I am thinking about moving ds (20 months) to his own room. He has co-slept since birth. He now has his bed pushed up against our bed. He still nurses one or two times a night. Our rooms are joined together, so he will still be right next to us. I think I will put a little sleeping bag on the floor right next to our bed. I just want to move him now, so he doesn't associate it with the baby. Any suggestions on to make this a smooth transition would be great,
moving ds
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It was much different with us. Our dd was 4, she was sleeping in our room because she really had some problems with her room. She didn't start being in our room until she was 2 1/2, when we moved. But we let her pick out things, sheets, curtains, she had a curtain thing that went over her bed, like a princess...We made it into a really special thing. And then when we moved our youngest, it was because again, we had moved, and we couldn't fit the two beds in the room. But it was different because she got to sleep with sister. That was a big deal. Of course, she still comes into our room at night, slowly it is getting to not be until 5 or so, but there are still the occaisonal 230 comes into our room and wants to nurse all night. I know some people co sleep with more than 1 child, but I really don't think it is safe with my younger dd. She is about violent in her sleep. Kicks, lays on people, climbs all over. It is very important for me for her not to be in bed with a newborn.
But anyway, getting a little off. I would put the bed up, have him pick out sheets, maybe a new stuffy. Start with naps, if he still takes them. And sleep in there with him at first. And never say too much about sleeping there at night. Maybe every few nights say, would you like to go sleep in your new room? You can always come back here if you want to. Don't say anything about getting scared. Sometimes I think we put ideas in our kids heads. After awhile I am sure he will go to his room like it was his idea. It is an insanely slow transtion, but it was important for us that it wasn't tramatic. I don't want for it to back fire on us a month after the baby is born.
But anyway, getting a little off. I would put the bed up, have him pick out sheets, maybe a new stuffy. Start with naps, if he still takes them. And sleep in there with him at first. And never say too much about sleeping there at night. Maybe every few nights say, would you like to go sleep in your new room? You can always come back here if you want to. Don't say anything about getting scared. Sometimes I think we put ideas in our kids heads. After awhile I am sure he will go to his room like it was his idea. It is an insanely slow transtion, but it was important for us that it wasn't tramatic. I don't want for it to back fire on us a month after the baby is born.
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Uuhhh... what Valerie said!
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I'm wanting to do the same thing with Aiden (who is about 20 months now), but I'm not sure how to go about it yet. I'm kinda waiting til my milk drys up (if it's the same as with my last pg, it should be in the next month or two) to help discourage night nursing dependancy. With Ian we started MUCH earlier (6-8 months) and I just slept in there with him when I went to sleep at midnight-2am (night owls here). By the time he was 18 months I was teaching him to walk into our room at night if he needed us instead of me coming to get him & staying with him. He resisted for a few weeks off & on (he wanted me to come into his room), but I knew once the new baby came along that would be impossible, so I held firm.
Anywho, I'd definitely start with naptimes, and if you can have your dh be a large part of the transition -- since he'll probably be picking up at least some of the nighttime parenting duties once dc2 arrives. This didn't work out with us as ds1 is insanely attached to me, so we just sort of stumbled through the first couple weeks, and then ds1 went back to being pasted up against my (other) side at night -- but he was nightweaned at that point so that was easier. Now he usually comes in around 5am, (although sometimes it's earlier) has his morning nurse & conks out for another couple hours or so.
The other option would be to have your ds sleep next to your dh instead (depending on placement & bed size. In any case it will help if you make sure your ds is also utterly exhausted when he goes to sleep -- maybe some time at a pool or waterpark, etc. Just some ideas -- good luck!
Anywho, I'd definitely start with naptimes, and if you can have your dh be a large part of the transition -- since he'll probably be picking up at least some of the nighttime parenting duties once dc2 arrives. This didn't work out with us as ds1 is insanely attached to me, so we just sort of stumbled through the first couple weeks, and then ds1 went back to being pasted up against my (other) side at night -- but he was nightweaned at that point so that was easier. Now he usually comes in around 5am, (although sometimes it's earlier) has his morning nurse & conks out for another couple hours or so.
The other option would be to have your ds sleep next to your dh instead (depending on placement & bed size. In any case it will help if you make sure your ds is also utterly exhausted when he goes to sleep -- maybe some time at a pool or waterpark, etc. Just some ideas -- good luck!
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