Sleep drives

[hibiscusgirl]

I have a 19 month old who, ever since I stopped nursing him a month ago (d/t pregnancy & nursing hurting too bad), will only fall asleep while driving or in stroller. Does anyone else have a baby or has had a baby like this?

Right now it's not a problem but we are expecting in 3 months & could see it being a problem with 2. We have a bedtime routine, but we go based on signs not the clock. I am not a fan of CIO at all. He doesn't like to be rocked & does not just lie on the pillow & fall asleep. He just goes & goes & can't turn it off. Will this pass, will he eventually fall asleep on his own without the use of a car? how do you help one fall asleep on their own? obviously you can't make a baby sleep but does anyone have any suggestions or tips that worked for them in a similar situation?

thank you!

[peachopotamus]

DD is the same way. Nursing her when I was pregnant was to painful so the only other way she would fall asleep was in the car. She is now 4 and we still use the car to get her to sleep half the time. Sometimes she will fall asleep to a story but sometimes she won't stop long enough to fall asleep (usually when she is overtired)
Could you have your partner read to your LO and see if that puts him to sleep. I made sure to read long books without pictures. I have read The Catcher in the Rye or whatever I was reading at the time to her. That way there is not to much excitement and no transitioning between short books. HTH

[hibiscusgirl]

It seems like my little one can't shut it off. Nursing was such a good relax, wind down, massage time for us. I regret that we had 2 weeks of weaning & had to cut off cold turkey d/t pain & running out of milk. it seems like even if we have a routine he wont' shut it off. I am lucky that he isn't in day care & can sleep until 8 so it isn't so critical to be in bed by 7p. but with #2 on the way, driving will be really tough to do at night. It also seems like books really excite him at this age, like he has so much going on in his brain he can't shut it off. he never has been a rocker only a bouncer. but he's 34lbs so that is a little tough to do with my growing belly!