Parents w/ young toddlers~ How do you get your child to fall asleep (naptime & bedtime)?

Question

I still rock my 18 month old son to sleep (naptime & bedtime). I would really like for him to fall asleep on his own. How can I transition him to fall asleep on his own??

Just curious~ How old was your child when you were able to simply say goodnight & lie him/her in the crib/bed??

Keep the wonderful advice coming:) I am committed to breaking this habit.

Answer 1

We started having my daughter fall asleep on her own at 18 months old too, because I'm expecting number 2, and I can't rock 2 of them to sleep!

Where do you normally rock your son to sleep? Because I did it in the living room, and I found it was MUCH easier for her to fall asleep on her own in there first. We put out a toddler pull out couch (or you can use blankets with a favorite character on them, or whatever he's comfortable with) and had her lay there until she fell asleep... even though the first night, it took quite a while. After she would fall asleep, we'd move her to her bed.

Now she can fall asleep in her bed on her own, but it's been about 3 months.

Another idea is to put him in his bed, and read him some stories while you sit right next to his bed, and then stay there while he falls asleep. That way he can still feel close to you, but you're not actually holding him. And as he gets used to that, move away from the bed, but stay in the same room, and then eventually, you can put him down and leave and he should be okay.

It may take awhile, but it's definitely better then rocking your 8 year old to sleep :)

Answer 2

When my son was able to hold his own bottle is when I first did it. I dont want to hear ppl on here trying to lecture me about letting him go to sleep with a bottle it was a bottle of formula same as he'd get during his wake cycles. At 9 months old was the first time I laid him in his crib wide awake and said goodnight and walked out. He is now 16 months and says "nigh nigh" when he's ready for a nap or bedtime and he'll crawl up the stairs with us behind him and go right to his crib. There is no rocking no sitting with him just a kiss good night and we leave the room. He wakes once a night for a cup of water which I give him and lay him back down . I wish I could still rock and cuddle my son but he hasnt wanted that since he was able to walk

Answer 3

When my kids were VERY young, I encouraged them to fall asleep on their own. I would give them a bath, give them a warm bottle and rock them. Then, when their eyes started getting heavy, I'd lay them in bed. They usually drift off to sleep. As they got older, I'd just lay them in bed with their bottle. They'd drink it until they fell asleep. Now that they are toddlers, I just created a bedtime routine. Something to drink, a story, hugs and kisses, tuck them in and turn out the lights. It was always an easy transition for us, but every child is different. If/When they would cry because they didn't want to lay down, they'd only cry for less than 5 minutes and just lay down.

Answer 4

Hi Marsh,

My girl is almost 18 months. She is so exhausted at bed time and nap time but I find when I try to rock her, she'll fight me. So I started just saying the same thing to her (have nice rests, I love you, I'll be back soon--that kind of thing) and laying her down. Sometimes she flips right on her tummy and crash. Others? She hops right up and cry. If the latter, it only lasts for about 2 minutes until she is out.

I hate to say it but, you gotta bite the bullet on this. He needs to be self soothing to sleep sooner than later. Like all changes in the baby's life, it'll be harder on you than it is on him. Keep a monitor close by so you can check in.

Good luck!!
DN

Answer 5

Guilty as charged, lol. :0). I have five children aged, 11, 10, 7, 5 and 3 and I still lie with the youngest 2. I totally agree that they grow up to feel loved and secure. I usually take a book with me so I don't fall asleep aswell.

Answer 6

I never rocked my son to sleep unless he was sick, I never actually held him when he was a baby if he was sleeping, because they need to know how to sleep without hearing your heartbeat at a young age since they heard it for 9 months, and thats all they know. since he is 18 months old, it will take time but just lay him down, and let him find how to fall asleep on his own, maybe leave his bedroom door open so he knows your near, or pat his back, but dont pat his back to long just long enough for him to calm down and every bed/nap time do it less, and hopefully within a week he will be on his own and all you have to do is lay him down and walk away.

Answer 7

Well I think it is important to make bedtime fun and quality time you can spend with your little ones. Brush their teeth, read them a book - make bed time fun. If you have time scratch their back - make a routine out of it.

As far as my child (three yrs old)it is hard to get her to stay in the bed without us there which we are continuing to work on. I know its hard but after the time with your child say goodnight give her/him a kiss and that is that.

Answer 8

Wow, that's weird! 18 months and you still rock him to sleep! By 1 year it should be that you lay him down say good night and shut off the lights! If they cry for a bit it's okay! They'll learn that way!

Answer 9

7 weeks old i would feed him bathe him cuddle for a few minutes to get him relaxed and sleepy then i laid him down and left

at this age just put the child in the crib and leave

Answer 10

rock them when they are little, but by 7 mo. start putting them to bed without rocking (every other night, then move to every night). getting rocked to sleep is a habit hard to break.