Transition to big girl bed, nightweaning advice

[Wendlynnn]

Hi Mamas,

We partial co-sleep with our almost 3 yr old DD. She starts off in her own crib and comes into our bed between 12-2am. I nurse her to sleep (though there was a period like 4 months ago that she was nursing and then laying down in her crib to go to sleep with me next to her on the floor - this took a LOT longer than nursing). During the night there is a nursing blackout until about 4am and then I nurse her off and on until about 6:30 when we wake.

Now she is getting too big for her crib and we're contemplating getting her a big girl bed. I'd love to use this time to transition her to regularly falling asleep off the boob and in her bed and also possibly ending all the night nursing as well. Not sure if I should keep a morning nursing, will probably keep a before bed one - just don't want her to fall asleep that way.

DH and I would like her to spend more of the night in her own bed. I also would like DH to be able to put her to sleep sometimes.

Any advice on how to make these transitions? Am I trying to do too much at once or is this a good use of a new situation?

Thanks!

[abm79]

Although I know some people would advocate doing it all at once to get it
all over with, I think you may be very right that it's a LOT for your little
girl to take in.  Each one of those changes is a pretty big adjustment in a
toddler's life and you want to make sure she remains comfortable and feeling
secure during these transitions.  I would start with weaning her off the
boob to fall asleep as that will make the other transitions easier.  You
could start by letting her feed, but as soon as she starts to doze, take her
off the boob and try rocking with her to sleep.  And slowly start taking her
off earlier and earlier.  And once she's off the boob, it may just be lying
down with her in her bed for a bit will help get her used to sleeping in her
own bed (and with a big girl bed that should be more doable).   

Most of all, just make sure she knows you're always there for her during
this time because it will be stressful for her 

Good luck!
 

[ssh]

No advice, I nursed on demand. But both mine weaned themselves before age 4. My oldest was 3.5 and my youngest was a couple months away from turning 4. They were both co-sleeping at 3 too. My oldest was in her own bed but still in my room by 4 and my youngest decided she liked her own bed in her own room right after turning 4. So your DD could be closer to doing all these transitions on her own anyway. I do think it's too much for you do all at once. Though my DD made all those transitions within two months own her own. It was a very sudden spurt of independence.