***Two weekends ago we rearranged our bedroom...we had to.***
Last summer when we brought the trio home we had them all sleeping in their nursery in seperate cribs. We were staying up most of the night, feeding babies about every 2 hours (requiring at least 30-45 minutes to get all three fed, diapered and back to sleep) and there wasn't much time in between our routine for us to sleep. During those few moments of sleep we would get, we were constantly interupted by apnea monitors going off requiring one of us to jolt out of bed and run to the other room to either stimulate a baby and remind them to breathe or to adjust loose leads. We were exhausted and our then current setup wasn't working.
Then, one morning when Patrick got up for work, and all three babies were awake and hungry, I moved everyone into our room, fed them and then let them all fall back asleep in our bed. The babies immediately fell back to sleep and slept for 6 straight hours. Desperate for sleep, this became a habit. Thinking the trio may sleep better with us and save us multiple trips to their nursery during the night, we bought a cosleeper and moved the little ones into our room. When a monitor would alarm, it was no big deal, we'd just roll over, nudge the little ones and then fall back to sleep. Slowly the babies made it out of the cosleeper and into our actual bed. Patrick thinks they prefer our $1000 mattress over their $80 Walmart one and to be honest, who can blame them.
CoSleeper Setup (August 2006)
Logan and Lathan in our bed (April 2007)
So for months, all five of us have slept in our king size bed. And as the babies have grown, the bed has gotten much smaller and we've had to become creative as to our sleep positions. Think Tetris.
Until recently, Patrick moved to the foot of the bed and was often joined by Lauren leaving the boys and I to sleep up top. Then Logan started to roll and in order to keep him from hurting himself, we moved his crib in to replace the cosleeper (which was acting as a bedrail). Once Logan had fallen asleep for the night (usually in his swing), we started moving him from the swing to his crib, (which touched our bed), for him to finish out the night. It worked really well for a while...then he caught on and has decided that he wants back in our bed.
Not only will Logan roll off the bed, but he and Lathan LOVE to pull up on the headboard and shake the large picture that hangs on the wall above the bed. That's how I woke up nearly every morning last month. The boys standing over my head trying to pull the very large picture off the wall, (creating another safety hazard). We talked about moving everyone back into the nursery and putting them all in their cribs, but both Patrick and I absolutely love the cuddle time we get with each baby every night. There's nothing better than falling asleep, listening to them breathe, and waking up next to them each morning. Its just perfect and it works for us. What wasn't working was the room setup. So...
We turned and moved our bed from the center of the room to the corner, so that only one side is open, allowing us to easily "baracade" everyone in. The headboard touches a wall, as does the right side and the footboard is touching what used to be Logan's crib. We moved Lauren's crib in, just in case we decide to start moving them to their beds, this way, they'll still be right next to us (and now I have a place to put everyone when I run downstairs in the mornings to make bottles). Lathan's crib is still in the nursery and has become our laundry basket. I can't imagine it will be anything other than that for a while. Lathan is very attached to sleeping with us and although I can usually keep up with the laundry, it rarely makes it on hangers and into the closet!
For now things are perfect. We've all turned and sleep sideways (parrallel to the head and foot board) giving us much more room and although the new setup is a decorator's nightmare, we couldn't be happier. (Did I mention that the babies still sleep in...we usually don't get up for the day until 11am!!!)
We left the picture that used to hang over our bed, in its original location. Now instead of trying to pull that down, the babies have discovered the light switch...my new alarm clock!!!
Last summer when we brought the trio home we had them all sleeping in their nursery in seperate cribs. We were staying up most of the night, feeding babies about every 2 hours (requiring at least 30-45 minutes to get all three fed, diapered and back to sleep) and there wasn't much time in between our routine for us to sleep. During those few moments of sleep we would get, we were constantly interupted by apnea monitors going off requiring one of us to jolt out of bed and run to the other room to either stimulate a baby and remind them to breathe or to adjust loose leads. We were exhausted and our then current setup wasn't working.
Then, one morning when Patrick got up for work, and all three babies were awake and hungry, I moved everyone into our room, fed them and then let them all fall back asleep in our bed. The babies immediately fell back to sleep and slept for 6 straight hours. Desperate for sleep, this became a habit. Thinking the trio may sleep better with us and save us multiple trips to their nursery during the night, we bought a cosleeper and moved the little ones into our room. When a monitor would alarm, it was no big deal, we'd just roll over, nudge the little ones and then fall back to sleep. Slowly the babies made it out of the cosleeper and into our actual bed. Patrick thinks they prefer our $1000 mattress over their $80 Walmart one and to be honest, who can blame them.
CoSleeper Setup (August 2006)
Logan and Lathan in our bed (April 2007)
So for months, all five of us have slept in our king size bed. And as the babies have grown, the bed has gotten much smaller and we've had to become creative as to our sleep positions. Think Tetris.
