22 months still cuddled to sleep...what to do about move to bed

[FlirtyThirty]

Our DS is 22 months and is still cuddled to sleep at nap time and bedtime. He hasa a very clear bedtime routine, which he likes and understands: bath, stories, milk, cuddle, sleep, bed.

I'm aware that he needs to be able to put himself to sleep and that t will be harder to do now that he's that bit older, but I find controlled crying very hard (like everyone I'm sure). That siad, I need to wean him off the current dependence on me on DH rocking him to sleep.

I am also wondering what is going to happen when we move him to a bed, as I suspect he will most certainly follow us out if not asleep...

That said, I wonder if maybe lying in bed for a story and cuddle may actually help ease the transition....thoughts?

Definately do the story and the cuddles in his own bed/cot. Try this for a week or so, then . . . .
Try to wean him off the present habit, by staying for shorter and shorter times with the cuddles; so eventually he is happy to settle in bed , awake.
When you leave the room if he starts crying , leave him for a few minutes, then go back in and settle him down again saying "Shush, its bedtime "
The next time he persists with crying go back in and say"Bedtime" and settle him again.
The next time go back in and say nothing, just settle him down and leave the room.
Leave him to cry for a few minutes or however long you see is fit .
Repeat if he doesnt go to sleep.
Try hard not to slip back to the old habit .
Wishing you all the best of luck....I know its not easy. x

Mine is 17 months old and had similar routine nappy/sleeping bag/brush teeth/story/bf(or cup of milk)/fall asleep on my(or DH's)knee.

I found myself wondering what I'd do when he was going into a bed, so I have been attempting just this week to change things round.

So I swapped the story and bf round - feed then put down to lie (actually jump around giggling and showing me teddies) in cot while I read the story.

It has actually worked really well and he lies down and goes to sleep with little or no protest after the story is finished and light out. He likes his bedroom door open to let a bit of light in and we just close it once he's sleeping.

This has coincided with me working a lot of evenings but has worked equally well with DH giving him a cup of milk and doing the story. He has slept really well too :O

I did have to go in once or twice and stroke his head and I one night I said I'd sing him one song. He said 'again' at the end but didn't protest when I said no, just the one song.

Pleasantly surpised so far, but it's only been a week.

Good luck!