Co-sleeping - Orlando,FL

We ran into the same problem of real estate in the bed. We had a standing rule that my oldest had to start in her bed but if she should wake up, then she can come into our bed. Then when she came into the bed, I had her sleep between my legs or down at the foot of the bed. That way the baby still had full boob access and I didn't have to worry about my oldest rolling onto the baby. I love sleeping with the girls on top of me and it gave my husband the little extra room because he does not sleep well with them cuddled with him. Some nights my husband did move to the couch in the middle of the night. Now both girls, now 4 and 2, start in their own beds. Most nights, the youngest is the only one that joins us. But that depends on if they need a little extra Mom time. I feel a little off on the mornings when I wake up with no girls in the bed. Once the newness of the baby wears off and she realizes that you will still give her the attention when she needs it, she'll move back to her own bed.

I put the new babies crib in his room and put them to bed at the same time. Letting him know he had someone in his room with him made him feel better. Later that night when I was ready for bed the baby came with me. It did help him a lot though having someone in the room with him.

I co-slept with our 3 1/2 year old as well. It worked out fine for us because my husband works the night shift and I liked having him in my room much better because of being alone in the house. When I got pg with our 2nd son (born June 3) I thought it was time to move him to his own bed. I had the same issue, it worked out ok at first, then he saw that someone was taking his place and wanted back. We bought him a new bed and everything. The only thing that seemed to work was Mason crying and waking him up in the middle of the night. Even that caused issues because I was breastfeeding and he was irritated because I had to pay attention to the baby instead of him when he was upset. It just took some time, and patience. I explained to him why it was better to sleep in his own bed. It is a hard transition, and I cried almost as much as he did. lol But sometimes the best thing you can do is be the "mean momma" and make her go to her own bed.

What I did was start a new routine for him, our own special night routine that could only be done in his room. I let him pick out a book (we had gone out a bought a bunch of new books) and we would read it each night. Then we sang songs that he got to make up words for. I would start the song, then he would throw something in. We discussed the day, what he liked best about that day and what he would like to do tommorow. If he would want to go to my room for bed I would explain to him that because Mason was in there that if we went in there I would not be able to sing, talk, or read. He would still come to my bed in the middle of the night, and I admit sometimes when I was just so tired it was easier to let him stay, but most of the time I would hug him for a minute, let him get some mommy time and then we would go back to his bed. Now it's kind of funny because even if I want him to come to my room (like nights when it is storming bad or during the hurricanes) he is like NO WAY. lol

Oh yeah I forgot, we also bought him a special little flat screen tv that we hung on the wall. We would also have "tv" night where I would put an educational DVD in and we would sit and watch it and discuss what was going on. I have these short DVDs that are only about 30 minutes so I do not have to cut it off half way through. Although I am sure there are moms out there that are totally against tv time for his age, I found that he has learned so much from these shows, with my interaction.

HTH and good luck with your little ones.

T.

HI L.-

I am a mother of three: a 4 , 2 and 7 month old. I have co slept with each of my little guys and have finally got the 7 month old acclamated to his own crib...BUT I sleep in the same room as the crib. My 2 and 4 year old sleep together in a double bed in the four year olds room, I sleep in my two year olds twin bed which shares a room with my seven month old. My husband, after the first one got tired of getting woken up in the night for feedings etc..He use to move to another bed but now I have. We both loved having our babies in bed with us.

My four year old slept with me though for his first two years. I used bribery:) If he slept all night in the big boy bed he could get a surprise of his choice....It took alot of surprises and alot of 1, 2 AM of him crawling in bed with me.

I know what alot of people will say. You should not co sleep. should not allow your child to sleep with you. Never mind that. To each is own and all I have to say is that they are only little once...eventually she is not going to want to spend time with you...so soak it up now while you can. I say maybe buy an inflatable mattress and put it in her room and sleep next to her..giving your husband the bed to himself...maybe rotate until she gets use to her own room and her own bed. I will tell you this..I want my kids to come home from college some day give me hugs and jump in bed with us :)

Dont let your kids sleep in your bed! That is a space for you and your husband. Dont let your newborn sleep in your bed because, as you can see, it is hard to break them out of wanting that all the time.
There is no need to put another bed or mattress or anything of the like in your bedroom. You need to reclaim your space! Your bedroom needs to be a sanctuary for you and your husband.
Since your oldest has her own room and bed she needs to use them. I have nothing against a basinet or crib in your bedroom until the baby gets a little older but the baby needs to sleep in his/her own basinet or crib.
Break the cycle now before it's too late!!!!!
(I hope you don't think I was scolding you!)