Family bed

[pezhead]

I wanted to have my son in a family bed tilll he was six months.  He is now six months and I would like to start transitioning him to his crib which I now set up in my room for the time being.  I was wondering if anyone had any ideas how to do this without CIO method.  So far everyone that I have asked has told me just to let him cry it out, but I know there has to be a better way.  Any hints?!?

[binxyboo]

We co-sleep, and I am in such a rush right now (I really shouldn't be on here right now ), but I will be around later to bounce ideas off if you want.

Does he do any naps independently? What kind of winddown routine do you have at the moment? I am positive you can do this in a gentle manner, so don't worry about that.

Talk to you later.

[daybyday]

As Michelle already asked...does he do any sleep independently? My DD did sleep with us and we started by transitioning her with naps...at that time we introduced a lovey...there will be tears..but we also found shh/pat to be effective. I must say she sleeps more solidly now having her own space...Her naps did shorten, but her night sleep got better, go figure?

Anyhow lets here what his independent sleep is like, and his winddown routine...

(personally can't stand CIO...and that's what everyone said to me too!)

[Layla]

We co-slept with #2 for 4 months. I agree that if your lo was doing naps independantly, it will probably be easier. Jaz slept in our room for 6 months and when I finally got her into her own room, she started sleeping waaay better. I also used shh/pat & I gave her a blanket which she used to suck on to self-soothe. There is no need to let him cio.

You never know, he might take really well to the transition. I think I missed her sleeping with me/us more than she did  .

Layla 

[pezhead]

Right now he does his naps in our bed alone.  Today I tried to give him his morning nap in his crib (I put the same pillows from our bed into his crib to help, which I think it did, because he fell asleep with no problems).  But he only stayed asleep for about 45 min, and this nap usually is about 1.5 - 2 hours.  When he got up he was still rubbing his eyes, but I kept him up and got him to his 11:00AM nap which he passed out on, but in our bed.  Like you I think I am going to miss him more than he is going to miss me while in his crib.
I am glad that I did the family bed with him, it was great bonding with him.

[binxyboo]

Yes, I will probably be the one who will miss Riley most when he starts sleeping in his own bed, we have been sleeping together for almost 20 months now! Can I ask why yoou are choosing to transition him now, if it's too personal, just ignore me!

Where is the crib in relation to your bed, is it next to it, on the other side of the room...?

Also, how does he fall asleep on the bed, can you just lay him down and walk away, or do you stay with him until he is asleep, and then quietly leave?

[pezhead]

I am not sure why I picked now to transition him, when I started the family  bed I figured I would do it for 6 months and then move him to a crib in my room and then from there to a room of his own. 

The crib is diagonal from my bed, on my side.

When I lay him in bed half the time he rolls overonto his side away from me and falls asleep, withme there.  The other half he will suck on his blanket to soothe himself and then falasleep.  But I am always there with him till he falls asleep.  How about you?

How come you decided to move him?  If you don't mind me asking?