Co-sleeping DS but would like him to take daytime naps in crib...help!

[NineUnlikelyTales]

Hi
I had a difficult birth with my DS (4 months) and he was not a great sleeper. So I started to co-sleep with him so that we could bond better and get some sleep. It worked really well, he sleeps brilliantly at night and I am very happy with the arrangement.

BUT he doesn't go to bed until I do at 10.30pm, he just naps all day until then. I can't alter my bedtime as I am exclusively expressing. And he won't sleep anywhere except in the sling or the pram (whilst being pushed, outside only!), or in my or DH arms.

At the weekend I tried to start putting him in the crib for a nap every day. It rocks, so that is a bit like being in the pram I thought. He has slept for 20 minutes in there every day since Saturday, but there have been a few tears (which I hated), it took forever, he was asleep when I put him in and I couldn't get him to drop off there, and 20 minutes us not nearly long enough. He wakes up crying.

So has anyone any advice on how to proceed? I am not into CC, or anything like. I don't want to carry on as we are because he really needs some proper sleep before `10.30pm at night. Is it worth carrying on with what I am doing and if so, any idea how long it might be before I see any improvement?

Thanks a lot
Niner

[finecheese]

Hello Niner,

My babe is 5 months and at 4 months he was going to sleep at 11pm with us and now he's asleep at 8! I have to say I never thought I would manage it but there you go. I hate CC too, so basically I just put him to bed 20 mins earlier every night, he did do some shouting but I went up every 10 mns and eventually he dropped off - now he only shouts for a few mins when I put him down if at all.

Also he absolutely hated his moses basket when he was little and would not sleep in it for months so we bought him a cot and he went straight to that - I think he preferred it because there was more space. It sounds like your little ones daytime naps will get him used to his crib then you'll be able to try him at night in there.

I hope that helps a bit if only reassures you that you'll get there in the end. I know that I felt like every other mother had a routine and sleeper and it kind of gets you down. Good luck with it all xxx

[TooTicky]

Will he sleep on something that smells of you like a snuggly cardigan? It may be that he needs the movement/closeness - it's only natural, but a mummy-smelling cardi is worth a try. I find it also helps if you are in the same room, all of mine have been able to sense in their sleep if I was not close by.