All night nurser and co-sleeper - 11 months old

[NCs Mom]

My son is 11 months old and still co-sleeps with us.  He gets up approx every hour to feed at night (which I believe is mainly for comfort).  I feel strongly again Crying it Out and need some help!  I am considering using the PU/PD method described in Tracy's Book.  Should I night wean first or do it all at once?  I am worried as I am ready to go back to work and I need my son to sleep in a crib for his nap and at night in case I travel.  Help!  Here is my schedule.

Up at approx. 7:30 (nurses)
Breakfast at 9
Nurse at 10:30
Lunch at noon
Nurse before nap at 1 (he has moved to not having a nap in the morning).  He is up mid nap and I nurse him or pat his bum and shhh back to sleep
3 - up from nap and nurse
6 - dinner and nurse
7:30 - bath (every second night, stories, nurse and rock to sleep)  Asleep by 8:30 approx and then up every hour - hour-1/2

thanks for any input you have

[nursekat]

Welcome to BW!  I hope you can find the answers you are looking for here.

Up every hour at night?  How have you survived the past 11 months??    I commend you!

Most changes that are major, like this one, are best done gradually.  I would work on taking tiny steps VERY gradually.  Is there a way to put a bed in his room with his crib that you can sleep in until he is used to his crib?

[NCs Mom]

I have his crib in our room right now at the end of the bed.  I was going to start using the PU/PD method at bedtime and then take him to bed when he wakes up so that there is not a huge change.  Would that make sense or would that continue to reinforce the night waking?

I really, really appreciate any advice you have.  I met with a sleep doula who told me to have him cry it out while no one was in the room - I just can not do that...  Thanks again!

[nursekat]

Oof no worries here - you are in great company of thousands of ladies that do NOT believe in letting babies cry it out! 

I think that is a good idea to start with just bedtime.  After he gets used to falling asleep at bedtime in his crib, move to one night waking, then another, etc.  Then at some point you will need to not nurse him at one night waking, then another, etc.  The idea is to eventually get him to where he can put himself back to sleep if he wakes without your help whatsoever.

You will see protesting, maybe even some sleep regression, especially at this age where he is much more able to tell you he is NOT happy with the change, LOL!  Did you read the FAQs in the PU/PD section?  There is a lot of great advice on how to do it properly, etc.

[NCs Mom]

Thank you for the reply!  I will check out the FAQs...

[nursekat]

Of course!  And come back with more questions as they arise!