So we're definitely in a much better place than we have been in DS's life with sleeping now. He sleeps in his own bed, usually wakes 1-2 times a night (typically close to the morning) and has even slept through the night a handfull of times.
My question is-- It still takes FOREVER to get him to sleep at night. We have a consistent routine of reading books, cuddling in bed, then Daddy holds him on the bed until he is asleep. But he still fights it pretty bad, and it can take up to an hour of the holding on the bed (after 30 minutes of reading, cuddling) before he finally falls asleep. For naps, I typically rock him to sleep in 15-30 minutes, but that is becoming incredibly uncomfortable with my growing belly and his 31 pounds! We are having a new baby in November, and my DH goes out of town for work 1-2 nights a week, and there is no way I can spend 1.5 hours + getting DS1 to sleep at night.
I would like to continue with the reading/cuddling before bedtime, but is there any way I can gently/slowly over the next couple months push him towards falling asleep by himself? Also, he seems to be more stimulated by our presence there, as he tries to talk/play with us while putting him to sleep.
FWIW, he is 23 months old and very verbal (400+ words, speaks in 5 word sentences, etc). While nightweaning at 19 months, we did a slow version of the Jay Gordon method, and he went from waking every hour to nurse to sleeping 5-8 hour stretches with no tears. So I know if I gently push him towards this it is possible because he understands what I say and he can adapt to change. I just don't know how to go about it.
Any advice or words of wisdom are appreciated! Thanks Mamas!
My question is-- It still takes FOREVER to get him to sleep at night. We have a consistent routine of reading books, cuddling in bed, then Daddy holds him on the bed until he is asleep. But he still fights it pretty bad, and it can take up to an hour of the holding on the bed (after 30 minutes of reading, cuddling) before he finally falls asleep. For naps, I typically rock him to sleep in 15-30 minutes, but that is becoming incredibly uncomfortable with my growing belly and his 31 pounds! We are having a new baby in November, and my DH goes out of town for work 1-2 nights a week, and there is no way I can spend 1.5 hours + getting DS1 to sleep at night.
I would like to continue with the reading/cuddling before bedtime, but is there any way I can gently/slowly over the next couple months push him towards falling asleep by himself? Also, he seems to be more stimulated by our presence there, as he tries to talk/play with us while putting him to sleep.
FWIW, he is 23 months old and very verbal (400+ words, speaks in 5 word sentences, etc). While nightweaning at 19 months, we did a slow version of the Jay Gordon method, and he went from waking every hour to nurse to sleeping 5-8 hour stretches with no tears. So I know if I gently push him towards this it is possible because he understands what I say and he can adapt to change. I just don't know how to go about it.
Any advice or words of wisdom are appreciated! Thanks Mamas!
I just told him he needed to go to sleep and that I would be sitting on the floor, and he rolled around for about 15 minutes and he FELL ASLEEP!
