Sleeping with LJ

When it comes to sleeping with newborns we have never really had any issues with our daughters. The only problem we had for a short time was when LeRay only wanted to sleep on our chests and we found out she had a staph infection. But that only lasted a couple of weeks. The girls always slept through the night with maybe one midnight feeding.

LJ has been a completely different story. If you read my post "Feeding LJ" then you know, until recently, he experienced some tummy problems due to his formula. Since he needed so much comforting he ended up in our bed, co-sleeping with us all the time.

Now that we've got the right formula for him and he's not as colicky, we wanted for him to sleep in his bed...that proved to be a whole new set of problems. LJ refused to sleep in his bed!

Somehow he knew when he was in his bed compared to being in ours. We tried putting him in his bed after he was in a deep sleep and he would immediately wake up crying. When we put him in our bed he'd look at us both then fall right to sleep.

Meanwhile, Leroy or I would have to go to the couch because we could not fit in our queen size bed. There was also the fear of creating a pancake our of our LO (little one). I really did miss cuddling up to my husband and this week I made it my goal to get LJ to sleep in his bed.

Monday night when LJ started to fall asleep I placed him in his bed...he screamed bloody murder! I walked out of the room for 5 minutes then went in to console him. I picked him up until he was calm again and fell asleep. I placed him in his bed again, the screaming commenced. I left for 10 minutes this time. I repeated this one more time and after walking out there was slience. I waited a couple minutes and walked in. He was fast asleep. I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

That night I got to sleep half the night with my husband. LJ got up to eat then wanted in our bed. I was to tired to resist.

Every night this week I was determined to get him in HIS bed. Tuesday through Thursday he slept in his bed the first half of the night. I continued to show LJ that I was there to comfort him when he needed but that he would be okay on his own. I also rocked the bed a little bit to help him stay asleep, this worked for him.

Friday night was his first night sleeping in his bed until morning, with one feeding at midnight. I was so happy! This morning, Saturday, I found him like this (pictured on the right) and was so excited. With a week of persistence I think LJ is okay with sleeping in his bed now and Mommy and Daddy Rector can enjoy some much needed cuddle time.

I am one proud momma! Please share with me any sleeping troubles you've had with your LO's and how you dealt with them!

#sleep #cosleepin