Highlander's Co-Sleeping Sleep Training Diary

[Highlander]

DAY 1.

DS (nearly 18mo) had a terrible night and was up at 5:30am. Gawd........ Ate a lot during the day, massive tea........I thought if I don't start now I never will. He's been waking at least every 2 hours over the past few months.

6:45pm - Usual bedtime routine - teeth, run a round naked, bath, stories and loll around on the bed. Booby etc.

7:30pm He started to look tired, switched off lamp and switched on night light. Sat him on my knee and he started to howl. He was really upset (but not screaming) and yelled out when I told him booby was all done. However, he's been a lot more upset in the past, so it was very tolerable. He twiddled my hair a lot, which he does when he's feeding. Dropped off a few times but woke up crying when I tried to lay him down.

8pm. Fell asleep. Consumed vast amounts of choccy biccies to celebrate.

11:45pm - whinged for 5 mins. Sat him on my knee. Settled very quickly.

12:10am - as above.

1am - 2:15am - crying a lot, but in short bursts (5 mins) and not too intense.

7:30am - I had to wake him up!!!!!!!!!!!!

DAY 2

Couldn't believe I actually had to wake him up. Bit worried that this will be a one off as he was exhausted last night.

12pm - nap time. Sat him on my knee, he whinged for 5mins then conked out. Slept for 1.5 hours (normally it's 2 hours and he'll wake up crying). Woke up in a great mood.

6:45pm - usual bedtime routine.

7:30pm - was feeding him and he looked sleepy so switched off lamp etc as before. Whinged on my knee for 10 mins then fell asleep.

12am - awoke briefly, didn't cry but wanted to twiddle my hair. Fell asleep v. quickly.

3:30am - 4:30am - wide awake but not crying. Sat on my knee, twiddled hair. Eventually drifted off.

7:30am - woke up.

I'm not too bothered at this stage that he is awake for an hour in the middle of the night. He's learning v quickly that booby is not available and that was my goal. He's much calmer during the day - doesn't get nearly as frustrated when life isn't going his way.
One more night with me and tomorrow it's DH's turn to try and put him to sleep. I expect we'll go back a few steps and DS will cry a bit longer before going to bed but I'm OK with that. The whole process has not been distressing at all. Very pleased

no - he's in bed with us.

The next stage (later this week) is to repeat everything in his own bed.

Blimey Highlander, this sounds great! Good luck to you and I really admire the way you are doing it very gently and not doing anything drastic.

Good luck! Hope it goes well.

I simply cannot believe it's been so easy. Still plenty of time for it all to go tits up though