sleeping in a play pen

[MadisonC]

I have no idea if this is the right spot so pls feel free to move.  Ever since DS was born he has been sleeping in his crib.. which I am very happy about because that was my goal from the beginning but now it seems like it could have been the wrong decision.  He refuses to sleep anywhere else but his crib for both naps and bedtime which makes it difficult to visit someone over the afternoon and we always have to be home for BT.. makes for a hard social life.  I now have a PT job and some nights have to work until mid-night and DH works different shifts so at the same time work over night.  Anyways the problem is only my mom and my cousin watch DS because they are the only ppl willing to watch him at our place so that he can sleep in his crib.. DH sister has kids of her own and his parents refuse to come here until midnight to watch him.. so now since my mom is working more and cousin is going back to school we are in need of more ppl to watch him.  DH suggested taking him to his sisters or parents and making him sleep in a play penn.. says he just has to get used to it.. but the thought of him crying at night breaks my heart.. he has never slept anywhere overnight other than at home in his crib.  I dont know if DH is right and we should should have him sleep in a playpenn and "get used to it" or if I should find a babysitter who will come here.  He doesnt like that idea because he wants his family to watch him.. but the truth is DS doesnt know his family much because they never come over.  Dont know what I should do.. advice pls! and so sorry about the length!

[*Becky*]

I would def try the play pen. My DS has always slept in his cot/bed at home and is a real creature of routine but when we went away for the first time I took his sheet from his cot and his muslins and his fave lovey. Kept to the same routine at bedtime etc and he was fine.

If he struggles then whoever is looking after him needs to know that he cannot be left to cry obviously so they need to be on board with BW techniques of settling him etc.

[firsttimemummy]

you could try getting him used to the travel cot in your house, where everything else is familiar, so when he sleeps in it elsewhere he is used to it?

[Roseii]

sorry to disagree but I would rather find alternate childcare (if you have the option of finding someone you can trust) than disrupt my LO so much by moving him from the comfort of his own bed and his own home, especially if he doesn't even know your DH's family that well. Naps are one thing, but nighttime I couldn't do it For me, it would be so stressful to deal with that upheaval and be working at the same time. Sorry you're in this situation
xxx

[koe2moe]

it would definitely help if DH's family is more familiar with him.  That isnt impossible.  About the playpen, is it the kind like a foldable cot with mesh on the sides?  Over here, they call it the travel bed.  Perhaps try and use all his normal beddings, etc, from home so that it is familiar to him.  Stay calm and let him feel that you are confident that it will be ok.  Perhaps do a trial run by staying over at their place for a weekend. 

I do agree that flexibility is an important key to feeling sane.  We, too, are confined to do all by ourselves as we cant find babysitters at all.  We only ever tried a nap at a friend's unplanned and it actually went well! 

hugsss  and good luck!

[MadisonC]

Thanks for the advice!  I think if I cant find family members to come here then I will just try to get him to take naps at home in the play pen and hopefully he will get used to it.  It sucks taking so much time getting him into routines that work and then having to change them on him.. he's not a happy boy if his routine isnt followed! 

[firsttimemummy]

Forgot to suggest, also, if you could spend a night or 2 at the other house with him so he is also used to sleeping there?