Any ideas on how to move my co-sleeping, nursing 9 month old baby into her crib at last with out too much trauma?

Jennifer - posted on 01/22/2009

I nursed my daughter as well, and co-slept until she was four or five months old. I did the CIO method, though I would go back in the room and briefly soothe her if she cried longer than ten minutes. My opinion is that, at this age, they are old enough to understand that when it's bedtime, they stay in their own crib and go to sleep. I think it's unlikely that there won't be any crying, especially since she is as old is she is. I would suggest "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth. Good luck!

Julie - posted on 01/22/2009

Thanks for all the great ideas. I do have the crib in our room. I will try the "little naps' first and then move to overnight when she seems to have made that transition well.

Thanks again!

Arwen - posted on 01/17/2009

I am starting to think about this same thing with my 7.5 month old. I was going to try moving the crib to our bedroom, choosing some "go to sleep" music to add to our bedtime routine and then to start by moving her to the crib after she falls asleep. I think I often feed her at night when she is just stirring and would naturally fall back to sleep on her own. I think the crib might help me test this theory. I'll let you know how it works, although it may take me quite a while. I'm still in the thinking stage. :-)

Jen - posted on 01/16/2009

I agree with starting with naps in the crib during the day. That's what I had to do with my nine month old baby.

Just recently I also cut the nighttime nursing.  I will feed the baby with the lights on. Then, when she's done eating, we read books. (I used to read than feed.)  I put her in her crib after book time. She has a mobile that plays. She also has a blanket. For Christmas, she got an elephant that plays music when you pull its tail. I'm trying to get her to learn to do that herself to self sooth.  

To get through the transition from nighttime nursing to sleeping without, I offered her a bottle of water but did all of the same comfort routines as normal. Then, after a few nights, she didn't want the water.  I would go in, tell her I love her, pat her back, and start the music. I would NOT pick her up.  (Unless she was distressed/coughing. I can tell when she's getting too worked up.)  There were some tears, but we're both adjusting. 

Just this week she slept an entire night without needing me! It was a first!!!!

Good luck!

Tracey - posted on 01/16/2009

I went a away for a weekend with by hubby and left my nursing 13month old daughter with my sister. The first night she said my daughter was restless but easy after that, three days later i arrived back and my daughter as never asked for boob again.  Still sleeping with her in her single bed though, shes now 16 months old, something i plan to change when i get the courage, so can't answer your question fully....... good luck

Kandice - posted on 01/16/2009

i agree with the spurts in her bed at night try doing this  and this is time consuming and may get frustrating but it can work.. sit next to the bed the first night in the dark do not take the baby out if shes feed and ready for bed she dosent need out  after the first night everynite afterwards start going closer to the door  and after about a week or so she should be comfotable enough to go to bed without you ..

Sarah - posted on 01/16/2009

The first thing is to stop nursing. I know it is hard i had three of them but to get them out of your bed you have to stop. at that age it is hard to stop nursing but once you have stopped your baby will learn to go back to sleep and ma even sleep longer when she is alone. One other thing you can do is warm up her bed with a hot water bottle and leave it with her most of the night it helps her think that there is someone with her.

Sarah - posted on 01/16/2009

The first thing is to stop nursing. I know it is hard i had three of them but to get them out of your bed you have to stop. at that age it is hard to stop nursing but once you have stopped your baby will learn to go back to sleep and ma even sleep longer when she is alone. One other thing you can do is warm up her bed with a hot water bottle and leave it with her most of the night it helps her think that there is someone with her.

Kristina - posted on 01/16/2009

Cuddle one of  her toys so that it smells of you and then place it with her in the crib and when wakes up in the night only offer a bottle of water, Better if partner is able to offer it so she cant smell milk or just associate you with nursing back to sleep.  Good luck

Jessica - posted on 01/16/2009

as hard as it slowly get your little one used to there bed. get them to sleep if they wake up get up and get them back to sleep and put them back to bed. once used to that get them to bed by patting them then once used to that sit next to them without touching. slowly make your way out of the room soon enough you will be able to get them to sleep with out assistance. i know its hard because you nurse and YES you will lose sleep but it can be done. i nursed mine till he was 2 and i manged to do it you can too!!!

Ashley - posted on 01/16/2009

You could always put milk in a bottle and then put her to sleep with that and then evetually slowly take away the bottle at night. Or something for her to look at like a favorite toy or something that sometimes works as well. distraction is the key. She will evetually get tired dont let her win though. When you put her in the crib I would suggest just popping in the room every once in a while to fix her but other then that leaving her till she is sleeping. It makes you kind of tired for the first day or so but if it works then it shouldnt be long till she realizes that is were she sleeps.

Katie - posted on 01/16/2009

We have a thing that plays soothing sounds for our daughter. It has a waterfall/jungle sounds and softly plays lullabyes. It plays for 15 minutes and puts her right to sleep most nights. We found it at Walmart in the baby section.

Melissa - posted on 01/16/2009

Both my babies sleep with me too. But what has work with my second son is this mobile that converts to a table lamp it's by fisher-price ocean wonders and it plays music and displays fish and stars on the ceiling which plays for a long time and the best thing about it, comes with a remote so you can sneak at door and turn it back on for her. You could also start with the crib in your room and put her in it.

Caitlin - posted on 01/16/2009

You could start by putting her in the crib for her naps during the day. But don't nurse her to sleep for naps and let her fall asleep on her own (even if she has to cry her way to sleep). I was told once, "crying never killed a baby," and my son is sleeping well.

Put some of her stuffed animals or favorite blankets in the crib so she recognizes something and feels comforted. When she's comfortable, she will sleep better.

After she can take naps in her crib, try putting her in there for overnight. Have the crib in your room if it's possible; you can always move it into her designated room later. She may only sleep for a few hours overnight, but try not to nurse her to sleep. If you have a rocking chair or are okay with walking around to comfort her, try that. At 8.5 mo, my son is just finally letting me hold him to sleep, while I pat his back or bottom.

It's going to be hard but I know you can do it! It'll be safer for her since she can't crawl out of the crib. Just keep with it! Good luck!

Elizabeth - posted on 01/16/2009

My 14 month old still sleeps with us and I'm in the same boat you are in... I really like the 3-4 hour spurts suggestion...  I'm going to try that myself!  Good luck... my advice is don't wait until she's 14 months old like we did... it was a big mistake!

Frankie - posted on 01/16/2009

Julie, It is hard but do it now before they become a toddler. My 3 year old is still sneaking into our bed at night. We co-slept for the 1st year and by the time we moved him to his crib he could climb out of it. Just keep at it and always return the baby back to the crib.

Sally - posted on 01/16/2009

hi julie music workd a treat but u play the same cd everytimr my lucy listens to wedding songs everynight. They soothe the baby everytime Lucy slepps between 6-7 hours traight every night. Can't complain she is only 2 and half months old sally from qz 

Meredith - posted on 01/16/2009

Put the baby in the crib in 3-4 hour spurts. You will lose some sleep initially but slowly but surely the baby will get used to the crib. In addition, is the crib in your room? That helps too.