Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

Please be honest and tell me if this is a bad choice I'm making here.

When it's the last feeding of the night (either 9:30 or 10, whatever it is), I put DD down in her bassinet. She sleeps MAYBE an hour and then wants another feeding. That goes on for maybe 45 minutes-hour, then she's down in her bassinet again. Lo and behold, another hour later, she wakes up. Feed her again, and this time, since it's around I dunno 2am or so, I don't put her in her bassinet, she sleeps on me. And man does she sleep WELL. I get her up around 4:30 is for a feeding, then she goes back to sleep on me and sleeps for quite a while.

This was HEAVEN after the night we had previously.

The upside I see to this is- hell, I finally caught up on sleep - and, maybe, just maybe I'm starting the whole night-is-for-sleeping, day-is-for-waking thing. Am I delusional here? She's definitely more alert today during the day. Usually...she sleeps like a rock all day and long and it's hell to get her up for her feedings. but now that she's awake, she doesn't sleep long and wants to eat again an hour later

Is this a bad choice that will bite me in the butt? I'd love honest opinions- thanks!

ETA: DD is only a week old

Message edited 7/8/2009 12:16:21 PM.

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

I know 1stimemom did this and I think Anthony sleeps fine now in his crib. You should ask her.

Personally, I think it's ok once in a while. You do need to catch up on sleep somehow. And like you said. Maybe she'll start to understand day/night.

Where does she nap? Maybe you can put her in her crib for naps.

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

Thanks! so far, naps have been in her infant rocker.

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

Don't know how old you DD is, but if she is under six months I think it is fine until she learns to sleep longer streches of time. It may only take a week for her body to get use to going longer without food and when she goes back to her bassinat she should be able to sleep longer (in theory anyway).

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

In the beginning there is no way bad habits can form at such an early age. I did ANYTHING to get her to sleep for a little longer so I could rest. Sadie started STTN at around 9 weeks and fully by 12 in her CRIB. Do what works for now.

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

I don't think its a bad choice at all! I wouldn't do it long term but my DD is 8 wks old and was sleeping in her bassinet until last nite when we moved her to her crib. She goes down at about 11:30 and sleeps until 6:30-7 am and we usually fee dher and bring her in bed with us until we get up at 8:30. I love the time to bond and cuddle and we really aren't sleeping so it's not like we have a risk of rolling over on her. Just be careful of that; I know of a person who fell asleep and rolled over on the baby suffocating them. SOrry to be a downer but just woudln't want that to happen to anyone!. If you are a light sleeper go for it.....you have to catch up on sleeP! Maybe get one of those snugglenests..it has a hard framed wall this way you cannot roll on the baby.

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

Right now do what you can to get some sleep! Just make sure you keep the covers away from her.

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

Hi Tara!!! welcome to the boards!! your dd is beautiful!!

in regards to your post, i did the same thing you did!
you have a newborn on your hands so in my opinion they are clueless about bad habits...For Now!

i was able to catch up on sleep this way. i do suggest that for the daytime naps, put her in the bassinet.

i was concerned that my dd would only sleep well when she was sleeping in my arms and for a while it was heading in that direction. as soon as i would put her down in the bassinet for her naps she would wake up or wake up 30 min later!!! very annoying! that started happening a little before 3months.
def. teach her to sleep in the bassinet for atleast daytime naps and for most of the night.

you are warm and cozy so of course she is going to sleep better on you rather than the bassinet. just try to swaddle her good each time you put her back in.
it will get harder and harder to break her of the habit as she gets older but for now it is ok.
good luck! and congrats!!

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

Hey Tara! This is the only way I'd get any sleep w/Frankie! He's 5 months now and just starting to sleep without being on me! he's still in bed with me, but sleeping on his own, instead of on my chest!! I figure this is the 1st step to transitioning him to his crib! It worked for us and I wouldn;t change a thing!! Not only did we both sleep well but I LOVE the cuddling!! I heard tons of shiitt from my mother and aunts, etc but I did what worked for me and my son

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

my neighbor who is on her 4th kid told me to keep the house bright during the day..shades open, etc...it helps keep them up during the day and learn day / night.

her youngest is almost 9 months and sleeps 12 hrs through the nite now...

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

It might help getting her days/nights straight. I am from the school that you can't spoil a newborn.

My guess is she slept well b/c you were there and she felt safe. If it gets to be too much, you might want to try lying on the floor with her on top, then slowly transfering her to the floor but still "cuddle". This way you can wean her off you and into her bed/crib and you into your bed/couch.

Does she eat every hour when she wakes up or does she just want a pacifier? When she is sleeping is there any music/mobile/white music on?

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

I did whatever I could to get them to sleep in the beginning. I had DS sleeping in bed with me which I swore I would never do.
Sleep deprivation is good for neither of you. Do what works for now.

