My daughter usually wakes up 5 times give or take a few with a screamish cry, I only have to put her pacifier in her mouth and maybe rock her for a minute or two and she goes right back to sleep.

Lately (since she is too big for her bassinet) she has been sleeping with us in our bed... I noticed the last two night (it's only been two nights) she sleeps soooooooooo soundly between us, no waking at all and pops out her pacifier right as she is falling asleep or soon after and then doesnt need it the rest of the night. Now when she lays between us, before she falls asleep, I noticed she rolls back and forth and puts a hand on daddy then curls back up next to me, a minute or two later same thing, checks to feel daddy then curls back up to me... this happens a few times and then she curls up next to me and finally falls asleep.

Now does she sleep better because she knows we are right there? Is she waking because she wants to make sure I am still there when she doesnt sleep with me? It's confusing... has anyone else gone from the bassinet to co-sleeping and noticed better sleep for their child??

Babys especially sore babies like ours love cuddles, they feel secure when they are with their parents and I think Kaitlyn does that when she is in bed to reassure herself.

When a baby sleeps (6mo old) every 40min is a sleep cycle and you will find that even in her bassinet she will settle sleep and resettle in a 40min cycle. When she wakes for the pacifier or you is because when she went to sleep she remembers the last thing she saw and wants it again, if it's not there and she wakes it is harder to go back to sleep.

When she is waking in the bed everything she fell asleep with is there. It's easier to settle.

It's hard but the best thing is to let her learn to resettle herself and then she will always be able to put herself back to sleep. If it's because of the pacifier I still have about 6 in Parkers cot most night,no joke, so that he can feel around and generally finds it. If she can't put it in her mouth by herself yet teach her, when you give it to her put it in her hand and guide it too her mouth and she will soon get the hang of it.

I have done many a sleep course over here and this is what they taught us, it may be differentinthe US, I would like to know.
Hope this helps
Rachel

I've had the same experience with Joshua. He slept in his bassinet for a while but did best in his bouncy seat or swing. He's been sleeping in his own room for a while now, either in his bouncy or his crib - most nights its a combo of both! About 5am, he will wake up and want a bottle. I'll put him in bed with me and he won't peep for 3-4 hours! I can tell he likes sleeping with us but I worry about the safety. I sometimes fall asleep so hard and am worried that I might roll on him, drop a blanket on him, etc. People have said that you won't do that co-sleeping but when I'm in a deep sleep, I just don't know!

Right now, he has good nights and bad nights with sleeping on his own. We often go in 3-4 times a night to settle him, give him his pac. etc. He's past the point of eating overnight but wants our comfort to get back to sleep.

I'm stumped on how to train him to sleep on his own. All of the methods seem to involve crying and I'm not sure I'm up for that.

That's cute, Michele. I bet little Kaitlyn is just checking to make sure mommy's still right where she left her!:-D As far as sleeping better with co-sleeping--not really the case here. Noah sleeps terribly either way, but co-sleeping has been the answer lately for the convenience. Getting so tired...

Miori--

Sounds like we're dealing the same way. We've started co-sleeping only out of desperation, but I, too, am very concerned about the safety. I sleep with just one, light blanket, and I tuck it all around me so it can't get to Noah's face. I also keep his neck rested on my arm so that if he moves, I wake up. I'm also not into the crying it out method, but it seems like that's the only way to train a baby to sleep. I don't think I'll do it, but it is so hard that Noah has no sleeping skills. If you find something that works, please share.

HeHe, all 3 of mine did this when in bed with us! LOL, so cute!