OT – Advice for baby who hates crib

My son never alept in a crib…he’s a Kroean adoptee and cam ehome at 10 months. We tried a matress, twin size, on the floor in his room. He can get in and out by himself and he doesn’t have the caged feeling a crib can give some kids. He was used to sleeping this way in the same room as his foster family, and had no trouble transitioning to a room of his own once he was home. He plays on his bed and loves being there. It’s a freindly place for him so sleeping there is perfectly comfortable for him. Plus, he can get to mom and dad’s room anytime he wants to or needs us. It’s been a dream solution for us, though it’s scary to wake up at 1 am with him standing beside the bed staring at you! Yipes! Hope that helps you!

I totally get the cramped space. We have 9 people in 3 bedrooms! We did make a make-shift room for our oldest two in another space. Do you have any space that isn’t a bedroom that you could covert/use for some of the olders so you could move the 9 month old into another space?

Or maybe he’d be more interested in a playpen. I’m thinking a hammock would have been a snug fit around his body. Maybe the crib has too much space for him. So a playpen or blocking off part of the crib to make him feel more enclosed.

Or could you put a twin under one of the bunkbeds and pull it out for him to sleep on at night?

Or could he sleep with another child? We have one bunk that has a single on top and a double on bottom. We moved a little one in there with a slightly older child. They sleep sideways since they are both little which gives some security as the little one was surrounded by two walls and a brother.

Wish I could “see” your house so I could give you more ideas! We’ve done all sorts of different arrangements as we’ve added kids and they’ve grown and we’ve needed different spaces for different things. If you could offer more specifics, I could try to help.

-Rebecca