Six month old not sleeping in crib???

Question

HELP ME?! Please help me. I am a single mom and my son's crib is in my room. He is breastfed. He still wakes up about 3-4 times at night, and he sleeps in my bed next to me. I just roll over and start nursing him and 5 minutes later he falls asleep. I would love to sleep comfortabley by myself in my bed. I am exhausted and don't know what to do. I don't put him in his crib because I'm so tired that I fear I might drop him or trip in the middle of the night because I am so tired. That is why it is just easier for him to sleep next to me, so I can just roll over feed him and go back to sleep. Did anyone go through this, any suggestions?? I think I am creating a monster because when he gets older I fear that he will never want to sleep in his own bed.

he will be 7 months on the 30th, he takes his naps in his crib at daycare and at home.

Answer 1

If all he's doing is snacking in the middle of the night then you have two options. One is to help him find a way to self soothe back to sleep using a pacifier, sucking thumb, lovey, or crying. The other is to encourage him to get a full feeding when he wakes up to get him to stretch out the time between feedings.

But at this point he's relying on the snack nursing to soothe him back to sleep, and that's the habit you have to work to break. At six months old he should have the ability to go 8-10 hours between feedings at night, so don't worry that he's going to starve if you don't let him nurse for those 5 minutes.

Answer 2

Sugar, I was a single mom also with a son for 9 years so I know how tired you are and how hard it is. God bless you and your baby and the best of luck to you, you will do it believe me!

My advice is to break the habit NOW before he gets much older. Part of the reason you are exhausted besides the fact of having a baby is because you are truly not getting good rest even with the convenience of him being right in your bed. You just said it yourself mom! It is very hard to sleep in a bed with a baby who rustles around and moves all the time!

But him in his crib starting tonight and get into a routine with him. He will get used to it within a week or two. You will not drop him and don't worry about tripping in the night. You are worrying about something that will most likely never happen (I made it through 3 boys without dropping one or tripping in the night!) I would be more fearful of rolling over on the baby in my sleep and smothering him in my own bed!

Start using his crib and break this habit so that you can both enjoy your rest. I am betting he will wake up LESS being in his own little crib! I know around 6 months all of my boys really started sleeping a lot longer through the night, and they were always in their cribs alone. You will be just fine and you will get more rest each night. (It is VERY hard to break an older child of sleeping in a parents bed - keep that in mind too!)

Answer 3

At 6 months he should be needing to be nursed at all during the night. Have you introduced solids yet? If not now is the time to do so. You are very correct, if you continue doing what you're doing he will continue to expect it, only creating further problems.

First thing's first, wean him of the night feedings:
Start him on solids if you haven't already (see the link at the bottom)
For the first week feed him only ONE time a night, all other times he wakes he needs to stay in his crib (this may take some crying)
After that week stop the night feedings altogether, his last feeding should be around probably 9pm or so and his morning feeding around 6 or 7am...do not give in or he will continue to expect it.

Next issue, he needs to be in his crib to sleep, trust me it is better for both of you in the long run. This may take some getting used to and probably at least a week's worth of crappy nights but you have to do it. Let him cry, you can rub his back, talk to him, sing to him, but do NOT pick him up...I promise he will be just fine and he won't hold any grudges against you. It's just a cycle that needs to be broken. Be strong and get it done now :-)

I had two little boys in my in-home daycare (brothers ages 5 and 3) who slept in bed with their mom from birth on up and the dad had to sleep on a guest bed because there wasn't enough room for all of them in one bed (the 5 year old is about the size of a 7 year old...VERY tall) I'm sure you don't want to end up in that position! It's a lot easier to stop the problem early :)

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babyfeeding/113.html

Answer 4

You are not creating a monster! You are being a loving mother, responding to your sweet son with what he needs most: mama and breastmilk.

You son will eventually not sleep with you or nurse. This is really just a tiny window in your lives together.

Please consider reading the following book about infant sleeping and nightnursing, The No Cry Sleep Solution (see link below).

Yes, not sleeping through the night is hard on mama (I am there!) but you are growing and comforting your baby. I also think you should seek like minded support from your local La Leche League meeting.

Hang in there! (((Hug)))

Answer 5

Many parents co-sleep like you do... I do. I wouldn't say i have a monster... just a very happy, well-attached toddler.

He will grow out of sleeping with you eventually (typically around 2-4 yrs) and until then you get a bunch of extra bonding and cuddle time. I wouldn't trade my cuddle time for anything in the world!

Esspecially since he goes to daycare, its great that he gets to spend so much time at night with you.

Keep it up. Theres nothing wrong with what youre doing.

Answer 6

Do whatever you have to do.

Start putting him in his crib when he has his naps during the day.

I wouldn't worry too much about creating a monster.

Answer 7

Its best to put him in his crib away from you for his safety. You are more likely to kill him by rolling over him in your sleep or smothering him in your bed then you'd be if you dropped him by accident. I recently heard of a two mothers whos children where killed while in bed with them.