Cosleeper Transition Question... Help

Have you tried just letting him put himself back to sleep? When I first transitioned my daughter to her own room, I used to give her 30 min. to cry it out. The first few times it took all the strength I had not to go to her, but after a few nights, the time it took her to get back to sleep lessened and lessened. Now, on occasion, when she does wake up, she cries for less than a minute and goes right back to sleep.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

My husband and I co-slept with our son too. He was 2.5 when I had my daughter so a few months before she was born, we would put him to sleep in his big boy bed and read him a book and plug in his nightlight. He was OK for the first 3 nights then wanted to sleep with us again, so we let him cause we figured he just wasn't quite ready yet. Then when the baby came, the bed was just too crowded so I would just have my husband go in to our son's room to put him to sleep and my hubby would fall asleep in his bed most nights. So for a few months it would be my hubby and son in the big boy bed and then my daughter and I in "Mommy's bed". It worked for us, and eventually my hubby stopped sleeping in my son's room altogether. Now it's just my husband and I in our bed, and the kids in their own beds (My daughter likes her crib, my son hated it). But some nights, we have both kids in the bed with us. I just figure they need some extra cuddling on those nights. No big deal. That's what worked for us. Good Luck!!

We are in the same boat and someone just recommended the book "The No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers." You might want to check that out.

As hard as it is you have to let them cry by themselves to sleep. I would always carry my daughter to her room after she feel asleep. Not wanting to make the same mistake with my second. I would let her cry 15 min, check on her, kiss. She would normally feel asleep with in that time. She is now 2 loves her own bed, doesn't cry and goes right down. My first child is 8 and can't fall asleep by herself. I didn't do her any favors by not letting her cry. He has to be able to get himself back to sleep if he wakes in the night not need you. It will be hard on both of you, but better in the long run. He might cry the first few nights longer.

Just give it time. I would not stay with him until he is fully back to sleep. By calling you in it is his way of still getting you to co-sleep. If you want him to learn to sleep on his own you must allow him to do so. When he wakes, check on him and let him know it is still night time and he must go back to sleep, but that mommy also needs to sleep and is going back to bed, and he needs to do the same. If you continue to give him what he wants when he cries (co-sleeping in the new bed), he will continue to cry.

We had the same issue with our 9 month old. I was told (and it worked for us) that if he gets up at the same time each night - to go in about 10 minutes before and rub his back to stimulate him and "reset" his inner timeclock. It worked for us - not sure if it will work for you or cause him to wake up. I am sure you will get lots of advice on this one. Good luck and congrats on the pregnancy!!

I would keep doing what you are doing. Let him sleep on his own, when he wakes, comfort him, leave, go back in, comfort him, leave, etc, etc.
He was sleeping with you for 14 mos. He is not going to sleep on his on in 14 days. Keep at it and he will sleep through the night on his own.
Get him a special stuffed animal and blanket that he can comfort himself with. And one of those mobiles that displays lights on the ceiling.

Sleep is a learned habit - not innate, so whatever your child learns to sleep with, he will continue to need to sleep with. For instance, adults are the same way - we may need a fan on, the TV on, darkness, pillow between your knees, etc, to sleep.
Good luck!
~G.
www.bebettertoyourself.blogspot.com

My son is almost four years old and it has been a journey trying to get him to sleep perminently in his own bed.

I had a repeat c-section and it was very hard on my belly to handle the two kids.

I even have an Arm's Reach bassinett and that didn't help at all like I thought it would. It was easier for me to physically get out of bed and get her; then to turn on my side and reach over to the bassinett.

I would ask your hubby to take over because you might get an infection. I got a postpartum infection; I was doing way too much. Try not stress over it and enjoy the transition.