When we first brought Monster home from the hospital we practiced bedsharing. It was one of those things I said I would absolutely never do, but when the time came, and I ended up with an emergency C-Section to recover from I felt I didn't have a choice. Of course I had a choice, there is always a choice. It was just easier, plain and simple. After approximately 2 weeks we transitioned Monster into his bassinet, which was in our room and practiced co-sleeping.
This worked out well for us, I didn't have far to go to get a crying newborn, and Hubbs got to stay asleep during our nighttime feedings to rest up for work the next day. However, once Monster reached the two month mark we figured it was a good time to transition him to his crib in order for the whole family to get more solid sleep at night.
With this transition came the infant bedtime routine. Everything we established has only ever changed slightly, and it was just the gradual change in bedtime becoming earlier and earlier. We start the routine with a nice warm bath, then a massage with Derma Sense Calming Massage Lotion a wonderful gift from Auntie TinaHealthNut for our baby shower. Once Monster is dressed, he gets his bedtime feeding, and placed in his crib while he's still awake. We play his calming "Sounds of utero" CD for him and then he knows it's time for sleep.
Some nights we have to go in to reassure him more then others, but all our persistence and consistency has paid off more then I could ever imagine. Monster now comes to expect things to be done at a certain time which might cut into our social life a little, but the reward of him sleeping 9-12 hours each night is much greater then any social activity!
Disclosure: I do not judge anyone who practices bedsharing or co-sleeping or any other forms of parenting as long as it's practiced safely.
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