Independent sleeping

[meg12]

Okay, so I have an almost 1 year old (next week!!!) and am ready to boot her out of the family bed. She has been a very stubborn sleeper from day 1 and is totally dependent on me to fall asleep. Namely, she nurses herself to sleep. So, I'm ready to get my body back and stop nursing.
I've been reading the sleep system and am liking it, but just wondered if anyone else out there has any tips for 1) weaning a nursing baby and 2) getting said baby to sleep in her own crib! I know it's going to involve some crying (from both her and me!) and just looking for everything I can to make the process as smooth as possible!

[Vlada]

Hello,
I put my daughter in her own room and her crib at 3 months of age, before she slept in the bassinett in our master bedroom. It was an easy transition, but she was so young, i don't think she even noticed that.
With 1 year old it will be harder, be prepared for some serious crying for a couple of weeks. I think consistensy is a key here. Oh, and make sure she takes all of her naps in her crib as well.
Good luck!!!
Vlada

[shantala]

hi meg

how often does your little one nurse in 24 hours?

xx

[meg12]

She only nurses twice during the day...both times before naps and then throughout the night. It's usually before bed and then not until between 4 and 6 am for the first time but after that she likes a little "suck" every hour or so....If I don't nurse her, she wakes up but if I do nurse her she sleeps in until 9:00! Sometimes she will nurse more during the day, but only if she's not feeling well (like teething or something).

I know, I've got to stop. We're going to start implementing the new plan next Friday so in the mean time, I'm trying not to go straight to nursing when she wakes up at night. I'm just being selfish because I love having that extra sleep but I have to teach her how to fall asleep without me.

I'm really sensitive about the whole situation. I feel like I'm a good mother but this is one area that I've really failed so far. Gulp!

[almondeyes26]

You haven't failed! Everyone does whats best for them! You might want to try having her nap in her crib. Then start her in her crib at the beginning of nights. You could stay with her till she falls asleep, my little man loves to fall asleep with music on. Then she could always come back in to bed in the middle of the night at first. I don't know how you feel but I couldn't let my son cry it out. Not possible for me but I do admire those who can, they get sleep!! Anyway what I'm saying is start slowly and work her into it. It might take longer but it won't be as painful. Just an idea. Good Luck!

[meg12]

We started putting her in her crib for both naps and nighttime last week. With mixed results! She is starting the night in the crib but I take her into bed with me around 5 or 6 am---it just works better. She cries whenever we put her in the crib...at first for quite a while but the last few days its been more like only 5-10 minutes. It is still hard, but we're trying to get used to it! We had her 1 year check up yesterday and the doctor was really supportive about it--she basically said that every baby is different and if Lucy isn't ready to sleep on her own then so be it. We can try again later. That gave me the confidence to really make this work (seems weird, but somehow knowing if it doesn't work we can always go back made me feel stronger!)

Well, off to try to get her to take a nap!