When DS started kicking me all night, he started sleeping in the swing, which he got addicted to. It only took a few nights of CIO to get him sleeping in the crib.

Do whatever you need to do!

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

My DD STTN from 6 weeks old until about 4.5 months when I moved her into the crib. She started waking every couple of hours. I finally started putting her down in the crib & when she woke the first time I put her in bed with me. I did that until she was 2. At that time, we moved her into a twin bed in her own room. From that night on, she STTN in her own bed in her room. She's almost 4 now & she puts herself to bed when she gets tired & sleeps with no issues.

DS has been sleeping in our bed from his first waking since day 1. He's now 3 months & he sleeps in his bassinett from about 9 or 10pm to about 5:30am. Then he comes into our bed until 7 or 8.

So for me, it really hasn't bitten me in the butt at all.

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

i did this too but only when DD was really really young. i would have done anything to get some sleep! then at 6 wks DD went to her crib and that went very well. by that point she was sleeping a little longer too. you really can't form habits when they are this young and if you change it in time then it's ok!

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

Habits are fairly easy to break when they are infants - it only takes about 4-5 days.

But the fair warning not to let it go on too long...we used to joke that ds needed a cadaver doll because he got into the habit of reaching out for us in the middle of the night & would wake up if he didn't feel skin. He's 7 & still gets in a huff that Daddy gets to sleep next to me & it's not fair to him or his sister.

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

I had to do that on and off on the 1st 2 weeks DS was born. I HAD TO sleep.

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

I SWORE at the begining I would NEVER Co-Sleep.....

I learned REALLY FAST... NEVER say "NEVER"

At 5 weeks I looked at my husband and said, "WE ARE GOING TO DIE"...... I wan't kidding.

I hadn't slept and Alexa hadn't slept in 5 weeks. I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

I read a few very interesting articles on co-sleeping and how to do it safely. If you want some article on it let me know, they are very enlightening.

I put Alexa in bed with me that night and she slept 5 hours straight.... FOR THE FIRST TIME!!! I SOBBED I was so happy.

We co-slept until 10 weeks. Then she started to get uncomfortable in my bed and I was able to put her in her bassinet where she slept until 18 weeks.

At 18 weeks we put her in her crib and NO PROBLEMS.........


You do what you have to do and what works for your family. SHe ws in side of you for 9 months and is use to being close to you at all times. It makes PERFECT SENSE.... that she Doesn't want to sleep away from you.

In most of the western world moms sleep with their babies and the idea of a crib and nursery is unnatural to them.

I think you are BFing... wait until you get more comfortable nd she latches better and you can just roll over and pop a boob in her mouth and go back to sleep..... Ahhhhh... Its a beautiful thing!!!

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

Thanks everyone! I had a feeling I didn't have to worry too much about forming habits at this age.

I guess my other concern is, HOW she's sleeping. I usually put her on my chest and lay back...but sometimes I've had her right next to me on her side, and then I lay right next to her, facing her. My arm is around her to hold her close to me. That's probably not too safe, is it? If you sleep with your DC, how do you do it? I'm not the type to move in my sleep..and I'm not that heavy of a sleeper either.

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

I co slept with my kids b/c i breastfeed. They sleep very well now on their own. I dont think it really causes a problem later on actually i think it makes things better in the long run. She needs your closeness right now so go ahead and give it to her.

ETA: I only did this with both kids for like the first 4 months of their life. I wouldnt necessarily recc. doing it longer than that if possible.

Message edited 7/8/2009 3:18:38 PM.

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

I did the same exact thing. Chloe slept on my chest for a couple (maybe more, I can't remember) of weeks after her last feeding. I loved it. I have very fond memories of that time.

For the record, she is a pretty well adjusted sleeper now.

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

Posted by TaraGotHutched

Thanks everyone! I had a feeling I didn't have to worry too much about forming habits at this age.

I guess my other concern is, HOW she's sleeping. I usually put her on my chest and lay back...but sometimes I've had her right next to me on her side, and then I lay right next to her, facing her. My arm is around her to hold her close to me. That's probably not too safe, is it? If you sleep with your DC, how do you do it? I'm not the type to move in my sleep..and I'm not that heavy of a sleeper either.

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

I don't think it's a problem. DD used to sleep her best when she was lying on us.... we actually miss it. I never let her do it in our bed, but if it works for you and you could get some sleep, go for it. Just be careful of the blankets/pillows.

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

Re: Am I making a bad choice here, re: DD sleeping at night?

She is too little to form bad habits. She just wants her mama hold her, it makes her feel safe. She will sleep fine as long as you start transitioning her, Id say between 5-6 months.

ETA: I did this with DD for the first 6 months. However she still co-sleeps with us a few times a week.

Message edited 7/8/2009 7:04:32 PM.