Cutting out co-sleeping(19mnth) where to start?

[C-Shaw]

Thank you in advance for any help. This forum has always been helpful.

The current situation:

wake up 6.30am-milk breakfast
12-12.30 nap usually for 1.5 hours
Bed time 7-7.30pm

My little one used to go off to sleep on his own but since we've moved house likes to have his hand held. Normally takes 10mins at bedtime and he's off to sleep.over the last few days I've been doing gradual withdrawal takes him more like 30 mins to sleep after some chatting/attention seeking but I can cope with that.

My main problem is night wakings. He can wake anytime from 11pm to 3am and he's always crying stood up in his cot when I go to see him. We then cosleep until morning. Most without any issues but sometimes it's a struggle. We have enjoyed it but think that this need for comfort at the night waking may be preventing a full nights sleep.

So any advice for where to start? When cosleeping hasn't worked and I've taken him back to his cot it's been 1.5hours of settling him to sleep, which fills me with dread, however I have Easter holidays coming up to give it a go.

Thanks for any advice or help.

[*Becky*]

Do you think there is any discomfort there i.e. teething?

If it were me I would do what you do at night when he wakes so holding his hand etc but don't take him out of the cot. It might be a rough couple of days but hopefully once he knows you are not going to take him into bed things should get easier. What do you think?

[C-Shaw]

Thanks for your reply!

Glad to hear I'm doing the right thing at bed time. I think he could be in discomfort some of the time. He's not currently teething, but he does have ezcema and suffers from constipation (although we manage it with movicol). At the moment both seem to be under control and we still have night wakings. The last two nights he's asked for milk when he wakes so think I'll try porridge as a supper in case he's hungry. I understand that it will take time to change a habit-are we talking a couple of wks? I can try holding his hand in the middle of the night and keep him in the cot, but how do I manage it if he's inconsolable?

Thanks again

[*Becky*]

yes it could take up to 2 weeks I would think but hopefully will be quicker.

Do you think he has intolerances/allergies?? I know that dairy can often cause both constipation and ezcema. Not saying it is the cause but might b worth looking into.

Even if he is upset (which he will be) I would just stay with him and soothe him but try if you can not to take him out of the cot. If he gets v v upset then you can give a quick cuddle and try again.

[C-Shaw]

Thanks for the advice.

GW at bedtime has already worked. No more handholding needed. So hopefully 2 weeks will be enough to change the cosleeping habit.

I had considered an allergy but the GP hadn't mentioned cutting anything out and the health visitor advised me to increase his cows milk intake if necessary - at one point he wasn't drinking much water. He has a healthy diet, enjoys fruit and veg and now drinks water okay but constipation still comes and goes. I'll have a look into the link further. His ezcema does flare up but it's hard to pinpoint any reason. Horrible to watch him so irritated.

Thanks again

[C-Shaw]

Just another thought. Whilst we are changing routines would it be worth moving him into a bed at the same time? Or is that asking for more trouble?!

Thanks again for any advice.

[*Becky*]

I wouldn't tackle that at the same time but then again DD is nearly 3 and still in a cot so we def do things like that later than some!