When are you thinking Max will sleep in his own bed?

I had a much harder time getting Max to sleep when he came home from the hostpital then I did with Ellie. Perhaps I was spoiled with Ellie. Ellie knew it was nighttime and once we did get her to sleep, she always gave me a good stretch of 5 or 6 hours of sleep. This is a lifesaving blessing (for both mom and baby) with a new born. Max was not this way. For the first month, he thought that nighttime was about 6am - 3pm. This is not good when you have a todler who also wants your attention.

Max and I struggled through the first few weeks and quickly developed into a pattern of him sleeping in the bed with me. This was the best way for me to pretend to get a nights sleep, becuase although he was still up alot, I would roll over to tend him and try to stay asleep. There was a brief period when he was about 2.5 months old where I had him transitioned to his crib and sleeping there nearly through the night, untill he developed a bad cough which had me running to him multiple times in the night in a panic. He quickly landed himself back in the bed with David and I, and honestly hasn't left since.

I have grown to love having him snuggled beside me. He snuggles his head right up against my pillow and me at night. He reaches over to touch me to just know that I am there. He's my little snuggle buddy and I am enjoying this. It's especially helpful to have this snuggle time at night to help with the guilt of being away from him all day. (Mom's shouldn't have to work until kids are 5 - I like FRANCE or SWEEDEN or whichever country this is the case in).

Max is now 7.5 months. I keep making up little milestones to say when I will transition him to his crib. First it was when he was better, then it was when he could put his own pacifier in, then it was when he was warmer in the night...

The other night when heading to bed David asks innocently, "So, when are you thinking Max might start sleeping in his own bed? Anytime soon?"

My response, "When he's one maybe...."

I don't think David was impressed, but I am honestly not ready to give up these snuggles. Max is growing so fast. I swear this year has been a big blur. Part of this is still holding on and realizing Max may be my last little baby. They are both special, and if there is a 3rd or 4th they will be too. But I just don't want to rush the milestones we are enjoying.

I think I feel okay to allow this to persist in a way I never thought I would thanks to some final words of wisdom from my favorite Great Aunt Vonita. One of the last conversations we had was when she asked me how was Max sleeping at night. I replied "Well Vonita, I have to admit, he's sleeping with me right now, so he's doing great." She said, "Don't feel guilty Julie. Just enjoy it!"

Thanks Vonita!