Just thought I would share this with everyone as there are lots of questions from mums trying to move babies into the cot but not always alot of answers. I know the same thing wont work for everyone but my LO, who is now just under 5 months was always a very difficult sleeper hence I ended up co-sleeping (which was not planned) if she can do it this way it has to be worth a try as I never thought I would do it with so little stress!! I was really against leaving her to cry and thought this method involved some cryig I found it a good compromise as I have never left the room with her crying for more than 2 mins.
Co-sleeping was working for us at first but then she began waking every hour or so and using me as a dummy (she wont have a real one) so something had to be done.
The first night I did her usual routine, put her in her cot, inevitably she cried, this night I stayed with her the whole time, sat next to the cot with my hand on her chest and shooshed / comforted her. She cried for 45mins then fell asleep. I made sure I was there ASAP each time she woke in the night and she did cry a couple more times.
The second night - same thing but this time just turn and looked away and took my hands off her but stayed in sight for 1 min then comforted 30 seconds and repeated
The third and forth night I went out the room for 1 min and back for 30 seconds
By the forth night she was going to sleep pretty quickly, I was meant to increase the time out the room gradually but never needed to as from then on she always went back to sleep with only a couple of returns to the room.
She did have one bad night around 4/5th night with another 45min cry but that did not happen again. She has now been in the cot in her own room for about 5weeks and has gradually decreased the amount of times she wakes, now it is usually just for her feeds a couple of times a night.
The first night was horrible but it wasnt as bad as I thought and I knew I had never left her side, she always wakes smiling and plays by herself in the cot in the mornings so I dont feel it has been traumatic for her at all and we are both alot happier in the day for the extra rest!
I hope this helps somebody - it was certainly worth it for me.
Co-sleeping was working for us at first but then she began waking every hour or so and using me as a dummy (she wont have a real one) so something had to be done.
The first night I did her usual routine, put her in her cot, inevitably she cried, this night I stayed with her the whole time, sat next to the cot with my hand on her chest and shooshed / comforted her. She cried for 45mins then fell asleep. I made sure I was there ASAP each time she woke in the night and she did cry a couple more times.
The second night - same thing but this time just turn and looked away and took my hands off her but stayed in sight for 1 min then comforted 30 seconds and repeated
The third and forth night I went out the room for 1 min and back for 30 seconds
By the forth night she was going to sleep pretty quickly, I was meant to increase the time out the room gradually but never needed to as from then on she always went back to sleep with only a couple of returns to the room.
She did have one bad night around 4/5th night with another 45min cry but that did not happen again. She has now been in the cot in her own room for about 5weeks and has gradually decreased the amount of times she wakes, now it is usually just for her feeds a couple of times a night.
The first night was horrible but it wasnt as bad as I thought and I knew I had never left her side, she always wakes smiling and plays by herself in the cot in the mornings so I dont feel it has been traumatic for her at all and we are both alot happier in the day for the extra rest!
I hope this helps somebody - it was certainly worth it for me.
