Help! 7 weeks to tackle 8 month old eating, sleeping and separation anxiety!

[Fermin]

DS2 is 8 months and will be just shy of 10 months when I return to work at the start of November. We've barely been separated more than a few hours since he was born, he still co sleeps although starts off the night in his cot and I'm still breastfeeding him night and day. All of this needs to change and I've got just 7 weeks to do it! Please help! Firstly, I need to get him to self settle for his naps. He'll be at a childminder half the week and she won't be able to rock him in her arms before putting him down the way we do now .He's good at indicating when he's tired and he generally doesn't resist going to sleep but he just needs the movement to encourage him, either that or he'll fall asleep while feeding. What's the best way to tackle this? Should I consider introducing a comforter that he can take with him to CM that will help make him feel secure? A dummy if sucking will help (although have got this far without one so would rather not)? Controlled crying is not for me but happy to try gentler methods of sleep training.

Feeding-wise, we're doing baby-led but it's slow. He's much happier wolfing down a bowl of fruit purée or mashed potato with mince rather than picking at more solid foods. Some days he seems to eat loads, others barely anything. He's dropping milk feeds in the day rapidly and he's having some sips of water at meals but I think he needs more regular milk as he has few wet nappies at the moment. I won't be able to express enough for these feeds so am considering introducing formula but how much? And should it be in a bottle or sippy cup?

Am so confused and starting to feel a bit panicky. He's very much a baby still, no interest in starting to crawl yet and I can't quite believe I have to leave him so soon. It was a full year before I left DS1 and we were both more than ready for the change then. Any tips to make this separation easier will be gratefully received .

I worried about this too. My DS went to nursery at 11 months, and was fed to sleep, breastfed only, and we did BLW too. In the end, I didn't actually change anything! Amazingly at nursery he slept on his own, no need for rocking or anything like that. You could introduce a comfort object (a soft toy or a muslin) now so that he can have that with him at the CM which could help.????At 11 months, I breastfed in the morning, and then as soon as I picked him up from nursery and then again before bed. Whilst at nursery he had water from a sippy cup and snacks, which he was fine about. I wouldn't introduce bottles now as you'd have to get rid of them at 12 months anyway (if you follow current advice). I would also expect the CM to discuss food with you so that you're both clear what the expectations are.????So I think my conclusion is not to try and change anything and try not to worry about it!

Sorry for all the ??? It's the new phone app that seems to insist on putting them in instead of blank lines!!

I am a CM:
try introducing 4oz of milk in a free flow sippy cup (like the tommee tippy ones with 1 or 2 holes) twice daily in between meals eg 10 am and 3pm. Don't worry if he messes around with it...if he's hungry/thirsty he will drink at the CMs.
Being able to fall asleep one self is a good idea but if you don;t manage it I think you will be surprised how fast an experienced CM will manage to introduce it and it's certainly not something to let yourself get stressed over.
Food will sort itself out...he can do a mixture of baby led and spoon feeding and will watch other children at the CMs and copy .

the main thing I would concentrate on is getting him used to being left for short times with other people...so he learns you always come back..he is going to be in peak developmental stage for separation anxiety when you return to work so reassuring both yourself and him that being left will be ok would be my priority.

there is a lot of growing up going to happen in the next few weeks and months. If you are confident in your CM then she should be able to reassure you and instil confidence in both of you.

HTH and good luck.

Thank you both so much. That's very reassuring info and completely makes sense. I feel much happier about giving milk in a cup rather than bottle. Our childminder is great and the baby will have his big bro with him to ease the transition, it's just me that has to find a way to cope!