sleep training and co-sleeping....?

[greythorne]

We co-slept and breastfed our DD until 14 months, then the bfing continued but we put her in a cot and gently sleep trained her (ie responded when she awoke but did not offer the boob, put her back in the cot, soothed, left the room, repeat etc). The sleep training worked and she has been a good sleeper since about 18 months.

Forwardwind to DD2; she is 19 months, still co-sleeps, still bfeeds during the night. in fact, she cannot get back to sleep ever unless she has the boob, even if it's just for 2 minutes. If I m not about and my husband responds, he cannot, cannot get her back to sleep. She is breastfed down for every sleep / night.

Any ideas how we can gently reduce the night feeds and increase the length of time she sleeps at night? She currently wakes 2 / 3 / 4 times a night.

Thx

I would offer a beaker of water - she is waking because she knows you will breastfeed her back to sleep - and as long as that's a viable option she will keep waking/and she will not go back to sleep for dh.

the No Cry Sleep Solution book suggests for both putting down and soothing, to try and pick up, pat/shoosh putting back down semi sleepy, and to try this 3 times. If it doesn't work simply offer the breast and feed to sleep as you would normally. Not sure how effective this would be at 19 months as we are trying for our 4 month old, think theres a chapter in the book for toddlers so may be worth checking out....