don't want to. There are lots of guard rail products you can buy to keep your baby in bed with you. You could also remove the box springs for now and put the mattress directly on the floor. If you're ready to start putting him in the crib you could start trying to put him down for naps in his own room. See how it goes and decide if it's something you want to start now. There is nothing wrong with keeping him in bed with you as long as everyone is safe and getting a good night's sleep.