How to settle a child (that's not breastfeeding)

[dashoflime]

DS is 13 months old and I am in the process of weaning him off the breast. He is only getting the last feed before bed at the moment.

However- I rely on this to get him to sleep! On the odd occasion that DH (who obviously doesn't have the option) has put him to bed, he has needed to be settled multiple times and it takes ages.

So- my question is: other than breastfeeding- what gets a child to sleep?

[SwivelHips]

It took me a long, long time to night wean because of the fear I had of how would I settle him. For us DS liked to fall asleep on our chest, DH more than mine. Mind you we dropped the bf and ended up with another crutch. At 15 mths we've finally weaned him off both. He's been night weaned for about 3 weeks now, first couple of nights weren't great, much easier when DH settles and not me. Even now if we bring him into bed with us first thing, if I cuddle him lying down he screams for a bf. Brings tears to my eyes it does. But we are all getting much more sleep now.

[MrsHoarder]

Well at 14-15 months ds has finally started going to sleep in his cot if I stay in the room. I used to have to lie right beside it, nowe I sit in a chair across the room. The next phase is to start leading the room whilst he drifts off but that will make mning difficult

[FredKiller]

We (well, one of us) lie next to him, cuddled up and whisper stories until he drops off. He fed to sleep until around 20mo and got used to the new routine pretty quick.