I posted back in June how we were working on the transition from co-sleeping to own room with our youngest daughter. She has been sleeping with us since birth and the last update I mentioned I was hoping to have her transitioned by 18months.
I very much believe in child-led parenting with some gentle guidance. We were not forcing her out but taking her cues for wanting independence and working with what helped her sleep better. She was showing interest and readiness. Slept through the night without waking to breastfeed, interest in her room so after about 3 weeks, we moved her floor bed out and into her own room across the hall.
We had her mattress on the floor in our room and she was sleeping on that for quite some time. To move her into her own room – we kept everything on her ‘bed’ the same and just move it. We also had a room fan on for calming noise and were sure to move that into her room with her. It helps soothe her to sleep and she is a sound sleeper and the noise from the fan helps drown out any noise that our other two kids make.
One day (after about 3 weeks of sleeping through the night) we moved her stuff into her own room. Made sure she was in a good mood and had napped that day. Kept the whole bedtime routine the same and amazingly she ran into her room — her room after bath, not ours. She was so ready.
That first night she slept through the night (7 hours) then came into our room after that. She just crawled up on the bed and went back to sleep. Can not ask for anything better then that. It gave me 7 hours with the bed just to myself and my husband. It was also nice to have our bedroom back.
She has now been in her own room for about a month. In that time she has given up the floor bed and is now sleeping on the guest futon in that room. She sleeps better on it because it is a much bigger area, which she is used to. Sure there are some nights that she is in the bed with us (like tonight because she has the flu) and she does still come into our room to cuddle in the early morning. This is the best of both worlds for me. I love that we were able to softly transition her – on her own terms and it was with a time frame that we were okay with too.
So, now the space in my room that used to house her bed is now a second place for me to blog and house my collection of obsession (MAC make up). We have a nice corner desk here and it’s nice to have the space.
I also love that she walks right in and crawls into my arms every morning too. Love it.
:: What was behind your decision to co-sleep or not co-sleep? ::
Editied to add: October 4, 2010: E now sleeps in her room from 9:30pm through to 8:00am. She goes to sleep happy and wakes up happy. Fully transitioned now (unless she is sick). Gently done on her own terms with no CIO and it was a natural transition.
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That is great!! It is hard sometimes to get them in their own room!! We have started that with our 5th – who is almost 11 months – but ready!
Sounds like a great transition!
Wow it sounds like you are very in tune with little baby E – what a smooth transition. My boy has been sleeping through the night for months, but recently has been waking nearly every night – I hope we can get through our current nighttime disruption as well as you have made your transition.
Amber
Can you come help me transition mine? He is 19 months and I am ready to have my bed back to myself with Hubbs! I actually didn't meant to co-sleep, it happened on accident. I loved snuggling up to him, especially when the husband is gone 4 out of 7 days a week.
But now I have created a monster. We took down his crib around the 12 month mark, as he never slept in it except for the occasional nap. We made a toddler bed for him (thanks to the DIY post from Mommywords) and he took to that like a champ. He knows it is where we go after bath and reading. Only thing is…he has to nurse. See? A monster…a boobie monster. Once he falls he will stay asleep anywhere from an hour to 2. A few times he has stayed asleep up to 4 hours but inevitably he always comes to our bed and I am just too lazy to walk him back to his bed. I guess this really falls on me.
When he wakes and Hubbs attempts to calm and get him back to sleep, all heck breaks loose. He screams bloody murder and works himself into quite a fit. After about 10 minutes I can take it and give in to putting him down myself.
When he is in our bed, he nurses less and less as the night progressed and mostly for comfort. The only time it isn't for comfort seems to be when he is teething.
Anyway…I'd gladly take any and all advice. I feel like a failure at times because I have a toddler who doesn't sleep through the night!