I co-slept and nursed my son for 2 years. I can't do it again. My daughter is 9 mos and my husband and I would like her out of our bed and not needing to nurse by 12-14 months. We are fine with her waking a time or two at night, I just don't want to be the only one to have only one way to put her back to sleep. Any thoughts or advice?
When my son was 13 months old, after cosleeping and nursing at night, I slept in the other room and my husband comforted him when he woke at night. We thought maybe if he wasn't getting milk he wouldn't think it was worth it to wake up. After maybe a week he slept through the night and has ever since! Good luck.
Hi, I'm not sure why you would be the only one to put her back to sleep if you're husband is home. Unless it's to nurse her back to sleep. She doesn't NEED to eat in the middle of the night, she is probably nursing because it comforts her. Put her in her own bed. What we did was send my husband in to put my baby back to sleep depending on the time she last ate. Our baby goes back to sleep quite quickly when my husband goes in. Obviously if our baby is sick, can't be consoled or truly is hungry than we nurse him back to sleep. You need to prepare yourself for a lot of crying. Make sure your husband helps out ;-) Be strong and good luck.
I have heard really good things about the book "The no-cry sleep solution" it at least gives advice on getting children night weaned and sleeping through the night. I have heard this is a good first step in getting kids out of bed.
I can completely relate to you since my two girls are spaced similar to your children and in retrospect I wish I done what my friend advised me to do. It worked for her with all of her children. At night, introduce a bottle of formula now. Start with 1/4 of a bottle, breast milk mixed with formula and keep adjusting till you get to mostly formula. Keep ofering it even if it takes a month. It has a higher caloric count and your baby doesn't wake up hungry. My second child ended up nursing until she was 3 so I understand how you can't go through it again.
Do you already use a binky? Putting her in your husband's armpit with the binky to get her away from you. (Meanwhile you sleep in another room for a few nights. She will not be happy or soothed at first but my son did get over it when my wife "Mama" (we are a 2 mom family and I was the one who nursed) just kept saying "Mommy will be back soon she's just brushing her teeth" ( or going potty or whatever). I know some kids don't give up and get really really upset but I know quite a few that cry and fuss or maybe throw a fit at first but then get over it. It's not like you are letting her "cry it out" because your husband will be there comforting her. now is the age to start because if she doesn't use a binky now she won't switch to one if she gets much older. And children need to suck several hours more than they actually need to drink.
Hope this helps. I too slept very very very very little! It's so great now!
I didn't see this in the responses - I felt the same way with my daughter (second child). I didn't cosleep with her, we put a mattress on the floor beside our bed and I lay with her until she fell asleep. Then, I moved up to my bed but was still in arms reach if she needed me. We moved her to room with her brother at about a year and a half. It wasn't too bad, I still sit with her until she falls asleep. Occasionally, she will come into my bed, but usually only for teething, bad dreams, growth spurts, etc.
Hi J.-
Have you thought about pumping? Weening her from breast feeding while still giving her breast milk? I know some parents absolutely baulk at the idea of not breast feeding the natural way, but let's look at the positive side. She is still getting her mother's breast milk and you are getting a little more bed space. They (who are they anyway?) make bottle nipples that are so soft the transition shouldn't be too dramatic. They are tan colored, and I think made by either playtex or avent...Go to Target, squish a couple, try one or so of each and see which one the baby likes best. As far as not being in your bed, try her day time naps in her own crib. Then at night, she will adjust to being her own room. For that, there are fun items like the sound machines by homedics (Target) that make heartbeat sounds, rain, ocean waves, the rain forest, etc. AND, swaddle/bundle her up. Sometimes having the legs and body wrapped can make your baby feel like someone is right there/ more secure.
Good luck!
