Going to Sleep without Help - Page 2

[Katie T]

IMO 9 months is too young. But I do think it depends on the child. My first child couldn't go to sleep on her own till around 4 41/2yrs. My son will every now and then (he will just walk back to the bed and I find him asleep strange lol) and has done this rarely for about 6m. I have a 21m and she is no where near going to sleep in her own.

I always tell myself someday they won't want mom laying with them so I try to cherish these days, but on nights like last night where it took 1 1/2hrs because they were overtired it's hard to remember.

[penstamon]

My DS is just about 9 mo too and has been a poor sleeper since he was around 2.5 mo. He is a frequent night waker and nap fighter but we have had some slow and steady progress lately. While I still nurse him to sleep each night and pat his back if he stirs, he has begun to fall asleep for the majority of naps on his own with no CIO. I wait until I see the first string of yawns/rubbing eyes and then put him down with white noise. He generally talks or rolls around for about 5 minutes and then passes out. If he starts to fuss I just go back in and calm him but leave again before he is fully asleep. I don't know if this is helping him sleep longer stretches at night, but it seems plausible. Before starting this routine I would always nurse him or pat him to sleep and he would fight it. This way we are both happier, he is sleeping more, and I feel like I have a tiny bit more freedom.