My son is 12 months old and has slept with us since he was born. Need advice!?

Question

We are moving into a house where his bedroom is downstairs and ours is upstairs. We really didn't want to have to have his crib in our new bedroom. He always sleeps in his crib until about 1 or 2 am (which is nice because that gives me plenty of time to clean up and spend time with my husband) So its never been an inconvenience, its been enjoyable, in fact, I have a hard time sleeping without him in my arms. We love him sleeping with us but we think its time for him to have his own room. Now I'm starting to feel bad about having him sleeping with us because he's gonna have a hard time not. He will sleep in his crib all night but wakes up every hour to get rocked back to sleep. We have always rocked him to sleep for naps and nighttime. So my question is, what has worked for you? Any specific routines or plans? Websites? Is it healthy to let him cry it out?

Answer 1

I suggest the following:

First, if you haven't started giving him baby massages, do start. While massaging him, talk to him giving him praise and telling him he is a big boy and will have his own room. Then each night before putting him to bed, give him a massage and talk to him. This will help him to sleep and hopefully sleep for a longer period and should make the transistion to sleeping alone easier.

If this doesn't work then I suggest you get two sets of baby monitors (the ones that allow you to hear the baby) and place one in his room where he could hear you and one in your room where you could hear him. When he cries, you can try talking to him using your monitor and coaxing him back to sleep. Oftentimes, they are calmed and will go back to sleep once hearing the mothers voice.

You can find techniques for doing baby massages on the web. He is one that does an excellent job explaining the method http://www.makewayforbaby.com/massages.htm

I gave my daughter baby massages until she was about 8 years old. She loved them and the time we spent together is priceless! I have stopped the massages but still will give her foot massages from time to time. She is 13 now.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Start as soon as you move into your new house. Set up his new room and get him involved in it. If he wakes up crying go check on him. If he is fine lay him back down tell him it's ok pat his back a few times and walk out. If he cries, let him cry for up to 20 minutes. (Yes, it's ok to let him cry it out. Think of a time your child has thrown a fit for an hour or more. Your child is still alive isn't he? He's fine.) At that point go back in calm him down (don't take him out of the room) and then leave again. Repeat until he falls asleep. It will be hard but if you stick to it as a new routine in your new house I guarantee that within the first week it will be a done deal.

Answer 3

My 18 months old baby sleeps with me, he was sleeping in his own room up to about 3 months ago when he was sick and I brought him to my room so I could watch his fever, turned out he didn't want to go back to sleep on his own room, he cries and cries, until I give up and bring him in. I spoke to the doctor and she said to give him a routine, put him to sleep at the same time every night, if he starts crying let him cry for about 5 minutes and then go back in the room and calm him down, do not pick him up, just tell him to go back "night night", he will keep crying but you leave the room and wait for another 5 minutes and do the same thing, he will keep doing this but if you do this for at least 3 or 5 days he'll get use to it, I haven't try it yet... I can't hear him cry, it breaks my heart, but he has his room across mine, I wouldn't be calm if his room is in another floor, but I guess you have a baby monitor and the room's windows have safety locks, etc. I hope that helps, the doctor says it works.

Answer 4

My husband and I have 5 children, including a set of twins who all slept with us. When you are nursing its just easier at night to put them to bed with you. In fact, if you think about it, its natural, humans are the only animals that place their infants away from them at night. But now, its to the point where you want the baby to sleep in the crib....it is not an easy change. I remember nursing the baby and then when it fell asleep carring it gently to the crib and of course you have to kind of tuck them into a comfy sleep position.. (youll know what I mean) then you may have to stand there and pat the babies bottom gently or rub the back... play the mobile's music box.. and trust me... its a work in progress and it will take nerves of steel. And yes, their may be moments the baby has to cry it out. But if they know they are safe... they will adjust.

Answer 5

Get a baby monitor. Stay will him until he is asleep. Yes you sometime have to let them cry themselves to sleep. The key is to be consistent and never give in and let him sleep with you. Also some background noise like a sleep machine, stuffed animal and a nightlight will help. I slept with my parents when I was a kid. My parent bought me a clock radio and used it to get me to sleep in my room and it worked. Of course he is still a little for something like that lol.

Answer 6

I've heard The No Cry Sleep Solution is a good book on this subject. Good luck!

Answer 7

oh boy,
my son is 2 almost 3 now and he will for no reason sleep in his bed. we have tried a crib, play pin, race car bed and even a bunk bed all are set up waiting on him, but he will not sleep in his bed. when he was young i thought it was OK witch i still think so but as he gets older and older it gets harder and harder to get him to sleep in him bed. and its even harder when you have other children.
they want to sleep with you too.
i don't have a working method right now. we have got he to sleep on the couch but he want make it to his bed. i would just always put him down to sleep in his bed. for him to see he has to sleep there that is his bed. and if he gets up. rock him to sleep but put him back in his bed. its going to be hard at first but if you don't when he gets older or if you want to move him up to a bigger bed he will just get up when he wants out of his bed and right into yours...
im telling you from mine my 6 year old did the same and i had to make him stay in his. it was hard work but it payed off in the end... having alone time with your husband. will be harder and harder if he doesn't sleep in his bed by himself soon.

Answer 8

i replaced into in basic terms at the instant reading a toddler e book that my mom wrote approximately me, and he or she wrote that I had a similar DEEP heavy drowsing difficulty that your toddler has. This in no way replaced throughout my existence as a toddler and as an grownup (i'm over 40 years previous now). The difficulty replaced into in no way investigated medically by ability of my father and mom; and because I grew up with it, i did no longer know any diverse. regardless of the indisputable fact that, i'm going to tell you from the income of my journey, this does not sense like commonly used sleep. It sounds like being heavily drugged (however I even have in no way been drugged, i'm guessing it truly is the way it could sense). After 10 or 12 hours sleep, i % to awaken and that i exceptionally much wake; yet then i won't be able to pull myself out of it and that i'm dragged against my will decrease back into sleep. in the process the excess sleep, I dream lots, additionally. I sleep by way of alarm clocks, and as a result, i ought to in no way get to college or to artwork on time throughout my existence. I additionally ought to no longer awaken to the sound of my very own little ones' crying. This has had a devastating effect on my existence and the lives of those around me. i do no longer mean to scare you; yet while the drowsing development with your toddler keeps while she's older, i do no longer think of you may desire to overlook approximately it. As someone who has this sleep development, i've got the desire to make it established that we gained't administration it and it does not sense stable. I in basic terms at the instant suggested it to a doctor, yet have not yet began to attempt to be sure what's occurring right here. If i come across something out, i'm going to attempt to aid you recognize. Likewise, in case you come across out something greater effective approximately this, i could be very fascinated to renowned.

Answer 9

That is a HUGE leap... from going to your bed to sleeping on a completely different floor. There's no way you can get him a room next to yours?

Answer 10

Just keep putting him in his bed when he comes to yours. You have made him very comfortable in your bed, now get him comfortable in his. Put him in his bed and stay with him until he goes to sleep in his bed. Do explain to him about being a big boy now and spending the night in his bed and then keep putting him back. He's not going to be happy but he will get over it.