Until recently, Patrick moved to the foot of the bed and was often joined by Lauren leaving the boys and I to sleep up top. Then Logan started to roll and in order to keep him from hurting himself, we moved his crib in to replace the cosleeper (which was acting as a bedrail). Once Logan had fallen asleep for the night (usually in his swing), we started moving him from the swing to his crib, (which touched our bed), for him to finish out the night. It worked really well for a while...then he caught on and has decided that he wants back in our bed.
Not only will Logan roll off the bed, but he and Lathan LOVE to pull up on the headboard and shake the large picture that hangs on the wall above the bed. That's how I woke up nearly every morning last month. The boys standing over my head trying to pull the very large picture off the wall, (creating another safety hazard). We talked about moving everyone back into the nursery and putting them all in their cribs, but both Patrick and I absolutely love the cuddle time we get with each baby every night. There's nothing better than falling asleep, listening to them breathe, and waking up next to them each morning. Its just perfect and it works for us. What wasn't working was the room setup. So...
We turned and moved our bed from the center of the room to the corner, so that only one side is open, allowing us to easily "baracade" everyone in. The headboard touches a wall, as does the right side and the footboard is touching what used to be Logan's crib. We moved Lauren's crib in, just in case we decide to start moving them to their beds, this way, they'll still be right next to us (and now I have a place to put everyone when I run downstairs in the mornings to make bottles). Lathan's crib is still in the nursery and has become our laundry basket. I can't imagine it will be anything other than that for a while. Lathan is very attached to sleeping with us and although I can usually keep up with the laundry, it rarely makes it on hangers and into the closet!
For now things are perfect. We've all turned and sleep sideways (parrallel to the head and foot board) giving us much more room and although the new setup is a decorator's nightmare, we couldn't be happier. (Did I mention that the babies still sleep in...we usually don't get up for the day until 11am!!!)
We left the picture that used to hang over our bed, in its original location. Now instead of trying to pull that down, the babies have discovered the light switch...my new alarm clock!!!
I think it's wonderful that you get all that cuddle time. And... what thoughtful babies waking their mommy up in the mornings (ha!).
ReplyDeleteI think it's wonderful. Don't let anybody tell you that it's bad for your babies to sleep with you. Madison slept with us for the first 9 months of her life because I was too scared for her to be in another room. She then slept in her own crib til we moved to our new house almost 2 years ago and she still sleeps with us to this day. Most nights she falls asleep on the couch and we put her in her bed and in the middle of the night she sneaks in with us. I share your joy in waking up to my baby girl or being able to snuggle with her in the middle of the night. I wouldn't have it any other way.
ReplyDeleteWe loved having "The Family Bed". It sounds like you have worked out an arrangement that fits your family. Enjoy those little ones, they grow up SO quickly!!
ReplyDeleteI have been reading here for quite awhile but had to comment today.
ReplyDeleteAll of our babies slept with us (we have five kids) from day one for the very reason you stated. You get sooooo much more sleep. And who doesn't want to cuddle with those mushy sweet smelling babies. :)
Although we never had three at a time. I can't imagine the discomfort! I am glad you found a solution for now.
We skipped the crib after the second baby and just put up a toddler bed so when they turned about 1.5 (give or take 6 months)they slowly moved out of our bed and into their own. :)
Are you serious? They sleep till 11AM??? How in the world do you do that??? :) Glad things are working-
ReplyDeleteKelsey slept with us until she was 2 because she just loved cuddling with us. As she grew older she transitioned into her own bed and room. Kelsey will still occasionaly come sleep with us when she had a nightmare, is sick, or just needs some TLC. Katie started off in a bassinet next to my bed, then a cradle, then her crib, then a toddler bed which she is still sleeping in. we tried getting her to sleep with us but she is very independent!
ReplyDeleteI love sleeping with my children and love it on the weekends when Keith goes to work and they all tumble in to snuggle and sleep in a bit. I really truly think it makes the family bond stronger and helps the kids feel secure, loved, and nurtured.
You continue to amaze me at how at ease you are in your roles as parents! I wish I would have known you way back when......
Esther : )
They sleep till 11 ?? OH how awesome is that??? Once at a church ladies meeting we were supposed to tell something that others might not know about us. I said that I sleep with 4 guys every night. The older ladies in the church about fainted till they realized I was talking about my husband and our 3 little boys.
ReplyDeleteI love that cuddle time with my girls as well. Reading your post, I was reminded of how hard it must have been to have 3 little ones on 3 different schedules and the little amount of sleep you were getting. God is paying you back now with your 11AM sleep-in!
ReplyDelete11am! I'm envious! Hunter is a cosleeper too (originally because of his reflux/choking episodes - but now because mommy likes the cuddling/closeness!) And it makes BFing easier! Our bedroom is on the main floor and Hunter's is on the second floor... I just can't bear the thought of having him sleep so FAR away. Not yet anyway...
ReplyDelete11am!! I would gladly have 3 babies in my bed if I got to sleep that late. My little one was up at 6 am this morning!! Glad it works for you and your family!
ReplyDelete