If you got pregnant while cosleeping/nursing...

[Anonymous]

How did you handle the older child's sleeping arrangements throughout and after pregnancy?

[Anonymous]

bump. Nobody did this? Maybe I should post more personal details so you can judge me before you answer? DS is a year and I nurse him to sleep every night in our bed. He wakes up if I try and move him to the crib and DH can't handle CIO so we've not pushed hard on the crib (also he reverse cycles). Now we are ttc and I'm remembering how uncomfortable I was sleeping while pregnant and wondering how to get DS in the crib before the new baby arrives.

[Anonymous]

Mine was older than yours when I got pregnant and was too big for a crib. We waited until the new baby was born to put him in his own bed. Does your son sleep through the night? If so, I'd try to move him after he's asleep. If not, he may very well night wean once you're pregnant and your supply drops.

[Anonymous]

I never co-slept while TTC or pregnant. I did recently transition DC2 away from co-sleeping (she's 14 months, and it'll likely be another year before we'd TTC for a host of reasons). If you want to end the co-sleeping, the easiest way would be to change the location of your final nursing session. If you start nursing in a glider in the nursery then you can spend time helping DS fall asleep in the crib (you don't have to CIO, you can use gentler methods and stay and rub the baby's back or hold his hand).

My understanding is that nursing can become very uncomfortable during pregnancy so I'd probably want to wean from all-night nursing before getting pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Always been fascinated by this phenomena. How do you TTC while there is a kid sleeping in bed with you? Do you just find other times during the day to make the effort?

[Anonymous]

I got pg while ttc and bf. We would sneak off in the night to try for #2. It worked, and I got pg. We did not transition dd #1 out of the bed, but we did transition in the baby when she came. So it was dh on one side, then dd#1 next to me (between dh and me), then me, and dd#2 on the side next to the bedrail. We had a king sized bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got pg while ttc and bf. We would sneak off in the night to try for #2. It worked, and I got pg. We did not transition dd #1 out of the bed, but we did transition in the baby when she came. So it was dh on one side, then dd#1 next to me (between dh and me), then me, and dd#2 on the side next to the bedrail. We had a king sized bed.

Well there was that one time when dd#1 was out like a light, and we ttc on the other side of the bed. She didn't seem to notice. All those people in developing countries do this don't they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Always been fascinated by this phenomena. How do you TTC while there is a kid sleeping in bed with you? Do you just find other times during the day to make the effort?

I got pregnant while co-sleeping by having sex on the couch in the living room after the Super Bowl. First kid was about 18 months old, sleeping in our bed upstairs alone.

To answer OP's question, we transitioned DD to a twin size bed in her own bedroom while I was 4-5 months pregnant, so that she wouldn't associated the new baby with being kicked out of our bed, and we weren't prepared to share a bed with both kids. I was still nursing her to sleep when I got pregnant, but that ended on its own as my milk dried up pretty quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got pg while ttc and bf. We would sneak off in the night to try for #2. It worked, and I got pg. We did not transition dd #1 out of the bed, but we did transition in the baby when she came. So it was dh on one side, then dd#1 next to me (between dh and me), then me, and dd#2 on the side next to the bedrail. We had a king sized bed.

Well there was that one time when dd#1 was out like a light, and we ttc on the other side of the bed. She didn't seem to notice. All those people in developing countries do this don't they?

Wow -- what if she had woken up?? Wouldn't she have seen DH in you??

[Anonymous]

Mine was 14 months when I got pregnant. She weaned shortly after that. She slept in the bed with me through my pregnancy and for a couple months after the baby was born. Then at around 2 she was suddenly ok with the crib, so she sleeps there now. There were no tears.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Always been fascinated by this phenomena. How do you TTC while there is a kid sleeping in bed with you? Do you just find other times during the day to make the effort?

Guest room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got pg while ttc and bf. We would sneak off in the night to try for #2. It worked, and I got pg. We did not transition dd #1 out of the bed, but we did transition in the baby when she came. So it was dh on one side, then dd#1 next to me (between dh and me), then me, and dd#2 on the side next to the bedrail. We had a king sized bed.

Well there was that one time when dd#1 was out like a light, and we ttc on the other side of the bed. She didn't seem to notice. All those people in developing countries do this don't they?

Wow -- what if she had woken up?? Wouldn't she have seen DH in you??

I don't know how old a kid you are imagining, PP, but my dd is 13 months and would have no idea what she was seeing even if she did wake up. It's like having sex in front of a pet. They don't give a damn, so why should you?

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks all. DS loves nursing so it's hard to imagine he'd wean himself, but I guess if I do get preg anything could happen.

A king size bed would take care of all my concerns, but it is not happening as I just bought this mattress 4 years ago. It's the association between new baby and being kicked out of bed that we want to avoid.

and I was ready for it, but I appreciate the lack of snark

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got pg while ttc and bf. We would sneak off in the night to try for #2. It worked, and I got pg. We did not transition dd #1 out of the bed, but we did transition in the baby when she came. So it was dh on one side, then dd#1 next to me (between dh and me), then me, and dd#2 on the side next to the bedrail. We had a king sized bed.

Well there was that one time when dd#1 was out like a light, and we ttc on the other side of the bed. She didn't seem to notice. All those people in developing countries do this don't they?

Wow -- what if she had woken up?? Wouldn't she have seen DH in you??

I don't know how old a kid you are imagining, PP, but my dd is 13 months and would have no idea what she was seeing even if she did wake up. It's like having sex in front of a pet. They don't give a damn, so why should you?

omg hahaha yes. +1. for anyone that's really wondering what it's like, this is the whole truth.

[Anonymous]

I got pregnant while co-sleeping/nursing. Had sex on couch after DDs first bday party. Weaned as soon as I realized I was pregnant. Co-slept entire pregnancy. When #2 was born he was in the co-sleeper to my left and DD continued to sleep on my right. She gradually transitioned to a mattress on the floor and then her room. By the time he was too big for the co-sleeper she was on the mattress on the floor and he came into the bed. Now they are 4 and 2 and occasionally both sleep with me. Love those cuddly nights but also love the nights when they are in their own beds. It was tricky at times but worked out. I have no regrets and my kids don't have attachment issues.