I did it. I broke up with cosleeping. I just couldn’t take it anymore! I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE snuggling with Austin SO MUCH, but it was getting to difficult. My parents are reluctant to watch him in the evenings because no one but me can get him to go to sleep. He’ll be up at 9 or 10 o’clock when I get home because he just won’t go down. Plus, even though, like I said, I love the snuggles, I HAD to lay down with him every time I needed him to sleep. And while some times that is great to take that time with him and decompress a bit, sometimes it was a huge pain in the butt. And sometimes I just can’t stand his kicking me and fighting the sleep and pulling my hair and everything. It just gets a bit overwhelming some times. So I decided, it was time. If I ever want a chance at a social life, I MUST do this.
So, I brought out the pack and play.
The first night he cried. I stayed in their with him and sang and patted him until he fell asleep. He was in a new place, so I wanted him to go to sleep knowing he was okay. Then the next day at nap I sat with him for a little while and then left. It was daylight so he could see his surroundings and knew he wasn’t in a scary place. He cried a lot. I went in a couple times to check on him and kiss him. I never raised my voice, I was always really sweet and told him it was time for him to sleep in his big boy bed, I loved him, I was so proud of him. He was just really mad and upset. After doing this a couple times I sat there with him until he went to sleep. That night he went down a lot easier.
The next day? Went to sleep on his own and only cried a few minutes.
The day after that? Not a whimper. And he slept THROUGH THE NIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 18 MONTHS.
It’s been amazing. He still nurses at night before bed so we have our cuddle time. we snuggle a bit, then I put him in the bed and give him kisses and sing his lullaby. He cried when I get up from the pack and play to the door, but as soon as I close the door he stops and goes to sleep.
Some nights he wakes up once around midnight and I just shhhhhhhh him and he goes back to sleep. He’ll wake up again between 3-6 and I put him in the bed with me and we snuggle until he’s ready to get up, which is never when *I* want to get up ;) Although last night I woke up at like 3 and he was in the bed with me. I’m sure I got him out of his bed, but I sure don’t remember it!
I cherish our cosleeping relationship, but I am glad it’s changed a bit. It was time for both of us. We still get our snuggles but now I have more time to get things done that I need to get done. And he’s learning to soothe himself a bit. He obviously has just been fighting sleep when I’m in the bed with him and has no problem going to sleep with out me.
Such a big boy! *tear*
Snoozin' in the pack 'n play!
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Awww, what a big boy! We stopped co-sleeping this past January when Bubba turned 3. When he was 18-19 months I had to night wean him for my sanity! Since then it was pretty smooth sailing but at 3 years old, it was just time for him to start sleeping on his own. Even though he slept all night and Joe and I still absolutely loved it, we just wanted him to start being independent with sleeping so as to avoid a problem later down the road. He transitioned so smooth as well. Totally surprised us. Before you know it, Austin will be 3,4,5. They grow up so fast. I hate it! It could by by just a teeeeeny bit slower!
PS I haven’t seen your blog other than on my iphone in a LONG time. It’s super cute! Love the new design.
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Thanks! I’m about to change it again though, so look at it a little harder… ;) lol!
We recently moved our 20 month old to his own room. He had been in our bedroom, sleeping in a folding style crib. He used to lay down quietly until he fell asleep but now we are having a hard time getting him to sleep without laying down with him first, then moving him to his crib. If we lay him down he climbs right out of his crib and knocks on his door until we come get him. I am wondering if a pack and play might be a better option since those are harder to climb out of. Has yours be able to escape from his? Ours is just not ready for a toddler bed nor is my 4 yr old ready to give it up :)
No he hasn’t escaped! I’m surprised because he is a climbing machine! And he has a pillow and a 3ish inch foam mattress in it, so it isn’t even as deep as it could be.
I’ve totally just jinxed myself, I’m sure! LOL
Did your P & P come with that mattress or did you purchase seperately?
I hope you have many more months of no climbing out!
Just had a well, duh moment! The mattress in our folding crib is the same as a pack and play mattress. Boy do I need more sleep!
Thanks for sharing your story. We are trying out the pack and play for nap time today.
oh yaay! Perfect!!
No it’s a foam mattress that’s a lot like an egg-crate foam thingy. It was twin size and I cut it to fit in the pack n play
we’re sort of trying to get ready to do the same. our son will be 18mos in a couple weeks. he has weaned so we aren’t nursing at least at night. that’s helped some with sleep. he’s just such a hard teether and still getting his incisors in, i kind of want to wait to get serious about it until they are in. i do love his sweet snuggles and kisses, not so much the kicking and hair pulling, though ;-) LOL also being that we have a baby #3 coming first of Nov, would be ideal to have him solid in his own bed a few months before that.
sleep is just a pipe dream for us i’m afraid!! =)
Twitter: mamacavy
June 17, 2011 at 11:58 am
I love how the transition goes so well when you’re both ready. That’s how it was for us too!
Twitter: RiGatorMom
June 20, 2011 at 7:20 pm
I’m glad the transition is going smoothly! I know it is hard at first, but you will both sleep much better now. You’re such a great Mama! :)
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We never did the co-sleeping thing (other than perhaps the odd early morning wake-up when we put the baby into our bed to try to get a little more sleep). We found that everyone sleeps best when we’re all in our own beds, in our own rooms. That’s just what works for us.
I’m so glad it was a painless transition for you both. We wanted to cosleep for the first few months, but that just didn’t happen! Sometimes I will nap with Sweet T though and that’s nice. It’s about the only time she’s still enough to snuggle!
Sounds like it was a great, easy transition. We are co-sleeping but my munchkin is still so young. I always planned to co-sleep for 9-12 months but I am not sure if we’ll make it. She’s a really terrible sleeper, though honestly, I don’t think the co-sleeping is the problem. I hate to give it up, because I love having her there.
Found you on the Cloth Diapering Mamas link up!
Brandi from Three Fabulous Mommies
We’re doing this now. The first night is now. Amber’s become more and more unsettled with the cosleeping and more and more tired as a result. Poor thing has bags under her eyes! Anyway, we actually got a plan from the sleep consultant Emily from Baby Dickey mentioned.
Anyway, I’m now surfing the web to calm my nerves and this really helped. So thank you… and I’m so sorry about your personal life situation thing. That sucks.