Want to end co-sleeping but don't know how

[treehugga]

So my DS is 6 months old. During the day he naps in his cot which is at the end of our bed and at bedtime he goes to sleep in there too. But when I go to bed, about 10, I feed him and tuck him up next to me and that's how we stay all night long.

It has many great advantages - mainly that I don't wake too much to feed him - but I do eventually want my space back and also he sometimes feeds 5 times a night (sometimes only 2 times) which is tiring and makes me think he's just feeding to sleep which I don't want to continue.

The medium-term plan is that he'll share a room with his big sister. But I can't move him until he can sleep through (mostly) in a cot. So how do I get there? Should I concentrate on reducing the number of feeds first, or reduce the co-sleeping first then reduce the number of feeds once he's happy in the cot?

Also I'm worried he'll resist the cot like crazy when he knows I'm right there. Should I be changing rooms at the same time?

I'm hoping to do same with my DD (5 months), but she is already in a separate room. ATM she doesn't come in with us until the first feed after my going-to-bed dreamfeed. Could you maybe start with that? Doesn't seem very feasible to reduce feeds when he's still in your bed... I would think that you need to work on him sleeping in cot before you tackle the number of feeds?

ive recently stopped co cleeping with my dd (5 mths), I didnt wait until she slept through but ive been weaning her gradually so after dinner in the evenings she has a warm bath, sometimes with her older brother (ds 3yrs) and gets put into her cot roughly same time as he goes to bed (6.30/7pm). she now sleeps through and has done for a couple of weeks now, much to my serious relief.

just do a routine, stick with it, put him in his room with big sis to get used to it and even if you have to wake up a few times during the night to re-assure him, it will work out in the end. i went in a few times a night with dd to settle her, either with breastfeeding or a cuddle, and although it took a couple of months at least, she now feels safe and happy to go to sleep there. Im now getting a full night from 7pm until 7am and even later than that. i really hope it goes well for you, be strong!!! you will get there x