Sleeping alone

[Cara]

Rosalynn had surgery in Nov. for three weeks she had to sleep with us so we could make sure she did not roll over on and put preasure on her nerve graft. The only problem is we can't get her to sleep alone now. Every time we try to put her in the crib or play pen she get hystarical. Friday we decided we would put her in there and just let her cry herself out. she got so worked up she started vomiting. Last night we where going to move her crib in our room. When we were trying to move the crib she became hystarical again and took about 1 hr and 15 min to clam back down. Any suggestions as far as how to get her out of our bed. Besides the fact she is never going to get a little brother or sister, it is also a problem since she tosses and turns. I have not got a decent night's sleep in weeks. HELP!

[francine]

Here's an idea.. we did this with Maia and it worked with her.

I bought a baby sheepskin piece and that's what Maia slept on. So no matter where she slept - she always slept on her sheepie - the 'smell' followed her. Her transitions from bassinet- to crib went great. We even brought it for her surgery and when I took it out she actually sighed a sigh of relief to see it.

Just an idea...
-francine

[CW1992]

Hi Cara, I feel so badly for you - you must be so tired!! What worked for us when the kids insisted on sleeping with us but we couldn't get any sleep was to lay down with them until they fell asleep and then WE moved. You could try making a bed on the floor beside your bed (safe so that Rosalynn couldn't hurt herself if she were to roll or toss) and then lay with her until she falls asleep and then you get back up in to your own bed once she's sleeping. Keep telling yourself that this phase will not last forever!:) I hope this helps. Christy

[muzik2407]

Hi, we learned from our 1st child to let her fall asleep in our bed then transfer her to her crib with one of our pillows or t-shirt. This way she had that familiar scent with her. I couldnt use any stuffed toys due to her eczema and this worked. With our 2nd child (with bpi) it is working with the pillow transfer. Good luck and many happy zzzzzzz's.

[browning93]

With our daughter who is an only child, we had a "family bed" and it got old after the first year.We had to move her in stages. I never could stand to hear her cry it out, she went through so much in her little life already. So first we got a toddler bed with guard rails, with her favorite winnie the pooh bedding from her crib( she carried as blankie but never used in crib) and put it right next to our bed. The first couple of nites she crawled over me into our bed but after that she stayed in her toddler bed. I could still reach over and rub her back etc. Then after a couple of months we moved the toddler bed to her room. We put a bulletin board with pictures of mom, dad, granparents and friends right next to her bed where she was looking up right at it. Also a child size body pillow up against the wall to snuggle up against. I swear she'd roll over to it as close as she could like it was me. Michaela has never liked "change" so I've learned to do everything with her in stages. Hope this helps! LeeAnne

[m&mmom]

Wow - I guess I'm lucky both my kids have been sleeping in their own cribs in their own room the day they came home from the hospital.

[Stephanie/OR]

I know exactly where you are coming from. Our son Grant slept alone in his crib for the first 20 months of his life. After he woke up for the mod/quad he's been very clingy and would not go into the hospital bed. Needless to say he has been in our bed ever since. We did try to "let him cry" but he worked hismself up and vomited. We decided it wasn't worth the trauma it was causing him. So, now we lay down with him and sneak out of the room after he is asleep. The only down side is occasionally I am so exhausted I will fall asleep at 7:30 with him. I will be glad when this stage passes. GOOD LUCK!