[Hopetoun]

I have a 20 month old girl who from day one has not been a great sleeper. Even the midwives in the hospital a few days after she was born suggested I cosleep in order that we could both get some rest.
Ever since, it has just been easier to keep this going but the time has come to change. She is much bigger, my husband is over having her in the bed and while we are still breast feeding, I realise that for the majority of the time, I am basically being used as a human dummy to help her settle. If she had her way, she would latch on for a soothing suck often during the day as opposed to wanting a proper feed.
So advice please! Do I wean first and then work on the solo sleeping or vice versa? Any tips for weaning (ideally quickly) an older child? I should add that she attends family day care twice a week - has since she was 10 months - and sleeps fine there by herself and obviously doesnt breastfeed. So I have got her into this dependent routine - she can do it by herself if I'm not there!
Thanks in advance

[BeYOUtiful]

I weaned first then tackled the co sleeping.
I commenced weaning my son when he was 27mths old (in October, fully weaned by 18 December).

I started slowly on advise of ABA. I first tackled the lunch time feed (before his nap). I would lay down with him on our bed until he drifted off to sleep. I tired him out that morning with park, games etc which helped him go to sleep quickly. I also encouraged him to eat a big breakfast/lunch. This feed wasn't too bad to cut out.

I have lengthy notes on his reactions each day but thought I would give you the brief version.

The
Next week I tackled the morning feed (upon waking). This one came with tears but I just cuddled him told him I loved him until he settled down. I then offered cows milk and a breakfast he enjoyed.

The last feed was the one/s before bed. I commenced these about a month after stopping the morning feed (it was hard for me to have that last feed ever). Again there were tears but to my surprise only the first night for less than 5mins then he rolled over and went to sleep. I laid awake sad lol.

A couple of times during the day he would try to sneak a feed in and then crack up laughing cheeky monkey. Considering he was a boobaholic he did really well with weaning, I was pleasantly surprised.

Next was the getting him back in to his room. We decided to convert his cot to his toddler bed, to make it exciting/enticing. I started on a Friday night so I had DP's help if needed. I have been laying in his bed with him until he drifts off then I leave. The first couple of nights I was reading to him in there but he wants book after book and I find it stimulates him. He is better with lights off, a hallway light just shining through and letting him know he can roll over and go to sleep.

1st night took 1.5hrs. Jumping up and down on bed, telling me he is a boy and daddy is a girl , telling me he likes me/ loves me etc etc until he crashed.
2nd night 1hr until asleep.
Next night 30mins.
Next night I was at work and he went to sleep in 15mins and has mostly done that since.

He sleeps the whole night in there which I didn't expect. He has done really well.

I hope some of this helps. Sorry so lengthy, good luck.

[BeYOUtiful]

PS. My son was an awful sleeper from day dot. Woke/fed hourly until I went on Motilium.
Slept through from 5-8mths. Then woke again every night 2-3 times until I started Co sleeping when he was getting eye teeth and waking hourly again.

So in 2 plus yrs he slept through for 3mths.
Co sleeping helped me and him survive and get much needed sleep.
At that time I was getting up for work at 5am and driving 1.5hrs each way. I was worried I would fall asleep often and once or twice almost did.

I promise you it gets better well I at least hope it works for you too.

[Hopetoun]

Thanks so much Jane05 for taking the time to reply and passing on all that info. It is much appreciated. I think I just have to commit to doing it and start the process. Hopefully, you say, it won't be as bad as I imagine!

[BeYOUtiful]

Yep for me the key was not to give in when he cried and asked repeatedly for booby. That sounds terrible and I have never done CC. It was hard some days/nights. Just instead of feeding for comfort I cuddled him, reassured him, told him we don't have booby in the day now etc.

[lady lady]

Dr Jay Gordon


Worked a treat for us!!! DD was 16 months when I night weaned and 18 months when I day weaned. She was like your LO and purely used me for comfort.

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This post has been edited by lady lady: 24/01/2013, 08:01 AM