Questions

[Enchanted]

Hey!

My daughter will be 13 months on the 11th of December. I do co-sleep. When is it ideal to switch her over to sleeping on her own? When do they need to sleep in a bed versus a crib? Its getting harder to co-sleep anyway being pregnant!

Thanks!

[Slade]

There's no set time when you have to replace your child's crib with a regular or toddler bed, although most children make the switch sometime between ages 1 1/2 and 3 1/2. It's best to wait until your child is closer to 3, since many little ones just aren't ready to make the transition. Another reason parents make the switch to a bed is the impending arrival of another baby. If this is your situation, make the switch at least six to eight weeks before you're due. You want your toddler well settled in his new bed before he sees the baby taking over "his" crib. Depending on your toddler's age, you could also consider delaying the switch until the new baby is 3 or 4 months old. Your newborn will probably spend those months sleeping in a bassinet anyway, and your toddler will have time to adjust to the new baby, making the transition to a bed easier when it does happen. To ease the transition, put your toddler's new bed in the same place his crib used to be. If you're using a twin bed, you may not want to make an immediate switch to grown-up sheets and blankets that are tucked in. Your child may find it soothing to continue to sleep with his old crib blanket, even if it's too small. Don't forget to put up a guardrail to prevent your newly liberated toddler from falling out of bed.
(http://www.babycenter.com/404_how-and-when-should-i-move-my-toddler-from-a-crib-to-a-bed_4598.bc)

Below are some tips to try with your child to ease the transition, for both of you:

Young children tend to internalize their comfortable feelings toward their parents by transferring it to an inanimate object. Blankets, teddy bears and other objects help young toddlers feel secure during the night and in their own bedroom.

You might hear your child crying because they want to sleep with mommy and daddy. But giving in to their cries will only make the problem worse. Instead, go in their bedroom every two minutes to calm them down. If they keep it up, go in at five-minute intervals. Gradually increase the time until they stop crying and they have gone to sleep.

Find a small bed with rails or something similar and age-appropriate to help teach your child to stay in their beds throughout the night. Over time your child will become accustomed to their own bed and sleep through the night. Patience is key, do not give in to temptations and "one last time" 's to stop the child from crying. (http://www.savvydaddy.com/content/si...-their-own-bed)

[Enchanted]

wow i should have asked you personally Taylor! Thanks!

[guillotine_blades]

I co-slept with kain. When he started giving me bloody noses from flying fists in his sleep I switched him into his own room. It was surprisingly easy actually. He was about 1 when I did that. Then a few months later I had to take him out of the crib and into the toddler bed because he was climbing out!

[Jocelyn.]

Wow I'm always surprised how many people on here co-sleep with their babies. I've had people all upset at me on here because I wanted to turn my car seat forward-facing a month early, but no one is afraid of rolling over and squishing their baby? I couldn't even fall asleep on the couch with my son laying on my chest because nurses had me a nervous wreck he would die of suffocation/SIDs lol.

Anyway, the earlier you move him to his own crib the better. My son always slept in his own crib, then in his own room by 3 months. Like mentioned above... give your child some comfort items. Teddy bears, blankets, maybe something that smells like you. Play lullabies on a CD player, or have comforting environmental sounds going.

If she gets upset trying to falling asleep on her own go in every so often to check on her to let her know its ok. Rock her and lay her back down. It may take a few nights, but she will get the idea.

As for moving her to a bed... I always heard to make the switch when they learn to climb our of their crib, or by 2-3 years old.

[iHEAVENn]

We co slept with Logan for a number of reasons.
We stopped right before his 1st birthday and got him a toddler bed... He LOVED it until he fell off OUR bed and broke his arm. Then we had to go back to co-sleeping with just me and him to make sure he didn't roll on his cast and kept it elevated.

We moved him back in to his toddler bed after the cast came off.

Some times kids are ready for the move before turning 2 or 3. You can help make the transition easier by letting your child pick out his/her own bed sheets.

[iHEAVENn]

Originally Posted by ForeverHis

Wow I'm always surprised how many people on here co-sleep with their babies. I've had people all upset at me on here because I wanted to turn my car seat forward-facing a month early, but no one is afraid of rolling over and squishing their baby? I couldn't even fall asleep on the couch with my son laying on my chest because nurses had me a nervous wreck he would die of suffocation/SIDs lol.

Nah. I'm a light sleeper so every twitch he made I felt. I'm also very good at being able to sleep in one position. When we brought him home from the hospital he slept on my chest for the first 3 months of his life. (at first because the heater in our apartment was out) Co-Sleeping isn't as dangerous as people make it out to be. You just have to know the right precautions and the risks.

[Marshmellow]

My mom co-slept with my sister when she was a baby, and because she didn't get her into her own bed at an early age, my sister ended up sleeping in my mom's bed until just recently. She's eleven years old and only within the last year has she started sleeping in her own room. She's had her own room, yet she would refuse to sleep in it and my mom would give into her. I think it's very important that you get your baby sleep in his or her own room as soon as possible; nobody wants their nine or ten year old refusing to sleep in his or her own room.

[Imagine]

Being pregnant with twins probably makes it difficult too. (seeing as your a lot bigger) You should probably transition sooner then later.

[NYCkid13]

Originally Posted by Slade

There's no set time when you have to replace your child's crib with a regular or toddler bed, although most children make the switch sometime between ages 1 1/2 and 3 1/2. It's best to wait until your child is closer to 3, since many little ones just aren't ready to make the transition. Another reason parents make the switch to a bed is the impending arrival of another baby. If this is your situation, make the switch at least six to eight weeks before you're due. You want your toddler well settled in his new bed before he sees the baby taking over "his" crib. Depending on your toddler's age, you could also consider delaying the switch until the new baby is 3 or 4 months old. Your newborn will probably spend those months sleeping in a bassinet anyway, and your toddler will have time to adjust to the new baby, making the transition to a bed easier when it does happen. To ease the transition, put your toddler's new bed in the same place his crib used to be. If you're using a twin bed, you may not want to make an immediate switch to grown-up sheets and blankets that are tucked in. Your child may find it soothing to continue to sleep with his old crib blanket, even if it's too small. Don't forget to put up a guardrail to prevent your newly liberated toddler from falling out of bed.
http://www.babycenter.com/404_how-and-when-should-i-move-my-toddler-from-a-crib-to-a-bed_4598.bc/)

Very good info here. I definitely recommend readying through the site. At 13 months it would be a good idea to start getting the little one used to the idea of a crib. That way it's not a huge change but you'll be on your way to the changes. And remember, every child is different so don't worry if it takes a bit longer than usual. It's all a journey!

[Maloo]

I thought that you're not supposed to have the child sleep in your bed..?

[iHEAVENn]

Originally Posted by Myss

I thought that you're not supposed to have the child sleep in your bed..?

It all depends on what you feel comfortable with.

[Enchanted]

thanks for all the helpful information

[J&M's Mommy]

Joseph slept with me until he started sleeping through the night around 6 weeks.
It will be the same with Madelyn, well - granted she starts sleeping through the night that early. Otherwise once we get down to only 1 or so feeds a night I will put her in her bed. Joseph got his own room when he was 6 months old.

I think it would be best to start switching her ASAP. But I would try a crib first because she may be a bit too young for a toddler bed. My son is 13 months and he is still in his crib. He will be switching to a toddler bed around 16-19 months. (Granted he doesn't learn to crawl out before then lol.)

[Vincehegh]

Young children tend to internalize their comfortable feelings toward their parents by transferring it to an inanimate object