Car seat guilt . . . anyone else?

Hey ladies,

I feel so guilty right now. For the last two weeks my twins have had that "twin sense". They are awake at different times and they somehow know when their twin has fallen asleep! It never fails, one will be sleeping soundly, I will finally get the other one to sleep, put her down and immediatly the initial sleeping twin wakes up (even if they are in different rooms!) On top of that, my babies are hold me babies so when they are awake you have to hold them or hear them scream!

Well, I just had to shower today(it has been three days!) and I have four weeks worth of laundry to fold (I can keep up with the washing but the folding is so far behind!). They always sleep well in the car so when the fell asleep I put them in their carseats. Ijust feel so guilty because they look so pathedically sad in those seats, but I just don't know what else to do. I have let most of the housework go, but we have had to sleep on the sofa and relincer the last week because the bed is covered with clean laundry.

Well, must go and work on that mountain of laundry (I already got my shower in!). I just had to share my guilt with someone and maybe someone will say, "Hey, its O.K. They wont have some major emotional problem because you put them in their car seats to sleep."

Angel

 

Hey ladies,

I feel so guilty right now. For the last two weeks my twins have had that "twin sense". They are awake at different times and they somehow know when their twin has fallen asleep! It never fails, one will be sleeping soundly, I will finally get the other one to sleep, put her down and immediatly the initial sleeping twin wakes up (even if they are in different rooms!) On top of that, my babies are hold me babies so when they are awake you have to hold them or hear them scream!

Well, I just had to shower today(it has been three days!) and I have four weeks worth of laundry to fold (I can keep up with the washing but the folding is so far behind!). They always sleep well in the car so when the fell asleep I put them in their carseats. Ijust feel so guilty because they look so pathedically sad in those seats, but I just don't know what else to do. I have let most of the housework go, but we have had to sleep on the sofa and relincer the last week because the bed is covered with clean laundry.

Well, must go and work on that mountain of laundry (I already got my shower in!). I just had to share my guilt with someone and maybe someone will say, "Hey, its O.K. They wont have some major emotional problem because you put them in their car seats to sleep."

Angel

 

Hi,

Dont feel guilty. If they are sleeping in them and not screeming then they are probably comfortable. Honestly that is where mine are right now. I dont see anything wrong with it. They get the feeling of being held because they are more confined and I get to get a little while to do what I need to do.

 

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. If that means putting them in carseats to get them to sleep at the same time every now and again, then so be it. Don't feel guilty, you are a good mom just by making sure the laundry is done and put away and chances are that they are loving the carseats just because they aren't screaming in them. And if they grow up having to be in the car to sleep, it will save you money on buying mattresses and sheets, right?

 

quote:
Originally posted by jessben81:
Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. If that means putting them in carseats to get them to sleep at the same time every now and again, then so be it.


Couldn't agree more. If they are reflux babies, prefering to sleep in their car seats wouldn't surprise me at all (incline helps keep things down).

At 2 months, it isn't an issue, when they get older (and aware of their surroundings) then you can start working on getting them to nap in their cribs. We napped exclusively in our swings from 2-4 months. I felt awful about it at first...but got over it when I realized how much happier they were when they were well rested (same goes DOUBLE for MOM! )

 

There are pediatricians who recommend moms put their newborns to sleep in car seats the first week or so (to help with draining mucus, etc...). It's really important that they sleep...so WHERE they sleep is no big deal. There is absolutely no need to feel guilty!

 

One of mine has reflux so she sleeps in her bouncy seat or swing a lot. I figure whatever it takes to get stuff done...do it. Mainly to save your sanity and to let you get some rest.

 

I thought the same thing that you did---at first. Now wherever they nap is fine with me-carriers, swings, boppies, bath tub (just kidding!). I was so hung up on only letting them sleep in their cribs to avoid bad habits that they were barely napping at all, as soon as they realized they were in the crib they immediately woke up. Things are much saner at our house now. I figure I'll worry about crib napping when they are better nappers. For now we will just keep our bathtubs nice and clean.

 

Mine are 9 1/2 months and one is asleep in her car seat right now. She does usually nap in her crib, but it just wasn't happenin' today. The fact that she has now gotten 1 hour of sleep is much more important than where it takes place! They actually took most of their naps in their car seats up until 6 mos due to reflux. One payoff is that they are very content on walks and car rides now! Don't beat yourself up, it really is fine. Stephanie

 

Only Doug will sleep in the crib. I keep Sarah in the bouncy seat or swing, she will sleep in crib belly down only and I don't feel safe leaving her like that. I wish they liked their carseats, I'd do that myself to just get a shower or a clean bathroom, and for my older DD-time to cuddle or play. Whatever it takes is my opinion.

 

Nothing wrong with it! I was very sad when mine outgrew their infant seats because I could no longer use them for nighttime when one girl had a cold. (They slept mostly in their cribs after about 3 months -- until then, they slept mostly in the swing and the bouncy seat.)

When they were in the infant room at daycare, the DCPs would often put Amy in her carseat if she was really fussy and they knew I was showing up to get her in the next 1/2 hour anyway. It seemed to calm her down to be confined in there.

 

Naps?1? Are you kidding??? I let the boys sleep overnight in the carseats on and off (more on) til 2&1/2 months if they fell asleep in them. When I use them as seats (i.e. whenever they aren't strapped in) I put a cozy blanket in as a liner to make them more comfy/cushy and keep them cooler/not sweaty (remember we're in Florida)

Don't feel guilty...I think the chances of them coming back to throw this in your face when they're 25 is pretty slim

HTH
Christina

 

Mine slept all night in their carseats from about 3 weeks old until about 6 or 7 weeks old. I would not feel guilty at all! If mine would take a long nap in their carseats I would do that. But now they won't nap in their carseats any longer than their beds - about 30-45 minutes a nap. I haven't had a shower in 3 days and the laundry is the same - it gets washed then piled onto the table for folding later next year sometime. We are all in the same boat! Mine sleep 12 hours at night so if they only take cat naps that is the price I pay.

Don't feel bad! I'm right there with you, sister!

 

At that age, I don't think there is much you can do that is going to cause them harm after they get older. Letting them sleep in their carseats is perfectly fine and a lot of people do it, especially those with reflux babies.