Ok Preface:
I have a two year old. Unless she has a nightmare and wakes up crying in the middle of the night she sleeps in her own room. Sometimes she doesn't like it (I think it is more the having to go to bed, period, rather than sleeping in her room alone), but I usually stay in the room until she is settled and happy, but not asleep because she will continuously talk to me. She was not breastfed and I really disliked co-sleeping. She seemed to prefer her crib and has always enjoyed her own space.
Now fast forward. I have a 3 month old. She has not slept alone a moment (for night time). I love co-sleeping with her, she is EBF and is just a joy. But I am concerned. I have conflicting feelings about co-sleepig as children get older. It is not that I think it is less safe or anything, I just personally think that kids need to get used to sleeping alone (Please feel free to dispute this, just please don't attack me). I also would like to have our marital bed back at some point here. I mean, yes we still manage to DTD, but I would like full run of my bed again and to be able to sleep in comfortable positions.
My husband has agreed whole heartedly that I should stay home with the girls and breastfeed until a year. I have no desire to nurse after that during the day as I would like to get a part time job (and it is pretty much necessity). My plan was to wean Anna from day feedings first and then try to wean night feedings eventually. I am willing to continue night nursing until 18 months.
She is already STTN on her own from about 9 pm to 3,4,5 am sometimes. She will sleep in her pack and play if transferred after she is already asleep (we frequently do this when we are DTD). But I always transfer her right back into my bed as soon as we are done. SO my question is, should I start putting her in the pack and play as long as she will sleep in there and then transfer her when she wakes to eat to my bed??? Will it help her get somewhat used to sleeping alone when I make the transition when she is done nursing?
Anyone have any advice?
I have a two year old. Unless she has a nightmare and wakes up crying in the middle of the night she sleeps in her own room. Sometimes she doesn't like it (I think it is more the having to go to bed, period, rather than sleeping in her room alone), but I usually stay in the room until she is settled and happy, but not asleep because she will continuously talk to me. She was not breastfed and I really disliked co-sleeping. She seemed to prefer her crib and has always enjoyed her own space.
Now fast forward. I have a 3 month old. She has not slept alone a moment (for night time). I love co-sleeping with her, she is EBF and is just a joy. But I am concerned. I have conflicting feelings about co-sleepig as children get older. It is not that I think it is less safe or anything, I just personally think that kids need to get used to sleeping alone (Please feel free to dispute this, just please don't attack me). I also would like to have our marital bed back at some point here. I mean, yes we still manage to DTD, but I would like full run of my bed again and to be able to sleep in comfortable positions.
My husband has agreed whole heartedly that I should stay home with the girls and breastfeed until a year. I have no desire to nurse after that during the day as I would like to get a part time job (and it is pretty much necessity). My plan was to wean Anna from day feedings first and then try to wean night feedings eventually. I am willing to continue night nursing until 18 months.
She is already STTN on her own from about 9 pm to 3,4,5 am sometimes. She will sleep in her pack and play if transferred after she is already asleep (we frequently do this when we are DTD). But I always transfer her right back into my bed as soon as we are done. SO my question is, should I start putting her in the pack and play as long as she will sleep in there and then transfer her when she wakes to eat to my bed??? Will it help her get somewhat used to sleeping alone when I make the transition when she is done nursing?
Anyone have any advice?
