[Beauchamp]

My DD (11 mo) *cries* and either sits up, flops around, or lays still and cries. (She wakes frequently, I might add.) She waits for me to come get her. She doesn't come find me, root around, and latch on. If I don't get to her right away, she cries harder. She doesn't seem to calm down even if I whisper to her that it's okay, or pull her against my body, cuddle, etc, before we nurse. We nurse for almost every waking. Sometimes I can get away with rubbing her back or leg/bum, after I have flipped her onto her side and changed her position for her. Once she's asleep, I back away as far as I can, since touch wakes her up. DH hugs his edge of the bed. Sometimes he has to leave our bed because there is just no room. (And we have a king, but DD somehow can take up the whole bed!) <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment"><br><br>
I'm not loving the way we co-sleep, so...just wondering if anyone else is like this, too? I don't think it's something to be changed, just survived, and enjoyed when I am feeling happy and/or more rested.

 

[Baby_Cakes]

Our nights were very much like yours...before we nightweaned. I don't know if that's exactly what you want to hear, but that's my experience.<br><br>
At 13/14 months, I started Jay Gordon's nightweaning plan, and we ended up with (I think) much success. We bedshare and only have a queen sized bed, so I sympathize with how a small child can take up a whole bed!<br><br>
Nightweaning didn't eliminate Nora's wake-ups. It changed them. She used to do what your LO does - cry if I didn't come to her, or put her in the right position to nurse, etc. Nothing helped - shushing, holding, etc.<br><br>
At first, I got up and rocked her. Every. Single. Time. she woke up. Gawd, those few nights were awful! If she woke more than 3 times, I would hand her off to DH, and he would do whatever he needed to do to help her sleep. The earlier I handed her over to him, the better for everyone involved. More often than not, if she went to the living room with him at 2 or 3 am, she would *sleep straight through* until 730 or 8 am! That was UNHEARD of for her at 12 months (with me).<br><br>
Once she was doing this consistently (about 2 weeks later) I brought her back in the bed w/me. Miraculously, when she would wake up, all I had to do was snuggle her -- the way Daddy did.<br><br>
Now (at 19 mo) if/when she wakes at night (and it's usually just once at around 430 am) she will crawl on top of either me or DH and just fall back asleep. No fussing, normally. Obviously no need to nurse or anything. Just to snuggle, make sure we're still there, etc.<br><br>
Anyway, I know you said you didn't want to change anything, but I figured I would share anyway. My DD was *exactly* the same as your LO at that age! I could have written your post. Just know you aren't alone and as long as you guys are surviving, keep it up. Even if you don't nw or force change at any point, you are doing something great by bedsharing/cosleeping!! <3

 

[Emmery'sMom]

Yep- our nights were much like yours. I could never NOT nurse her- refusal would shatter her. My DH had only slept in the same bed with us 2 or 3 times before her 1st bday. Around 13 months he started sleeping with us a bit more regularly but still not every night.<br><br>
I agree things may change for you if you night-wean. I tried night-weaning about 6 weeks ago and it was no-go then...I lasted all of about 2 minutes because she was not havin' it and was so upset. Hysterical crying for any amount of time was a deal breaker for me so I gave up the idea of night-weaning for a while.<br><br>
Now at 15-almost 16 months we just started the night-weaning process for real, and it's gone really well so far. No tears just a little upset with me, less sleep for me (it's easier to just roll over and nurse), but already fewer night wakings for her. This is night #5.