How do you nightwean a 2 yr old when single?

[amatarasu]

Help! I can't function much less figure out how I'm gonna bring in an income once spousal support ends. I'm getting resentful and don't want to take it out on my kids. So, need help nightweaning a 2 year old who shares his room with his 4 year old sister.

Everything I've read about nightweaning a 2 year old involves the help of dad!!! I have come very close to inviting dad over for the night but afraid of what my attorney will think! Please, mamas, give me some other options!!!

Thank you!!!

[Halfasianmomma]

Hmm, well, I nightweaned DD at 15 months, on my own, while still living with XH, because I was preparing to leave him, was working full-time, and just couldn't handle the zombie state I was constantly in.

I followed the Dr. Jay Gordon nightweaning plan, and worked it over a period of 2 weeks. There were ups and downs--some nights went well and others were horrid, but I made sure to stay on the program, and jot down how many wakeups there were every day, so I knew I was progressing. I had to do a variety of things to help DD fall back asleep (rubbing the back, shushing, singing softly, and just plain ignoring her while she yelled for 30 seconds). Also, I wore turtlenecks to bed. I kept a clock right next to me so I could comfort myself with the fact that DD had only cried x number of minutes. The only thing was that I still shared a room with DD, so she could still feel like I was present.

Perhaps for the purpose of nightweaning, you could sleep with your LO for a bit, until he's used to not waking up at night, and then focus on removing yourself from the bedroom. IMO, an early morning wake up when a LO comes to your bed is way better than 5-6 night wakings.

[root*children]

I don't understand why a partner would be involved in night weaning. I just laid down with my kids and did everything except nurse them, they cried the first few nights, but I was right there with them, rubbing their back, singing, what the last poster said. My then-partner was right there in the next room and had no interest in doing anything but sleeping, so it didn't even cross my mind that he would help with anything.

[Rosehip]

I nightweaned my DD while still with X, who was zero help. She was a bit under a year. I nightweaned DS after X had left. DS was ~ 14 months. I explained to him what was going to happen, and he was NOT happy - screaming & crying, but I didn't cave, and we made it through. He was still in my room, just no more night nursing.

[sparklefairy]

Originally Posted by root*children

I don't understand why a partner would be involved in night weaning. I just laid down with my kids and did everything except nurse them, they cried the first few nights, but I was right there with them, rubbing their back, singing, what the last poster said. My then-partner was right there in the next room and had no interest in doing anything but sleeping, so it didn't even cross my mind that he would help with anything.

Yes, this. And no partner = no one to come in and scream at both of us to STFU if there is crying.