Experienced co-sleepers: I think it's time, or no?

Question

For almost the last week my 13 month old daughter has been waking frequently. First couple of nights I didn't think anything of it, just thought she needed something. But, now is she not only waking frequently, she is kicking me more and more every night.

When we put her down for naps and at night there is always at least one person in the bed with her and she does fine. It seems to be only at night when this is happening and when there are 2 people in bed.

Do you think it's time for her own bed now? :(

How did you know when your child was ready for his/her own bed?

Answer 1

My son is 3 1/2 and still sleeps with us I would say if you are ready for her to sleep by herself then start now since she is only 13 months still the older and longer you wait the harder it is on the both of you.  My son does sleep every once in a while in his own bed then comes to my bed in the middle of the night.  My 8 month old sleeps by herself I could not start co-sleeping with her not enough room in the bed. I feel that my son did not ask to be put in the our bed we chose that for him so i have a hard time making him sleep on his own.

Answer 2

I think that you should not have kept her in the bed with you for so long. She should have been in her own bed a LONG time ago. You're going to have a very challenging time getting her to sleep in a bed by herself.

Anyway, better late than never. You definitely need to get her in her own bed right away...unless you want her kicking you in your sleep when she's 5 years-old. Just remember to be consistant about it. Once she starts sleeping in her own bed DO NOT let her back in yours. That will only make the situation worse.

Best of luck.  

Answer 3

We knew Ian was ready when he decided to crawl over one of us in the middle of the night and get onto the floor to play! He didn't make it to the playing part...We heard *thump* and then the tears began :( We're still trying to transition him into his own bed now...it's tough on him, but it's a lot harder on us. It's just weird not to have him to snuggle up to!

Answer 4

My daughter is 20 months old, and we are still co-sleeping. She sleeps wonderfully at night, but the actual going to sleep part has been difficult these last few weeks. I actually laid in bed with her for over an hour tonight waiting for her to drift off the sleep.

I am buying her a toddler bed for her 2nd birthday (I know, lame present huh?). I'm not going to force it on her, and just slowly shift her that way. However, the toddler bed is most definitely staying in Mommy and Daddy's room for quite a while yet. We are both not ready to be separated like that.

If I were you, I would give it a little longer before deciding to buy a bed. 13 months is still pretty young to be sleeping in a toddler bed, even if she were in a crib.

Answer 5

I knew it was time when I was sick and tired of him being in MY bed.

We started co-sleeping with our 1st during an illness (his).  After that, it became just too difficult to get him to sleep in his crib.

Finally, DW agreed it was time to kick him out of our bed.  The very first night is was obvious he was never going back in the crib.  So we grabbed a twin size mattress we has stored in the basement and put it on the floor.  The 1st night, DW slept with him on the mattress the entire night.  For a couple more nights, she was only in the bed with him until he fell asleep.  After that, he would go to sleep in his bed alone.  We started with just that mattress so that when he fell out (which of course did eventually happen), it wasn't a high enough fall to hurt him (padded carpet).  So enough, he learned to keep from falling out of the bed on his own.

BTW, because we BOTH got so tired of allowing the 1st one to co-sleep with us, she didn't allow the 2nd to ever sleep with us.

Answer 6

You can certainly try moving her to her own sleep area like a side car, crib, or bed in your room.  But I doubt a 13 month old wants to sleep alone in a room.  Most studies that go that far show benefits of cosleeping until at least age 5

Generally speaking babies seem to nurse at night until age 3 or 4, or otherwise need help getting back to sleep.

Ultimately though the only way you can find what works is to try different things.

(PS You really nap with her every day, wow)

Why babies should never sleep alone: A review

of the co-sleeping controversy in relation to SIDS,

bedsharing and breast feeding

http://www.nd.edu/~jmckenn1/lab/articles...

Sleeping through the Night

http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detsleepth...

Answer 7

I think its time, what can you do, it is only going to get worse.  I know the feeling it was so much easier when the little one sleeps with you, because if he/she gets up then your right there and just stick a bottle/sippy cup in its' mouth.  But coming from those days to a day where the wee one needs it's own bed is a challenge too.  What I do is tuck the little one in to bed, then spend about twenty to thirty minutes til she is asleep.  Poof... problem solved and you get your own bed back.  Don't get me wrong you still have to get up in the middle of the night to give her/him a binky or bottle but it works.  The first couple of nites i recommend drugs(for the baby not you) it helps them get to sleep faster and will make the tranisition easier.  Good luck