sleep only in swings or car seats

My girls are 3 months old and nap in their swings during the day and sleep in their car seats at night. My husband and I felt like it was our "dirty little secret" until we found out that a bunch of parents we know do the same thing Anyway, despite that, I'm still worried that we're doing something wrong and/or it's hurting the girls' physical development. I've tried to get them in their cribs during the day, but they only sleep for about 20-30 minutes (as opposed to 1-2 hours in their swings). And I'm kind of scared to try it at night because they've been sleeping so well (5-7 hour stretches). I talked to my pediatrician and she said it's ok for now but that we should aim for them to be sleeping in their cribs by 4 months. I can't stop thinking about this and feeling like we're being bad parents and creating bad habits. I guess I'm looking for some reassurance and advice from those who have been there/done that. TIA!

 

:hug99: Not bad at all! Hey you do what you have to do to get through those first few months with newborn twins!!! Emma slept in her swing all night for the first 3 months!! I transitioned them to their beds at around 4 months and they actually slept better, much to my surprise!

 

I think my guys were still taking naps in swings at 4 months but starting to transition to the crib. We did however take them out of their carseats around 3.5-4 months because we wanted them to learn to roll in their sleep. We also switched them to separate cribs at 4 months because they slept better apart. Good luck! I would start with the night time first and then work on the naps after you have mastered the night time. Swaddling helps too.

 

Well, mine are over 4 months now and are still napping in their swings (but they sleep at night in the crib.) We are just now kind of getting a daytime routine of waking up, eating, playtime, and naps down, and personally I think whenever and wherever you can get them to nap at all these first few months is a good thing for the babies AND yourself and your sanity. Now that a routine is starting to get established, I'm going to wait a few weeks and then transition them to crib naps. Right now the swings are in the living room and they always get in the swing with a fleece blanket and their stuffed bunnies, so in a few weeks I'm going to move the swings into the nursery so they get used to getting up and moving into the nursery for naps, then after a few days I'll move them into the cribs with their fleece blankets and their bunnies. When they get tired and are ready for naps they usually "assume the position" where they put their arms above their heads and start to drop off on the floor anyways ... so hopefully the transition to go will be smooth.

I think it's find that they nap in their swings ... maybe at night you could start moving the carseats into the crib so they get used to the crib itself at night?

 

I think you will get a plethera of yes, it's ok responses here...me too! Just watch their heads, Joseph developed a flat head and I think it may be from sleeping in his car seat. Boppy makes a gel pad for their heads to help prevent- I didn't find that out til it was too late.

Like pp said- whatever it takes

 

THe car seat saved us the first 4 months. They just slept so well in there. Every once in awhile, I tried the crib and they did not sleep well. So I always went back to the car seat becasue that meant I could sleep more too!

One of my sons has toricollis and as a result, a misshapened head. When we took him to the helmet specialist around 4 months, he said 'tonight he HAS to sleep in his crib'. He said the car seat was not helping his toricollis or his misshapend head. He said if he cries all night, let him cry!!

Well, it ended up taking a few days and they both adjusted so well. We started them in the crib and often put them in their car seat after feeing them their middle of the night feedings because we were too tired to have them cry in their crib. I think I had a harder time thinking they would not be ok and they actaully were fine. I think they just needed to get used to it.


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Just watch their heads, Joseph developed a flat head and I think it may be from sleeping in his car seat. Boppy makes a gel pad for their heads to help prevent


I bought this pillow and used it when I fed him in his papasan chair.

 

Thanks so much everyone for the pep talks That's why I love this site.
Funny story - my grandma asked me if the girls sleep together or seperately in their cribs. When I told her that they sleep in their car seats at night, she gave me a very funny look. I found out later from my mom that it was because she thought we were putting them in their car seats...in the car :lol:

 

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I found out later from my mom that it was because she thought we were putting them in their car seats...in the car
LOL!!

Ours slept in their swings from the time they were a month old (colic set in) until they hit 4 mos...I was fortunate that right at 4 months the one night I took a chance and put them in the cribs and except for a bit of snuffling around to get comfy for the better part of the night they slept and never looked back!

 

We just now (a few nights ago) have put the girls back in the crib. They had been sleeping in car seats or bouncer seat for naps and night time, because Gretchyn would spit up too much if she was laying in the crib. Their pedi actually thinks I should keep them in car seats for a while longer. They have a tendency to get really congested. But we are trying the crib for now and hopefully it won't be too bad. They adjusted just fine. I produce good sleepers, that will sleep anywhere in any position.

 

We did it with DS!!! He's fine! A good sleeper!! Around 3.5 mos. we switched them and it's been fine ever since!! Just try it every once in a while. I would put them to sleep in the swing and then move them to their cribs. They would wake and fuss for 5-10 min. and then pass out again!! You'll be fine!!! Your not-so-dirty little secret is safe with us!! :hug99:

 

Ours didn't make it to the crib until about 6 months!!!

 

QUOTE(blink_fitz @ Apr 27 2007, 12:13 AM) [snapback]235202[/snapback]
Thanks so much everyone for the pep talks That's why I love this site.
Funny story - my grandma asked me if the girls sleep together or seperately in their cribs. When I told her that they sleep in their car seats at night, she gave me a very funny look. I found out later from my mom that it was because she thought we were putting them in their car seats...in the car :lol:

That is so funny. BTW mine are still in car seats at night too!