Help with transition to cot - 9 month old

[Dabrat21]

Hi,

I have been breastfeeding and co-sleeping with my baby who is now 9 months old. I’m worried that she can not self soothe as she relies on the breast to get to sleep. She is nurses to sleep at night and naps. Though she will sleep in the pram or sling if we are out.

I now want to move her to her own cot, as she is getting bigger and I’ve never been fully happy with her in my bed for safety reasons. Though I love having her close and enjoy the snuggles!

I simply can not do any cry out methods. Does anyone have any advice on how to make this transition as smooth as possible? Not only am I trying to not breastfeed her to sleep but she will also be in a new cot.

The cot will still be in my room as we only have a 1 bed flat. I am planning to breastfeed until she is 1+

Many thanks

We started with daytime naps and the first part of the evening sleep in the cot (which was in his room)

I would still feed (bottle) to sleep for quite a while and then rock/cuddle - probably until about 9 months at which point DS wanted to lie down to have his bottle in his own bed.

I then would pat/rub his back and bottom until he was asleep

Im

Posted too soon

I’m not going to necessarily repeat what I did for DS1 for DS2 as I ended up stuck like that for a longggggggggggg time. But if it works initially then great

Exactly the same position as you!
With my DD, she co-slept with me until DD2 came home from hospital and she happily moved to her toddler bed at 3.5 years old - I definitely don't want your same with DD2! lol. (btw no partner as I'm a solo mum with 2 donor babies! - so co- sleeping is completely possible but I do love my own bed and want to put them both in their own bedroom!)
DD2 has been breastfed and co- sleeping has been ideal, DD2 now takes a full bottle of formula milk at bedtime (8pm) and tops up / falls asleep on the boob! She looks for me at around midnight for booby comfort and straight back to sleep. Is then up again at 5.30am for booby comfort and straight back to sleep until 7.30am. As recommended, I've started to put her in her cot for her morning and afternoon naps if we're in...
I'm planning to put a bit of baby rice powder in her formula to fill her up that she doesn't wake up at midnight.... that might work! Will try that tonight and keep you posted!

@shining2020 it’s not recommended to put anything into baby formula, to add extra powder or water down either. This is specifically within the NHS Guidelines and on the formula boxes.

If you want to try filling her up a bit more, offer some porridge or weetabix etc at about 6, before her final bottle

I'm planning to put a bit of baby rice powder in her formula to fill her up that she doesn't wake up at midnight.... that might work! Will try that tonight and keep you posted!

I hope you're not serious!!

@Willow4987 Thanks for the advice! I'll try porridge - never thought of that. This is my second baby - did it with the first with no problem. Adding a bit of rice powder to her milk was advice from a friend who has successfully raised 3 beautiful children.