Tag: attachment parenting

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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10 Things I Didn’t Know About Weaning a Toddler

10 Things I Didn't Know About Weaning My Toddler

The time has come.  I’ve weaned my toddler.  No more breastfeeding, no more magic wand to cure all ailments and discomforts, no more being a superhuman mommy.  I thought I was ready, then I thought I wasn’t, and now I don’t have a choice because once I started it just happened really quickly.

So, to all the other moms out there that are breastfeeding a toddler and wondering when (and how) they’ll wean them, this post is for you!  Here are all the things that surprised me as I weaned my soon-to-be 2-year old.

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10 Reasons to KEEP Breastfeeding

As my little guy starts inching towards the 1 year mark, a lot of transitions are working their way into our lives. New nap times, different foods, little legs that run, and pants without footsies. I had always thought the 1 year mark would also bring an end to breastfeeding, but now that I find myself there, I’m not sure what will happen.

Earlier, I wrote a list of Reasons to Stop Breastfeeding to work out in my head whether it was the right time. A lot of the reasons are pretty exciting, but what good is a list of reasons to stop without a list to compare it to?

So here is my list of 10 reasons to keep breastfeeding past the 1 year mark:

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A Babywearing Warning to New Moms

Babywearing is not a new thing. It’s been around since the dawn of time, but over the past few years it’s popularity has grown. All of a sudden, it’s everywhere.

There are tons of benefits tied to it, most notably the increased amount of bonding. Every now and then you hear about a few risks to the baby, but for the most part those can be easily addressed by just using carriers properly. What you rarely hear, however, are the risks to the mother. (more…)

12 Ways to Make Co-Sleeping Safer

Co-sleeping is a beautiful thing - it just needs to be done safely! Follow these tips to make sure you're doing everything you can to make your sleeping arrangements safe and comfortable for everyone.

Throughout my pregnancy and even after my baby was born, I had no plan or intention of co-sleeping. In fact, my baby had two cribs to choose from and a variety of other cozy devices at his disposal.

But as his 4-month mark rolled around he started to get fussier and fussier.  When I put him in his crib, he would wake after only an hour of sleep. But if I let him curl up with me in bed, he would sleep for 6 hours straight.

So….yeah….we became co-sleepers real quick. And I’ll tell you what, I’m so glad I did it. In fact, it’s one of the things I’m most grateful for when I look back at the past year.

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Naptime Cosleeping: The Fabulous Little Secret of Cosleepers

As I type this article, my son is sleeping soundly next to me. The lights are dimmed, the room is silent, warm tea next to me, and my laptop where it should be.

It’s a better arrangement than I ever dreamed. And probably the biggest secret that cosleeping parents like me keep to themselves, never bringing up during the ever present is-it-ok-to-cosleep debate. Naptime cosleeping.

But for some reason this wonderful arrangement seems to baffle people.  “But how in the world do you do it?” “How do you get things done?” And what I hear the most – “Wait. You actually sit next to him while he naps?!? I would go crazy!”

Trust me, you wouldn’t go crazy. At least not any crazier than non-cosleepers.

So here’s the truth.  The answers to everything you’ve ever wondered about naptime cosleeping and why it’s so awesome: (more…)