Too big and wriggly to rock to sleep.

[Gillian1980]

DD is 13 months and I'm struggling to get her to sleep at night.

Between 3 and 8 months I could pop her in her cot sleepy but awake and she'd happily go to sleep by herself and sleep through - amazing!

Then separation anxiety kicked in and she would get upset being left alone to go to sleep. No problem, I have been happy to cuddle & rock her to sleep since then and once asleep she generally sleeps through most nights.

The problem now is that she is getting too big to cuddle to sleep on my lap. She likes to wriggle about to get comfy and there's just no room for her to do it so she gets cross. But she still wants to be cuddled to sleep (not a problem for me) and gets upset if put in the cot awake.

There's nowhere in her room where we can both lie down for a cuddle. We can lie on our bed and then carry her to her room but it's a bit of a trek in a creaky old house and she tends to wake then we're back to square one!

Any recommendations on how to manage this? I'm not into controlled crying or crying it out, it's just not for us.

Thanks 😊

[Iguessyourestuckwithme]

You sound like you want to have your cake and eat it. If you want to cuddle her to sleep and the only comfortable place is your bed then you'll have to put up with it. She's only going to get bigger.

[Tootsiepops]

I get in my daughter's cot and lie beside her until she falls asleep. She's nine months. I'm 37 and fat still carrying a bit of baby weight.

[Gillian1980]

It's not a case of wanting my cake and eating it - I'm looking for suggestions of alternatives!

None of us sleep well co-sleeping and it's unsafe as I'm on a lot of medication so I'm really not comfortable doing it. I'm more than happy to cuddle her there and move her but it doesn't work.

I could try getting in the cot but I'm very big and heavy and genuinely think it may break.

Has anyone tried gradual retreat type thing with success? I have no problem not cuddling her to sleep but only if there's a decent alternative that isn't going to upset her.

[fluffikins]

What about a floor bed? Take the cot down, baby proof the room and replace with just the mattress on the floor or just on the slats (make sure it's all safe). That way you can cuddle then leave her sleeping as you walk out. It'll probably be very easy to gradual retreat from that too, should you want to at s later date.

[Gillian1980]

Thanks, I'll look at the logistics of that (her room currently has lots of our crap stored in their too 😳). It's a good idea.

[fluffikins]

Google images Montessori beds. That's the kind of thing I mean. I'm hoping to do it so with my 14 month old who will only feed to sleep in my arms. She's getting too heavy to lift up and over into the cot when she's asleep.

[Gillian1980]

Thanks, will do this weekend.