Going to start sleep training (gently) my 2 year old TONIGHT, thinking of doing a diary

[suwoo]

DS is 26 months and we co-sleep. I am expecting no3 in August and want to move him into his own cot now slowly in readiness for the baby's arrival.

He naps in his cot and he self settles in his cot (with a bottle). He comes into us at his first waking. These last few nights he has gone down to only waking twice which is wonderful.

I am planning to sleep on a futon next to his cot and settle him in the night without allowing him back into my bed.

I realise that this may take weeks/months and I thought doing an online diary reporting on the night before would help me keep it up and not give in at the 1st hurdle.

Ideas and comments welcome please.

Anyone there??

Great idea, good luck with it. If it was me I would move him to a bed at the same time so that the whole thing is something new and 'grown up' and so you don't have to put him through another change a few months down the line. But that's just me

But what if he keeps getting out? DD was over 3 when she went into a bed.

Lots of two year olds do move into a bed, though I guess it depends on the child. At least if he got out you would be there to deal with it. But maybe doing it in two stages is best for your DS.

I don't know though- I haven't had a non sleeper before. My instinct is to do it this way- but who knows?????

Oh always go by your instinct!

Yeah thats what I think. This isn't set in stone and I can switch to plan B, C, D etc at any time. I mooted about putting him in a bedside cot, putting him in his cot in our room, putting him in a bed in his room, in our room- you name it! This is what I've decided will work best for me him.

I think you'll do great. And so will ds. It's all about trying to remain calm (tough, I know), resist the urge to say, 'FFS, just go to sleep!', and be firm but kind.

You are committed this time, and it'll be fine.

Honest.

Thanks Mrs, shall I ring you during the night if I'm tempted to swear at him? .

And FWIW, dd has not tried to get out of her bed. Admittedly she is still getting in with us in the middle of the night, but if she tries to get out whilst I am settling her, I just put her back in and say, 'No, it's bedtime'.

Obviously this is all MN censored and I'll tell you the warts and all version tomorrow.

LOL. Look forward to it

What we did with DS was put him in a bed and put a mattress on the floor in our room.

That way he could get out of bed and come into our room but we could stay in bed.

Just moving to always settling him in his own bed 8 months later but he's really accepted it.

It may be easier for you as well.

My theory is, if I'm going to do it I may as well go the whole hog and get him in his own bed in his own room. I don't want to have to start 'training' him again months later when the baby will be here.

Will start the diary shortly........