do I sleep train?

[bronnie98]

DS is nearly 20 months. Successfully sleep trained at 6 months and he slept like dream until around 16 months. Since then hit and miss. He goes down ok but when he wakes in the night we have gotten into habit of bringing him into our bed... This would be fine but I go back to work soon and have to start at 7.30am.

I realise at this age best way is probably controlled crying but I feel mean as the problem isn't too horrendous yet - almost more preemptive. Any advice/ thoughts?

At 20 your toddler will have a reasonable amount of understanding. So repetition and not giving in will work.

I am not suggesting CC or leaving him to cry. But if you don't want to co-sleep then the very simple answer is to not bring him into bed.

When you sleep trained at 6 months did you establish a sleep trigger? Something that says it is sleep time now. Use you sleep cue (for my DD it is a hand on her chest/back followed by "shhhhh, sleep time now. Nan night.") and just keep repeating.

So stay with him in the cot, keep reassuring and saying/doing calming things and repeating the same sleep phrase over and over until he understands, gives in and goes to sleep. The time it takes to work should lessen over time.

I am in a similar situation.... DD is 16 months old and until a month ago she slept through in her own cot from 7:30pm to 6:30am (well did so for atleast 4 months or so anyway). Last month she got the virus Hand Foot and Mouth, nasty bug (damn nursery)... so I took her into bed with me as she was waking every hour - I work full time so as long as she slept I was happy, and she sleeps fine, even when ill, next to me.

Now I cant go anywhere in the evening as she screams the house down if I am not sleeping next to her, i'm in bed by 8:30 every night!! We tried a bit of controlled crying but she throws up every time and just becomes a hot sweaty mess - its beyond horrible and I cant do it.

But now I also cry every night as I want to be in bed with my husband (we resorted to setting up a bed for me and baby in her room, as we only have a double bed which isnt big enough for us all).

I have no advice just a similar story - and Controlled Crying hasnt worked for us.

I would be interested to hear if and when your babies slept in there own beds after co - sleeping xxxxxxxx

love n luck