Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

We CHOSE to co-sleep for a few reasons...I'm happy with our decision and do not regret it. That being said, I think it's getting to be time for Peter to transition to his crib.

I've tried putting him in his crib during the day to get him used to it. That doesn't seem to be working. I tried putting a few toys in the crib to catch his interest & make him understand that this is HIS space, tried nothing in the crib thinking it'll be more conducive to rest. did CIO ONE NIGHT and the next day read an article about the possibility of CIO being harmful, I never did it again (although I do let him cry in the crib for a while when I shower).

I still feel good about our decision to co-sleep bc it worked for all of us. Peter has slept 10 hours a night since 2 months old. I just don't want to be still in this position when he's a year old or worse...9 years (as I've read in some stories online).

I got a great tip to sleep with his crib sheet so it gets our scent and then put it in his crib. What other advice can you give? any success stories?

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

How do you co-sleep? There are many variations. If he shares your bed now, how about putting his crib in your room? That's still considered co-sleeping by many people, he's still in the same room, so he knows you're right there, but he's also in his own space.
If he cooperates with that, slowly move the crib further and further away over time.

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

he does share our bed. he sleeps between DH and I. When we first came home with him I tried the bassinet and crib...I was so drained...I would fall asleep on my sons floor and he'd still not fall asleep in it...so we shortly switched to co-sleeping and have been doing it ever since.

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

We did not co-sleep, but I also did not let DS cio. I would lay him in his crib at bedtime read him books, sing to him etc. Then I would sit in the glider next to his crib until he fell asleep (usually 15-20min). Now he's in a toddler bed and we still have the same routine! I'm not a fan of cio. I try to make bedtime non stressful and I love watching him fall asleep

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

I coslept with DS in my bed until 6 months. I let him CIO but not more than 30 minutes. However I was fortunate enough for him to not have cried for more than 27 minutes on the 2nd night. He has been very good Bout sleeping in his crib since. Except for a handful of time since then he has slept in his crib every night since. I didn't do anything special. I just did his regular nighttime routine. I was lucky. Just keep trying. Eventually your DC will sleep in their crib!

Message edited 12/30/2011 6:17:40 PM.

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

So glad you posted this.we are in the same boat as you. While we love having ds sleep with us, what makes it hard is that he won't sleep anyplace else. Its just in our arms or in our bed with us. My friend suggestedhaving him fall sleep in our bed and moving him when he is asleep. But ds is such a light sleeper.

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

We also coslept.

We did CIO at 6 months and it was the best thing. He did not cry for hours and I do not believe that it was harmful at all. The first night he cried for about 10 minutes, second night was less and by the 4th night he did not cry.

From that point, he STTN (went from waking up 8+ times/night) and was able to fall asleep on his own in the crib.

I have a thread about it that i posted at the time... I can try to find it if you're interested

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

No flames here, we are doing a modified cosleeping ourselves. Not sure if this helps, but I start DS in his bed, still his RnP at this point. When he first wakes, I nurse him, let him lay with me until he falls asleep, then put him back in his bed. When he wakes second time, it's around 4, so I keep him in the bed with us. Maybe increasing his time in his crib, and decreasing his time in your bed little by little will help.

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

No flames here! We co-slept, though not as long as you (3 months). When we wanted to move DD into her bassinet, we started w/naps. Then we put the bassinet in her room to get her used to the setting. Then one night I just parked her in her crib. She slept through the night! (I, of course, was up all night waiting to hear her).

We used the Ferber Method (a modified CIO) at 5 months, and it probably saved my sanity. It was also a compromise. I couldn't bring myself to do a full-blown CIO but the kinder, gentler sleep training methods weren't working for us.

Message edited 12/30/2011 7:01:01 PM.

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

We Co Sleep, but not in the bed, I keep his sleeper next to my side of the bed, pretty close by.

I started letting him nap alone in the bedroom while I'm not in there. He cried a little the first couple of times, but today actually was the first time I put him down for a nap and walked out of the room and left him alone to sleep for an hour and he didn't fuss at all, but at night I just feel safer with him in the room. I may move the sleep further away from the bed. My son is 8 weeks. (i know its young still, but I would like to try and get him used to sleeping alone early.

Message edited 12/30/2011 8:32:04 PM.

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

we had the opposite problem. DS slept through the night and in his crib until he was 10 months old and started getting his 1 yr old molars... now his 15 months and still in my bed - it's so uncomfortable... I'd say do whatever you can to get to the crib and stay there

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)

I don't know how long this will last. I'm fully expecting him to wake up crying but...he's sleeping in his crib! We were in his room giving him a bottle, diaper change and reading to him for an hour...he never slept...so i decided it was time to leave the room. We left...I went in after 5 minutes, then 10 then 20, he cried a bit more and then it dwindled to a few whimpers and then silence. I'll update tomorrow.

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames) UPDATE

he slept through the night! no waking up...he is still sleeping now!

Re: Transitioning from Co-sleeping to crib...need advice (not flames)