Moving a Co-Sleeping Toddler to His Own Bed: Prologue
Index of Moving a Co-Sleeper to His Own Bed
- Moving a Co-Sleeping Toddler to His Own Bed: Prologue
- Moving a Co-Sleeping Toddler to His Own Bed: Day 1
- Moving a Co-Sleeping Toddler to His Own Bed: Day 2
WRITTEN ON SEPT. 29, 2009
The past month has been horrendous! We’ve been trying to wean Jack-Evan from daytime breastfeeding since the beginning of September. He’s nearly 17 months old now, and although I had planned to go longer, my body is just giving out. Since we learned of baby #2 a couple weeks ago (Sept. 15), I’ve also begun weaning him from nighttime feedings (we co-sleep). It’s just not in me to produce enough energy to make a new baby and to keep nursing a toddler. I’m giving out…drying up…withering away. Or at least, well, it feels like that. Plus it’s beginning to hurt.
The daytime weaning is semi “ok”. Jack still cries a bit when I deny him, but not as loud or as often anymore as he did in the beginning. A few weeks ago, you would have thought the world just ended based on the howl he would let out upon hearing “no!”. Now, however, it’s the night time that we’re having troubles with. For the past few weeks, Jack-Evan has been waking up more than 4 times per night - every night! - crying for “Nu Nu” (his word for nursing). Of course, when I deny him, it gets reeeealllly bad. Then he’s up, trying to crawl over the king size bed, bopping his poor daddy in the nose, and refusing to go to sleep. He can’t be comforted, he can’t be consoled, he won’t be touched. All he wants is his nu-nu, and he can’t understand why I’m no longer giving in…especially since he’s demand fed his whole life.
I’m just tired. Kevin’s tired (he gets up at 5 am to head to work).
Jack-Evan is tired.
Something has got to be done.
Soon.
I'm a quirky SAHM to 1.5 kids, lover of family, laughing, cloudless days, & chocolate mini bites. When I'm not reliving childhood through my toddler, you'll probably find me with my nose in a book or MP3 headphones in my ears. Sometimes both.
I would love tips on what’s working for you. I’m in a similar situation-I have a 20 month old son, has always nursed on demand, sleeps with us, and have baby number 2 on the way. I had planned on child led weaning, but like you, I feel exhausted, my milk is dwindling away, and him nursing makes me even more nauseas. We have just separated him 2 nights ago. I sleep in the bed alone. My husband works with our son through the night. He’s had to take him on drives to get him to sleep. Then he’ll wake and cry and point to the bedroom and say night-night. He’s ended up sleeping mostly in the recliner in the living room. He screams hysterically if he’s placed in his crib-always has. I’m experiencing so many emotions listening to him cry throughout the night in disbelief that this is the way he’s being weaned. I just lay in bed and pray a lot. Well, I wish I had some tips for you, but unfortunately I’m another mother out there sharing in your struggles. Thinking of you.