debating

That's TOTALLY normal!! Remember, your baby slept with you, ate with you, listened to you, an rode with you for 40 weeks. She has only been on the oustside for 5 short weeks. It can take some babies just as much time on the outside, as they were on the inside, to get used to being "alone". Your baby is just now starting to learn that you and she are two separate people. Until now she has thought you should always belong together.

This is common among people who follow Dr. Ezzo and Dr. Ferber. Personally, I do not subscribe to this theory for the reasons I stated above. I believe that the first two months are basically the 4th trimester, and that physical closeness is important to very young infants. For some this means rocking to sleep, nursing to sleep, cuddling to sleep, or in my case, actually sleeping together. It's normal, and completely natural. ALL lactating mammals sleep with their young until they are weaned. It is a biological an physiological normality. Follow your instincts on this one. If you feel your baby does better and is happier being nursed/cuddled/rocked to sleep, then DO it, and forget what "they" say.

Routines are not very reliable until about 3-4 months of age. Until then you'll think you've got it down to a science, and then baby will change her mind. Go with the flow, follow your baby's lead, and soon enough she'll set her own schedule. It's much less stressful this way then over analyzing why she isn't sleeping.

She probably is. Remember, you have been right there for her for 40 weeks. She's still adjusting to being a separate being, and part of that is being startled and disorientated upon waking. It's normal. Just be there for her as soon as you can to comfort and sooth her.

I do not believe in CIO, and I'm sorry you tried this. At 5 weeks old your baby is crying for a reason. It is her only form of communication. Answering her cries as soon as you can validates them, and promotes a trusting relationship. She will learn to trust that she can count on you to help her when she needs it. CIO in older babies is up for debate, and it may have its time and place, but 5 weeks, in my opinion, is way to soon to start this. She is crying for a reason at this age.

Possibly. She is used to falling asleep to the sound of your heart beat and placenta. If you feel you must put her in her own room so early, you could try a white noise machine. It might remind her of some familiar sounds and help her feel not so alone.

The BEST advice I got was to ignore what everyone says. That goes for the pediatrician, your mother, people on the net, everyone, and just follow your heart and instinct. Women have been raising babies since the dawn of man without the help of books or male doctors who have never raised children. Do what works for you, and do what YOU are comfortable with, and ignore everything else. Just remember, your daughter won't be sleeping with you, breastfeeding, or wearing diapers in college. She will outgrow all of it when SHE is ready. Parenthood is not a race. Relax, and enjoy the ride. There will come a day when your baby doesn't want to be rocked to sleep, so enjoy it now!

I actually just moved my daughter's crib INTO our room today. She is too big for her bassinet, so now our bed and her crib are pushed together. I see nothing wrong with this arrangement. She's a baby, and she needs her mama.

Good luck!