Sunday, June 6, 2010

The Great Crib Debate

There has been a battle raging in our house since L was about 3 months old. Last night I finally withdrew the troops, conceded defeat, and waved the white flag.

What could cause such conflict in our peaceful household you might ask? The issue is, and has been, moving L to his own room. Months before he was born, nursery furniture was orded, walls were painted a "disney" blue, diaper genies were assembled, and in our room an adorable bassinet (It belonged to S as a baby) was set up right next to my side of the bed. The thought process was that L would sleep in our room, within arms reach of me, for the first 12 weeks of his life or so. This would ease my fears of SIDS, make it easier to get to him when he was still in the stage when he awoke several times a night, I could easily nurse him in bed, and, frankly, I just wanted him close to me.

When three month came along, I was no were even close to being ready to for L to move into his own room, but unfortunetly, L was quickly out growing the bassinet that was meant for a newborn baby.

"6 months!" I told S, "I'm sure in 6 months I will be ready! He's just to little still, he still wakes up to much, there is still a SIDS risk.... I'm not ready!"

Being the good and understanding husband that S is, he gave in, with only minimal grumblings. We retired the bassinet to storage and moved the pack and play into our room. Order and peace was restored, and mommy and baby were comforted in the fact that they were not to be seperated yet.

6 months came.

"I"m still not ready!" I cried,  "Just give me another day, another week, another month!  I'll be ready soon, he will be ready soon! Just not yet!"

7 months came and went. Then 8 months. Finally, last night, nine days before L's 9 month birthday, S put his foot down.

"It's time" he said. "We will take it slow. We will start with just tonight, and then maybe do another night next weekend, and go from there. This is good for him, and good for us. We need to do this"

So, being the mature adult that I am, I finally gave in. I conceded with grace. I realized and reveled in the fact that I should be proud of my little boy, that he was gaining his independence.

Ok, really, I cried. As S and I took turn feeding him before bed, tears rolled down my face.


A lot. And I may or may not have dragged a sleeping bad into the nursery and slept next to L crib. I plead the fifth.

But the good news is, as hard as it was for me, L did great. He slept through the night, he does not appear to be showing sign of distress or feeling of being abandonded. I don't  think he will need therapy becuase mommy and daddy moved him to his own room to early.



And for tonight at least, S has withdrawn from battle. L will be in our room tonight and the battle will resume next week.

And, for the recorded, I am so very proud of my little man. But it doesn't make it any easier to let go of him.

3 comments:

  1. This post was so funny and cute! lol But trust me, it'll do all 3 of you a lot of good to have your own personal sleeping space.

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  2. Thanks! I know it is for the best, and writing about it actually helped! I just never knew it would be so tough! Lol!

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  3. Hi Leah! He looks pretty happy about being in his crib...doesn't look like you'll have much of a fight :0)

    I read your comment on "Enjoying the Small Things" and noticed you're from Phoenix (well, Surprise. I'm getting ready to move to Glendale in August (hubby is already there) but I'm a birth doula and have clients thru the end of July so I must stay in Seattle until then. I will be serving the Northwest Phoenix area and would love to connect with young moms who are expecting or considering becoming pregnant in the near future. Who knows, maybe we can connect when I get there :0) You can check out my webpage at: www.douladianne.blogspot.com

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