So we went to the little moose's 6 month checkup yesterday. It went....well. He was weighed (19lbs), measured (26.5 inches), and shot (with a needle, not a gun). Then the good doctor told me that J is going to need to 1)stop nursing at night 2) stop sleeping in our room 3) stop being rocked to sleep and 4) Good Lord, get the child out of your bed! Actually, I never told him that J sleeps in our bed, but I assumed since I had to get him out of our room then I'd have to get him out of our bed, right?!
So, he gives me a handout about a 'night crier/night feeder' with directions on how to boot the little booger out of our bed. First, you let him put himself to sleep. No rocking, walking, and/or cuddling him to sleep. Um...yeah, okay. Second, put him down in his own room in his own bed. You know, because a baby loves being alone in the dark. Third, when he wakes up crying for me in the middle of the night, send good old daddy in to save the day. Don't get me wrong, Big G is a great father and J loves him to pieces, but he's not who J is crying for in the middle of the night.
I'm sure these rules and guidelines work great for many, many babies, but just not for us..or me. J is my entire world, and I just don't see 'gently' forcing him to sleep alone in a cold dark room on the opposite side of the house. I can't imagine that J would enjoy that very much, and I know that I wouldn't.
Update: The Nugget is now almost 8 months old and he's still sleeping (and ok nursing) happily through the night in our bed. We've just decided to buy a bigger bed! Duh! To each his own, right!? We're all fine...at least I've been told we're ALL fine with J in our bed, so why stop? Some people ask 1) How are you ever going to ever have another baby? 2) What are you going to do when you have another baby? 3) Isn't he getting to old to be sleeping in your bed?....um, none of your business, we'll cross that bridge when we get there, and no.
If you are a mom of any length of time or number of children and you are second guessing yourself like I was (and still do), just do what feels right...and politely tell everyone else to mind their own business.
