How Night Weaning is (Not) Going

Way back when The Gnome was almost a year old, I decided to night wean him. I was completely over the middle of the night feedings. I was going to do it just after his first birthday. And then his nursing and sleeping patterns changed. It was a huge change for him. And for me. It was a lovely 3 weeks. I felt… free!

But just like everything else with kids, it changed 5 minutes later. He went back to nursing constantly and needing to be on top of me to sleep. We would have to wear him in the Boba and walk for a minimum of 30 minutes each night, sometimes up to 2 hours. Something had to give. We were going crazy.

I thought that transitioning him to one nap would make him more tired and help him fall asleep easier. I was right! It worked! Sleep battles were a thing of the past. He started falling asleep a little too easily though.

I decided to take advantage of his sleepiness by moving him into his toddler bed when he was really tired instead of our bed. I started off with his toddler bed in his room and tried to put him in there for naps. I never thought it would work. Ever. This kid has slept with us for the past 16 months even though we fought against cosleeping from day one. It just wasn’t going to work.

It worked! He started taking his naps in his bed! By himself! After a week of this, we decided to start him off in his bed each night. We aren’t ready for him to be in a different room. It’s hard enough to have him in a different bed. I had to nag Hubby for almost a month to move The Gnome’s bed into our room because he wasn’t ready to move him out of our bed. But based off of The Gnome’s cues, it is time to start transitioning him. He’s ready, even if we aren’t.

Once Hubby finally moved The Gnome’s toddler bed into our room (it’s at the foot of our bed), we started him off there each night. Usually Hubby puts him to sleep after his bath each night while I clean up the kitchen and do laundry. We just lay him down in his bed, read him a short story, and then pat his back until he falls asleep. No more nursing to sleep. No more wearing him in the Boba. No more walking and no more rocking. He falls asleep so much easier now.

The first night he stayed in his bed for 20 minutes before moving into ours. The second night was 30 minutes. We’re up to a couple of hours or more each night now. We always bring him into our bed if he wakes up fussing. Our goal is to help him form good sleeping habits. We want him to know that if he needs us, we’re right here.

The Gnome is back to taking 2 naps most days. They’re shorter, but he falls asleep much easier than before, so I am okay with that. He’ll transition when he’s ready. The important thing is that he is transitioning to his own bed, happily. He’s been in there for the past hour and a half tonight and I’ve gotten to write and schedule this post!

Do you bedshare? Have you transitioned a child into their own bed? How did you do it? If you enjoy reading about The Gnome & his family, like us on Facebook, add us on Google+, and follow us on twitter! While you’re at it… check out our Networked Blogs box in the right sidebar!