Where can I put my 8 mth old to sleep???

[Anonymous]

Hi mommies (and daddies!),

It’s been a while since I’ve had to post anything to these boards because Sophia has been doing soooo well!! We did try weaning her off the prevacid a few weeks back but she started having her reflux again, so right back on the medicine she went!

Anyway, I know my post topic seems bizarre, but I am really struggling and don’t know what to do. And it’s all because of the reflux.

When Sophia was born, she stopped breathing twice in the hospital because she refluxed and choked, and couldn’t clear her airway. We brought her home from the hospital and never laid her flat, because she would scream and scream. Then, when she was a few weeks old, our ped told us we HAD to put the baby down. So we did…and that was the night we had to call the paramedics to our home because she stopped breathing again! So, my husband and I held her in our arms 24/7 for the next two months until we found our lifesaver…the tucker sling.

So, she’s been sleeping in that at nighttime, and I have it on the wedge, so I just put the whole contraption in bed with me at night and we lay snuggled up together. For her naps, she slept in her swing everyday until she was 6 months old and the ped said she weighed too much and we couldn’t put her in her swing anymore. So, we alternate between laying her down (flat) in her pack and play, or holding her in our arms. Terrible, I know!

Sophia has never, ever slept in her crib. Except for maybe 20 minutes! She does play in there occasionally, but for the most part, she is pretty much freaked out by it and screams hysterically if you try to leave the room while she’s in it. I’ve had to drop it to the lowest setting already because she’s super tall.

Which brings me to my current problem. Tonight, my child – who is apparently half monkey – figured out how hold on to the top rail of the crib and use her legs to climb up the side. I’m thinking I have another week, tops, before she can flip herself out of it. Additionally, she is officially too big for the tucker sling now, and can flip herself completely over on to her tummy while she’s still strapped in, which is INCREDIBLY dangerous. I knew I was going to have to take her out of it soon, but figured I’d be able to use the crib for a little while longer.

She is crawling really well, and can stand up, as long as she’s holding on to something. But she’s still so little and I don’t know what to do. I can’t put her in a regular bed because she will fall out. I don’t think she’s old enough that I can use safety rails…I’m still worried about SIDS, for pete’s sake! And, my biggest fear is laying her flat, because she’s never, ever, ever slept flat on her back at night. I’m obviously all for co-sleeping, except that I’ve never done that either…she’s always been in her sling at an elevated angle when she’s in bed with me, so I’ve never had to worry about rolling over on her, falling out of bed, turning her face in to the mattress/pillow, etc.

I’m at a loss…I have no idea what to do next. And, I know whatever I do, she’s going to hate because she’s always fallen asleep next to me and has no idea how to soothe herself. So, she’s going to lose her comfort and the only bed she’s ever known, all in one big step.

Is there anyone else out there who’s gone through anything similar? Am I crazy? Is anyone else freaked out about laying their babies flat when they’re 8 months old or older?

Thanks in advance for any ideas you might have…

Andrea

[Anonymous]

hmmmmm. That is tricky. Cooper’s crib is at the next to lowest and I haven’t put it to the lowest b/c he knock on wood hasn’t tried to climb out. But he has always slept in his crib even when things for us were at the worst b/c I just didn’t want to get him used to our bed. We still rock to sleep which I know is bad but he can’t fall asleep on his own. He can however settle down in the middle of the night with a few pats and back rubbing. I don’t know if it would work but maybe try rocking her to sleep and then placing her in her crib. If she can roll over in the sling, I would say you are probably safe to put her on her tummy she sounds pretty strong and I don’t SIDS will be an issue, but I understand your fear. I hope someone else can chime in as well.

[Anonymous]

MAybe try the baby movement monitor,(about $99) I bought one because my 8 week old loves her tummy, so for naps I let her sleep on stomach. It works well and goes right under the crib mattress. I would think you are pretty much okay now with sids. My son hated his crib, I just slept with him on a mattress in his room, he was okay on his back by 8mths.

[Anonymous]

If you do want to keep her in the crib, you can get a crib net. It is like mosquito netting, but fits over the top of a crib and keeps the little one’s in.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2404625

My mom tied a bed sheet over the top of our cribs when we were about that age, to keep us in the crib. Of course, there was no Babies R Us, OneStepAhead or amazon.com when we were babies.

There are also crib wedges that don’t have the sling, but the problem with those is that the little one usually starts out at night at the top of the mattress and ends up in the morning in a heap at the bottom. But it may work for you.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2401848#prod_prodinfo

With my dd, my ped told me that if she was strong enough to flip herself over, there was basically not a SIDS risk anymore. I would say that as long as there is not soft bedding in the crib and no stuffed animals, you are probably safe. I totally understand your fear. It’s so hard to know what is safe and unsafe for our kids anymore.

kdub2008-04-24 10:43:23

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I was going to suggest the crib tent too. Unfortunately, I think you’re just going to have to get through a rough few days as she transitions to the crib. It doesn’t sound like any other option is going to be safe for her.

I really believe in sleep training, but only if baby isn’t in pain. I think I would start out in the room with her. I read in The Baby Whisperer, that if baby is afraid of the crib to put them in it as much as possible during the day.. for play, etc. Show them that it’s not a scary place.

Then when it’s time for nap, GET IN THE BED with them!! Crazy, I know.. check the weight limit first, of course!! But if she’s used to falling asleep with you, then it might work. If she will nap with you in the crib, then stay in there the whole time she is sleeping, so when she wakes up she will see you and feel comfortable. Then, the next nap, put her in the crib and just stay in the room with her, but not in the bed.. move further and further away each day until you are able to leave her on her own. She is surely going to fuss, but (and this is just my personal opinion) it will be easier to fight the sleep battle now than when she’s three and still wanting to sleep with you.

[hellbennt]

yes, I’ve climbed into the crib w/ my babies!!! LOL!!!

as for sleeping- put her on her stomach. she’s 8 months old. she should be fine?

[Author]

Posts