Fellow co-sleepers advice needed

[Mattieandmummy]

So I co-sleep with my 2.5 year old DD which is fine, it's what we've always done as she has been possibly the worst sleeper ever, ever, ever and then some. But now, most nights - sleeps all night which is such a joy!

But we're moving house soon and she'll have a new bedroom and I was wondering whether this might be a good point to try to get her to sleep on her own. She's currently in a double bed with me with DH in another room. Am I just asking for trouble in that it's already going to be a massive change for her....

And for those of you who have done it, how and when did you eventually move them into their own beds? How would you move her from a double to a single? How did you explain / sell the idea without causing huge trauma - after all this is all she's ever known.

We set up a single bed for DD in her own room when she was nearly 3. We were co-sleeping in a double bed. I was pregnant and wanted her settled before the babies arrived.

It’s not a complete success. DD will fall asleep in her single bed provided me or DH lays beside her. We can then leave her until she first wakes, at which point she’ll run in to cosleep with whoever doesn’t have the twins. It can be anything between 10 mins and 6 hours depending on how tired she is.

It would be easier to just start her off co-sleeping at night but I feel like this would be a step backwards.

I would definitely try it but be prepared to stay with her until she falls asleep, and then visit you again in the night!

I would wait until she's a bit older and you're settled in the new house.

I think at 2.5 it won't be exciting to be in a new bedroom it will be scary.

@NuffSaidSam yes.... This was ticking in the back of my head especially as we're moving to a rental place for a bit before moving again.

Think your right, we should leave it for a bit. Very much hoping for no. 2 so we'll tackle it then - thanks.

@TheMagicDeckchair thanks for this, am a bit worried about her trying to find us in the night and being frightened

I would suggest waiting until you're in the house you're staying in (ie not the short term rental). I would get her a single bed with a trundle bed underneath, this can be for a parent to begin with and for sleepovers in future. Talk to her about it as a positive and exciting thing, new bedroom, her own big girl bed, etc. Let her choose a duvet cover or something. Then when you move in, she sleeps in her bed and you sleep in the trundle bed right next to her (it helps if you get a comfy mattress for the trundle bed and not the bog standard foam one!) Then I would probably do a gradual retreat type thing, so to start with you'd lie in the bed next to her until she falls asleep, then you'd sit on the bed next to her, then sit on a chair further away, then in doorway, then outside door with door open, etc. A nightlight would probably help and knowing she can come and get you if she wants you. With DC1 (who is 4 but I've been doing this for a while) I will go back in to check in and reassure him, so I'll say goodnight and then tell him I'm going to tidy up but will come back in 5 minutes, and I always do, and when I first started doing this I had to go back in a few times but now he usually falls asleep before I go back the first time.

Each to their own of course but I wouldn't want to be doing this when pregnant, I would get it done now.

And put all thoughts of "trauma" out of your head, it won't be traumatic for her as she is secure and you will be there to reassure her. Independent sleep is important and will be especially important if and when you have another child.