N.S.
Hi L.,
I am also a single mom and am currently staying with my parents. I do have a spare room thats close to mine, but I chose to have the crib in my bedroom. Most nights my twins share a crib, but by morning one or both end up in bed with me. I have found that whey they are fussy, it definitely helps to cuddle them. My twins will be 6 months old this week and we have gone through some periods when they would wake up at night and not want to go back to sleep (luckily not at the same time). Thankfully, it seems like that was just a stage that they went through and are sleeping better again.
I personally do not believe in letting a baby cry it out. I think that its our job, as parents, to be there and comfort our children whenever they need us, even if its in the middle of the night. It sounds like you are enjoying your little girl in bed with you, and if it works for the two of you, keep doing it!!! You will NOT spoil your child.
One of the things that really helped me when my munchkins were going through this stage was to walk around the house (with lights off)holding them. Something about the moving motion really soothes them. Another thing that worked is putting the baby that cant sleep into a swing thats in my living room (it has lights on it and fish that turn in circles) and laying down on the couch myself. The swing would soothe the baby, he/she knew I was in the same room right next to them, and I got some rest as well. Then once the baby fell asleep, I would take him/her out of the swing and bring back to the bedroom. If your little girl is fussy when she wakes up, maybe she's teething and her gums are bothering her. Try giving her some Hyland's teething tablets. Hyland's also makes tablets calle something like "calm baby"??? They are homeopathic and are supposed to help soothe a restless baby. I havent tried them myself, but wish I had found them while my munchkins were going through their fussy stage.
Try a few different things, you'll find something that works for the two of you. Most of all, dont forget that its just a stage that will pass.