Am I making a rod for my own back?

[Mamameela]

Okay, so I know this is a Mumsnet massive no-no but..... I still cuddle my 12.5 month old to sleep at bedtime and let him fall asleep in my arms. (He has always been bottle fed EBF and now normal milk). If I put him down in the cot awake he will cry and become distressed. If I cuddle him to sleep he then when I go to out him down he momentarily opens his eyes and looks at me but then he falls asleep. He sleeps through the night usually 11 hours. In the night I think he must wake but is able to settle himself, and in the mornings when he wakes he just plays until I come in to get him, so he isn't distressed to wake up by himself.

Do you think this is really awful that I'm still doing this and that he doesn't fall asleep by himself?

I don't know how to make the transition.

Am I making a 'rod for my own back?' as my mum says?

Are you happy to keep doing it then it’s fine. We did it with DD1 until she was 3.5/4 yrs old. DD2 has just turned 2 and she is bf to sleep. If you’re happy and they are then it’s not a problem

My baby's only 2 months so not got any personal advice but to me that sounds absolutely fine! If you're happy to keep cuddling him then carry on, it's great bonding time for you both too and you'll miss it when he doesn't want to do it anymore.
It sounds like he sleeps through the night well in his own bed and has no problem with staying there during the night so no issue at all!

Enjoy those cuddles 💞

Jesus 11 hours sleep, I'd cuddle a porcupine if it meant any of my children slept through at that age. It's working for you, it's working for your child. You're being an amazing mum.

That's so lovely. DD will never fall asleep if I'm in the room, she just wants to play. If you are both happy with it, carry on.

I would also have cuddled a porcupine if I'd got such a long break at that age. Both mine were/are cuddled to sleep when they want it, and both do a solid 10/11 hours most nights.

Yes 😊 DS would only settle on us, so we would carry him into his bed asleep until he was about 2 and understood bribery. Only then did we manage to persuade him to actually fall asleep in his own bed.

Before I even opened this thread I had already answered your title with no. It's not a thing at this age, your baby is tiny and still developing do what works best for you both in this moment.

15 months. We still cuddle. There will become a day (all too quickly for me!) that he doesn’t want to. Whilst he does I’m doing it. Sod the rod and cuddle away!

don't you dare stop.
do it for him, for you and for sleep deprived parents everywhere!🤣

Go for it op I did it until a similar age (slightly younger). Only reason I stopped is because my arms / body could no longer handle the weight - if he was lighter I would've happily carried on! Ds is nearly 3 now and doing great, no rods in sight!

No but be prepared to still be sitting with him until he goes to sleep for the next 4+ years (speaking from experience).

Twinkie01

Even if you were: your rod, your back, your child and no one else’s business!

You’re doing brilliantly, enjoy it