Suggestions on how to get my 13 month old son to go to bed at night without a battle.?

Question

My 13 month old son co-sleeps with my husband and I (which we are fine with although it would be nice to get him into his crib maybe, next to our bed) but I go to bed rather late because I am going to college and use the time at night, ideally when he's sleeping, to do my homework. The problem is if I am not lying down with him and nursing him he fights bedtime. And I don't want to have to lay next to him for a half an hour + until he's sound asleep before having to sneak quietly out of the room. My husband has to rock him in our rocker-recliner until he pretty much cries himself into exhaustion. I hate it. Can anyone provide any tips on how to get our son to sleep without the battle? We are not into the cry-it-out alone in a crib method. Thank you.

Answer 1

I went through a similar problem. I am a single mother, and was attending college classes, and I also used night time for study. For me, I did it slowly. I started by waiting until his eyes got droopy, and then put him in his crib. If he cried, I'd let him cry for 5 minutes, and then rub his back (once you put him down, don't pick him up, or you'll have to start all over again!) If he didn't calm down, I'd leave for another 5 minutes. After he got used to this, I took him out of my bed and rocked him for 10 minutes (The rocker was in his room next to the crib), and followed the same process. It took about 2 weeks, but eventually I was able to put him in there awake and he's go to sleep on his own. We still rock for 5 minutes, but it's OK b/c it's part of out night time routine. He still will have to cry a bit, but really, there's no way to avoid a little tear shed. He's getting into a new routine, and anything out of the ordinary is bound to lead to some crying.
Starting a routine (if you don't already have one) is also good, b/c your sending him signals that it's bedtime. For me, it's a bath, a mini massage while I lotion him, brush his teeth, read one book, and then rock for 5 minutes.
If you really need the time to study, have your husband take on the job of switching him. After your son gets used to it, it could be either you or dad that puts him down, and he should be OK with it.
Good luck mommy! Trust me, it might be stressful, but it will work! : )

PS Having a lovey is also calming for babies. If he doesn't have one, find a soft blankie or small stuffed animal to become a lovey for him. Hold it close to you for a night or 2 to leave your scent on it, and when you put him to bed, put it in with him everynight. But make sure to buy 2, just in case the one gets lost!

Answer 2

I went through sort of the same thing with my daughter. I have always talked to her, saying her name in a very calm manner and told her that we are going to sleep in the big girls bed tonight. I would tell her right where mommy and daddy were going to be and I would sing her a song. The name of the game is to create comfort in her that everything is going to be okay. Babies are many times attached like this because mommy is still not letting go as well. I know you want him to sleep in his own bed, but deep down inside most mothers are still attached. I felt like I had to fight my wife more than my baby girl. The other part of the game is to create calming distractions for him. Lay him in his crib in his room and sing a song very quietly while rubbing his back for the first few nights and slowly remove yourself from the night time process. My daughter is 4 now and I still sing a song with her but now she sings with me. And when I leave her room now she tells me where I am going to be and what she is supposed to be doing."no more talking, no more playing, daddy?" And we sing ABC's or 123's and I tell her roll over, it is time for bed. She loves it and sleeps like a log now. I know this is long but I hope it helps.
Sincerely,
Brandon Wells
http://yourforexinvestor.com

Answer 3

Are you doing a bedtime routine with him before he goes to bed every night? That helps, and if you don't want the cry-it-out method, try the Ferber method. This means you go in and soothe him w/out picking him up every few min. and then extending it. For ex., check him at 3 min., then 5, then 7, then 10 and so on until he falls asleep on his own. With my kids, I did cry-it-out and although it is distressing to hear them, it worked for us & for my daughter (when she was 8 mons.), it took 2 nights and on the 3rd night, I put her down, closed the door, and she fell asleep on her own w/out a sound. For my second (he is 6 mons.), I'm not as rigid and I've been picking him up some nights & letting him cry other nights, so it is taking longer. At first he cried for 20 min., then 2nd night 15 min. and it is getting less. He's waking up less in the middle of the night now and we are getting more sleep!

Answer 4

My son awakened contained in the direction of the nighttime plenty. till he became 10 months previous. they're toddlers that's what they do. once you upward thrust up with him do no longer turn lighting fixtures furnishings on and don't communicate over with him in simple terms feed him or exchange him then lay him backpedal. We additionally offered a noise device and placed it on the rain putting and we additionally conceal his window at nighttime with a dismal curtain so lighting fixtures furnishings would not concern him. If he remains in a bassinet he ought to experience to crowded. If he's contained in the crib make beneficial there's no longer something the bugs him like a itchy section on a blanket or in case you replaced detergents presently think of roughly stuff like that. No offense yet i would not enable a 4 and a a million/2 month previous cry it out. he's plenty too little. Your pediatrician is a quack.

Answer 5

Babies are aloud to cry ya know! I have 18 month old twins who have slept beautifully for the last year. They cried at first, but now, go to sleep no problems. They have no pacis, or bottles in bed, as it isnt good for there teeth. If you dont wanna rock him, you dont wanna nurse him, ya dont want him in your bed for much longer, then your going to have to let him cry, and believe me, it is better for him and you that way!

Answer 6

Try limiting his naps during the daylight hours. Kids love to sleep, but if they nap a lot during the day they have a harder time going into a deep sleep at night. Good luck.

Answer 7

your best bet-and one I know works for sure, is just stop giving it 'cold turkey' he will be fussy the first few nights--but I promise it will work