Tag: co-sleeping

Co-Sleeping with a Bed Rail: Everything You Need to Know

Evertything you need to know about co-sleeping with a bed rail.

After co-sleeping with two kids, I’ve come to find that there are different variations of co-sleeping and no one really does it the same way. Co-sleeping with a bed rail, bed up against the wall, parents in different beds with different kids, parents on the floor, kids in the middle – the list goes on and on. There are lots of factors that go into deciding how you’re going to co-sleep and it’s not only different for each family…it’s also different for each child. 

With my first child, we moved the furniture in our room and pushed the bed right up against the wall. My son slept between me and the wall and for the most part, it worked just fine. The second time around, we’ve done things a little differently and have opted to co-sleep with a bed rail.

Co-sleeping with a bed rail has been great for us. There are some things to consider though, so this may not be the best choice for everyone. While I do love it, there are some safety concerns, so please make sure to read through all of this before making your decision! Regardless of how your arrangements turn out, your number one priority for you and your family should be your comfort levels. 

If you’re debating whether co-sleeping with a bed rail is the right move to make, here are some things to consider:

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5 Co-Sleeping Alternatives for When Your Baby Just Wants to Sleep with You

Co-sleeping alternatives that provide the best of both worlds!

Over the past 4 years, I’ve had a crib-sleeper, a co-sleeper, an in-his-own-room sleeper, an only-in-your-arms sleeper, and a next-to-my-bed sleeper…and that was just one child.  Now I have a newborn, so the joy starts all over again…and this time with two to juggle. While I love co-sleeping, the fear that’s been instilled in me has led me on a search of all the possible co-sleeping alternatives. And luckily, there are quite a few (looks like I’m not the only one trying to make things work).

So if you’re wondering what your options are if your baby or toddler wants to co-sleep, but you (or your spouse) really aren’t into it, I’ve got you covered!  Here are some of your other options:

Related post: 12 Ways to Make Co-Sleeping Safer

 

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How to Transition a Co-Sleeping Toddler to Their Own Bed

Transitioning a co-sleeping toddler to their own bedroom can seem like an impossible task, but it's easier than you think and it WILL happen. Here are some tips to help!

Making the decision to transition a co-sleeping toddler to their own bed is a joyous occasion. Sure, you’ve looooved co-sleeping with them.  But as with all great things, at some point you realize it’s time to move on.  

And in this case, moving on means transitioning from co-sleeping to a toddler bed.  Whether it’s overcrowding, time to welcome a new baby, or just the right time for your toddler, you will reach a point where your co-sleeping toddler needs to move out! 

Related Post: 12 Ways to Make Co-Sleeping Safer

So how do you do that?  How do you get your toddler to sleep in their own bed after co-sleeping? Or, as so many like to point out, are you destined to sleep with your child until they leave for college?    

My husband and I co-slept with our son until he was 2 and then began the transitioning process.  And believe it or not, it was way easier than we thought!  Just like with breastfeeding, the transition seemed to be 1,000 times easier for my toddler than for me…which was a relief because I ended up being the only one that needed to cry-it-out. 🙂

Obviously every child (and parent) is different, so some tips may work better than others, but this is what worked for us.  And as I said, we were able to pull it off without any crying-it-out (at least from the toddler).

So if you need to figure out how to get a toddler to sleep in their own bed after co-sleeping, give some of these tips a try:

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