He'll only sleep in his swing!

Hi,
My sweet James isn't a very good sleeper to begin with, but after 2 a.m. or so, he'll only sleep in his swing! If I don't put him in his swing, he'll calm down and sleep for 10 or 15 minutes and then is awake and crying again. His last night bottle is at 11 p.m., so it's possible he is hungry, but he usually don't eat much if I feed him again.

Is it ok to let him sleep in his swing the rest of the night (I'm on the couch) or should I bite the bullet and try to nip this "crutch" in the bud? (and if so, how?)

Thank you!
Melissa

 

Personally I think no. I would say that by 6 months he should be sleeping in his crib but until then I say let them sleep wherever he will!

 

I have believe that whatever you need to do to get them to sleep when they are under 4 months of age is fine. After that, you may want to think about starting them on the path to sleeping where you ultimately will want them to sleep permanently. This is what I've heard...

That said, my 9 week old twins still sleep in their papasan chairs at night (they just sleep so well in them!)

My DD slept next to me (first in bassinette and then in a portacrib) until she was 9 months old. She made the transition to her own crib effortlessly.

 

I really think the first year is a lot of trial and error. At four months, you're still adjusting to having babies (not just one!) in the house! If he'll sleep in his swing, I say go for it. Maybe in another month or so, you can try having him sleep in his crib?

Both of our boys transferred into a crib effortlessly. Andrew was about six months old and Blake was six weeks old (but already over the weight limit....he was 9lbs 7oz at birth). I think it really just depends on when THEY are ready. Just remember you need your rest too. Good luck!

 

Let me see if I can remember that far back... LOL Ours both slept better in the swings when they were really little so we let them. I needed the sleep, and so did they! I don't remember when we put them back in their cribs, but it was before they started to sit up on their own. It was effortless, they were ready to go back to thier cribs.

Let him sleep and get some rest yourself.

 

Aaron only napped in the swing.
The Pedi told me to stop fretting - hey, he was napping!
Today, he's a great sleeper in his very own bed.

 

Maybe you could try transistioning him to his crib for naps for now, and then when he is sleeping well in there for naps, try nighttime? Emma was a swinger at night until 3 months!

 

I had many a night in the wee hours where two swings were going and I was cat napping on the couch. If they can get sleep where ever at that age I say go for it. It was the only way I could survive some nights. Now, they sleep in their cribs fine. No issue.

 

Thank you so much, ladies. I really appreciate it! I'm glad to hear he's still young enough where the sleeping location doesn't matter as much as how much sleep he's getting.

Thank you for the great words of encouragement!