Giving up Rocking to Sleep

My big kids were close together in age, and my second "set" are gonna be as well. I rocked all my kids. When they were little it was bottle, book and until they were sleeping. and that is what we do with our 9 month old now. As they got older they didn't want to rock, they didn't want the book, they didn't want to go to bed, so we changed the routine, but I rocked them all through the pregnancy's that followed and even after, i just staggered bedtimes, or had dad do one and i the other and we would switch.

I know, it is so hard. You are such a good, loving mother for rocking him. There is nothing wrong with you and I think you should do it as long as you can, want to or need to. I still rock my 22 month old in the glider every night before bed! I don't do it til he falls asleep, but I rock him while we sit there in the dark witht he night lights on and soft lullabys playing, he sips milk out of his sippy cup and plays with his cars or we read books...it is the best! So I say enjoy rocking him until you get so big you just can't do it anymore. No worries. :)

I wish my 11 month old still LET me rock him to sleep! He got independent going to sleep on his own, I'd do it if he still let me! It goes so fast, I say just keep doing it until you can't. It will work itself out :)

Awww, I rocked my youngest to sleep in her room til she was three. One night she informed me that she was a big girl, actually 'too old for this' was her exact wording, and climbed into bed before I even sat down in the rocker. Sigh.

The first two I was still nursing to sleep every night/nap while pregnant with the next.

There will always be transitional issues with the next baby, you know? I suppose it WOULD be better to change that NOW before the new baby, so the older baby doesn't feel replaced.

I seem to remember my husband becoming more involved with the existing babies once a new one came. And since the first two were boys, it was cool for them, and FUN with Dad (he did it very different than I did, too much bubbles in the bath, not as diligent about teeth brushing, would read the same book 45 times, etc.). So maybe that's how we got through it.

HTH!

:)

I also rocked my kids to sleep. I still do "snuggle our 2 year old to sleep." What about a twin bed or toddler bed? This was about the age we put both our kids in their "big boy bed." With our oldest it was a twin size mattress on the floor, but with our 2 year old it was the bottom bunk. I was terrible about putting them in the crib without waking them up, so I just gave up at this age. I can put them into their beds without waking them up now, so Mamma's happy!

My 2 youngest boys are 20 months apart so I can empathize. I rocked my older son all during the pregnancy and just had my husband lay him down if I had trouble carrying him or putting him in his crib. At the end of the pregnancy, I thought it was so funny how baby brother would kick from inside and my son on my lap would push back on my belly. They are now 3 yrs and 19 months and are still pushing and kicking each other! They do have an incredible bond, though. I totally understand your feelings. I got a little tearful before going to the hospital in labor thinking, "My son will miss out on being a baby because I'll have 2 babies when I return. One will just seem like a big boy compared to my newborn." Those initial 6 months were difficult, but I was happy that my older son bonded tight to my husband during those months. Best wishes for your growing family. Nurse Midwife Mom