Is this a normal phase?

[JMJ]

DD just turned 1 and doesn't want to sleep cuddled up to me much anymore. When she's done nursing, she crawls or rolls away from me until she finds another comfortable space to lie down and then sleeps there for an hour or 2 or even more. It means I'm getting bigger chunks of sleep than the 30 minute segments I've been getting all along so far, but when she gets hungry, she has to wake up more of the way to find the milk, and I have to wake up more of the way to help her. I feel like before, we pretty much all slept through the night while snacking all the while. Now, we're dealing with actual night wake-ups. Is this a stage that she'll get over? Is this a phase as she gains more sleep independence? What have your experiences been?

[nola79]

IME, my son started wiggling away and sleeping longer, BUT he was also not waking to eat. So, take that with a grain of salt. What I did was put him in his own bed (I don't know if that is something you even want to do) because it seemed like that's what he wanted. As soon as he had his own space, he slept through the night. Even though he wasn't waking to eat, we were waking each other up moving all around the bed.

[Kiwiontheloose]

Nola - can I ask how old your son was when you tried him in his own bed?

[briome]

I think it certainly can be 'natural' for some children. Both of my boys did display some need for a little space at this age too. They were both gently nightweaned at this age too (one 11m the other nearer 13 due to each of their preferences, needs) I this this 'window' you were given can be used to move them to their own surface/nightwean or cut out a few nursings if you so desire it.

WE did a very gradual removal from our bed. We had our bed low to the floor at one point and had a toddler bed right next to my side of the bed. So when (my oldest) did wake up he just climbed over into my side. This was usually halfway through the night, then he slept next to me the rest of the night. A number of months later we moved his bed a little farther away so when he woke up he would have to walk over. At some point (I forget now) he moved into his own room and if he woke up distressed his dad or I would go over and lay with him untill her fell back asleep. This worked for my first child and how we like our space to sleep.

You sound like you WANT him near you. I think that is great. Maybe just have his own 'little bed' area right next to yours or something so he can have his space when he wants it but you are still right near also.
There are so many possible ways to do sleep!

My

[Louisep]

My son did this at one year also but it coincided with night weaning and he was waking less often.

[JMJ]

I do like cuddling with her at night, and I don't like coming all the way awake when she gets hungry. She still nurses every half hour or so during the day with only a few stretches over an hour, and until very recently, it has been the same at night. Now, it's just a few times a night, maybe 3-5. We have a sidecarred crib that she's been scooting herself into, or if I go all the way up against the crib, she can get enough space between DH and me. I don't think she's ready for night weaning yet. I would imagine that the night nursing would diminish more slowly. Maybe it's just a temporary thing. I just want to accept it and her if she's to the point that she needs a little more of her own sleeping space.