Co-sleeping to own cot

[BeHereNowx32]

Our DD is 13 months old, and has co slept with us since she was 5 months old. (I brought her into bed with us to get her to sleep longer in the mornings... which led to her not ever settling in her cot again!)

I’ve actually loved it. However, now bed time is no longer a calming experience 🙄 she crawls all over the bed, and just tries to get off it. She ends up staying up later, and getting so upset.

Has anyone moved from co-sleeping to own cot?

Thanks!

Should have said, I have tried to put her into her cot once asleep. She wakes straight away, and screams! 😔

I did! I'm glad I did too though it was hard at the time. I would advise letting her fall asleep in the cot every night as this will teach her that this is where she sleeps. Sit next to her, comfort her etc but don't let her fall asleep in your arms or bed. It will be a rough week but she will learn her own bed is safe. My son doesn't settle in my bed now (which is a shame as sometimes I'd like to co sleep again as a treat!). He really likes his cot and is comfortable there. He just needed to get used to it.

@MadeFrom100percentPears thank you. We did try that in the past. It was sooo hard. She just screamed! But I know I need to be stricter with it. Good to know it can work. Thank you

You're welcome. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. I'm no expert, that's just what we did!

Hi OP!
We are currently 'kind of' transitioning. We essentially just take each night as it comes and have a 'before midnight in cot' rule.

I cuddle DS to sleep and then sit with him in my arms for around 20 mins until he is SOUND, then I put him in his cot with white noise. He generally wakes up after the first sleep cycle and I repeat. If he wakes up again before midnight, I repeat and he goes into his cot.

After midnight, he then comes into our bed if he wakes.

We are slowly increasing the 'cot time' every few days. So for example next week it'll be if he wakes before 1am, then back into his cot.

I always find its best to 'tackle' things like this when A) you have no other worries going on and B) you're happy to be a little sleep deprived as obviously you have to sit and hold them to sleep

It's working well for us so far

Oh and I found it really useful to implement a hard bedtime routine.
Bath, downstairs milk, read 3 books, sing a lullaby so he was absolutely sure it was bedtime.

I also found a nursing chair really good as it was comfy to hold him in

Mine was never a great sleeper and is still not OP but at 2.5 years we are still co-sleeping I tried all the methods bar controlled crying (just can't do it) but nothing worked. We have ended up buying a single bed propping it next to ours and .... it works he will sleep quite happily in his bed and we are in ours.

@Pentium85 that is a good idea about setting time goals. It makes it seem more manageable. I may try this. Thanks!
Good luck with your transition too.

@mommybear1 aw. I love that idea! Our DD’s cot is in our room. Unfortunately, it only fits at the end of the bed and not the side. Otherwise another bed would be worth a try.

DD slept in her cot for an hour last night. But as soon as she wakes up, I bring her into bed with me. Not sure I’m strong enough to keep putting her into the cot, but I really should try!