Toddler Temporarily Bedsharing with Grandma (While Mom is gone). Tips for transition?

[laliu]

Not sure if anyone has any insight on this, but thought I'd give it a shot anyway!

I am due with my second child towards around two months from now. My son will be 22 months at the time and has never spent the night away from me. Normally, he sleeps between or to the side of my husband and myself. He still nurses to sleep for naps and nighttime/night time wakings (1-2 times a night.)

With my son, we spent 3 nights in the hospital away from home.... I anticipate the same stay away this time as well. Homebirth is not an option unfortunantly....

My mother has offered to care for my son while we are gone and even continue cosleeping with him as this is what he is accustomed to. Has anyone had a similar experience? If so, how if in anyway did they prep their kid for the change?

I'm worried (and now my mom is too) because DS does not even lay down for DH or cries if he tries to comfort him during the night.... not that he has ever tried very hard as he says I have the "magic weapons" for getting him to sleep. *Rolls eyes*.... there are other tools you can use as well, but that is a story for another post

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[CrazyCatLady]

My dd co-slept and night nursed for a very long time.  But when she needed to sleep at grandma's house, there were never any falling asleep issues (I doubt they went to bed on time though, it is grandma's house after all lol).  My mom was around my kids a lot and was like a second mom to them, which probably helped.  But dd even spent a couple of nights with her other grandma's who she didn't know as well, and it went fine.

Grandma's seem to have a touch. :) And my mom loves co-sleeping with her grandbabies. 

I bet it will go fine.  But you can always have a practice night or two before the birth to try it out and see what happens.

[laliu]

Thanks for your response, I appreciate hearing the experiences that your family has had. Here's to hoping that Grandma's special touch kicks in when we need it :)

[kdtmom2be]

When my DD was 14 months DH and I got married, my mom took her for the night and they co-slept, they'd spent the few days before-hand together but my parents live across the country from us. No issues.   When she was 28 months they flew with her to thier place while we drove with her baby brother, they co-slept for the 3 days it took us to drive, again, no issues.  I recall my mom saying that she was a bit teary on the third night but they cuddled and she went right to sleep.  I would agree that grandmas have the magic touch. They remember what it was like to be a mom and they love your kids. I wouldn't worry too much about it.  It's only a few days and they'll be just fine!!