10 Month Old... - Palestine,TX

The general rule is that babies are still at risk for SIDS up to one year. However, many children die each year due to being smothered by their parents while co-sleeping. I would keep trying to get her to sleep in her crib. Keep everything in her crib soft and include her favorite "lovey". Once she know that she does not have the option of sleeping with mommy, she will get used to it. Most likely she will cry, but it is for her safety. Good luck!

We've had this problem too, and our 10 month old has slept with us on and off since birth. If you can safely sleep with her (you or hubby won't roll on her, she won't fall off, no pillows or blankets near her head) that is a totally fine idea. One thing that help us was to make a bed for baby on our floor. We used a thin camping mat but those foam floor squares (that look like giant puzzle pieces) or her crib mattress would work too. Try lying next to her, cuddle, nurse or whatever and when she falls asleep, you get up and move to your bed. Make sure your room is safe in case she starts crawling around. The No-Cry book is great, lots of ideas of how to comfort baby and teach them to settle themselves, though it didn't really help us. It just took time for her to grow out of the restless stage and now (as of a week ago) she sleeps in her crib from bedtime until 6am, nurses and sleeps 2 more hours. It was a long process to get there, and we were very tired sometimes, but we are very glad we didn't use the cry it out method. I truly believe that sleeping through the night (in their own bed especially) is a developmental thing. There are things you can do to help, but babies just have to get there. Mine did and yours will too! :)

She should be fine sleeping with you. I have also heard/read that SIDS is a worry until 12 months.

When you say "She won't sleep in her crib" do you mean she cries when you put her in there? Is she awake still? Asleep? Could you try rocking her until she's asleep then putting her in bed? What about a crib or pack and play in your room?

I ask you these questions but my son (7 months) ends up in bed with me every night of the week! He goes to bed in his own room but then the 2nd time he wakes up, I usually put him in bed with me so I can breastfeed him and we both fall back asleep. We have been doing this since he was young (some people will disagree with that, I know!).

Children are at risk for SIDS until they reach age 1. But that being said some families successfully co-sleep with children under age 1. I co-slept at times with mine until around 6 months but then we were waking each other up. Where is she sleeping now? Are you nursing her?

That being said, I have to respectfully disagree about just letting her cry it out. You can not just leave a baby to cry. She does not know how to sleep. She needs to be taught how to sleep not taught "mom left me here all alone to scream. Why won't she come to rescue me like she always does when I need her?" It's not good for baby and not good for mom. It floods baby's little system with stress hormones.

She needs to learn how to sleep and yes, there are tears when they are learning to sleep but it's nothing like the Ferber method or letting them cry it out. Check out the No Cry Sleep Solution, The Baby Whisperer and Dr. Sears Baby Sleep Book. I was able to gain valuable info from all 3 to come up with a sleep plan that worked for my babies.

You teach a baby how to sleep by developing a routine at nap and bedtime. You literally do and say the same things every single time. Baby then learns what to expect and what is expected. Try feeding, bath, getting ready for bed, soften the lights, soft music and rock baby to get her drowsy for bed. I always held mine till they were into their sleep cycle (about 10 minutes) and then put then slowly down in bed. If they woke up I would stay by them and put my head down on the crib rail so they knew I was still there and they were ok.

You might also try a wedge designed for the crib that fits under the sheet. If baby has a bit of reflux it can make sleeping flat uncomfortable.

Yes until one year. Suppose to roll them on the back even when they roll by self which I think you are really in my opinion safe now. I have a home day care and that is what we are taught in classes. G. W

According to Dr. Sears (research cited by him in The Baby Book), babies who co-sleep (meaning in bed with you) actually have a lower rate of SIDS. There are MANY benefits to co-sleeping -- you should look it up so other people do not make you feel guilty or wrong for doing it. I co-sleep with my 21 month old baby girl -- there is no battle at bedtime and we both love the extra snuggle time. I now wake up to her saying "Hi, Mommy . . . I need a kiss" and giving me a big kiss :) She will be transitioning into her own toddler bed in due time, but I will enjoy the closeness while it last. By the way, my husband and I still have a healthy intimate life -- there are other places to be close than the bed! :)

Whatever you decide to do remember it doesn't get any easier to get her to sleep on her own. You will end up with a toddler in your bed then a pre schooler and fight the battle into the early years of childhood. Your question though, at 10 months I do not think SIDS would really be a big concern but of course it can never fully be out of the question. We had a neighbor that was sick, took cold medicine to help sleep and slept so deep that she rolled onto her 13 month old and suffocated her. She just hadn't slept well in a week due to a bad cold and didn't realize she rolled over her baby that night until it was way too late. So, that was not really SIDS since a baby can pass of SIDS alone in bed but it was an accident. Whatever you decide now will effect a lot later, if you ever have more children, romance in the bedroom, her ability to be alone/sleep alone etc. I have 3 boys and they have never shared a bed with me and always been in their own cribs/beds/rooms. Now, if they are sick or there is a storm or dad is out of town they sleep with me but that is the general occasion only. Good luck with you decision.

nope.
She should be fine but you may not get much sleep , some how those little ones take up a ton more space than their little body does. And little feet hurt alot when they are in your back lol.

Have you tried putting a crib mattress on the floor in your room so she's not actually in the bed with you?

also try picking up the book " no cry sleep solution" by elizabeth pantley

It doesn't increase the risk of SIDS, the problem is sometimes the parents may inadvertently roll over on the baby and suffocate them. I know a person this happened to. Also, the longer she sleeps in her bed, the harder it will be to get her out later.

BREAK THAT HABIT NOW!!!!! For her safety and for your sanity in the future. Let her cry it out Mom, I know it's painful to hear but she shouldn't be sleeping in bed with you, you need to put her in her crib. Try using a night light with soft music. Good luck.

I can't say if she is at risk of SIDS because I don't know your situation. My dd slept in our bed when she was that age with no problem. I was super careful, blankets were minimized. She slept on the outside of the bed and we had a rail that kept her tucked in. I never drank, took naps during the day, and woke if she moved. We also have a sleep # bed and I made the mattress harder when she was in bed with us.

There are thousands of children who have slept in their parents bed with no problem and there are hundreds of kids who have died alone in their crib. SIDS isn't about where the baby slept, but the conditions.

I've gone over and read the responses of others. My daughter is now 10, sleeps in her own room. Bed time is never a challenge and has never been. We didn't have any trouble getting them to leave our room when the kids were older. So having problems getting them out of your room depends on your attitudes about your children.