I never chose co-sleeping, it kind of just chose us. It felt the natural way to all get some sleep, once we were adhering to all the co-sleeping safely guidelines.
As most of my friends will know, I adore co-sleeping. As a working mum, I love when my older children now crawl into bed in the morning and we can have a quick snuggle before the alarms go off.
But, there does come a point when most parents want to claim their bed back. Sometimes it can be to make space for a sibling on the way, to relight the romance with your partner or just because you are sick of having a fraction of the bed to sleep on while your little one does the starfish.
Whatever the reason, when you know the time has come to move them into their own cot, you know.
There are different ways and things you can do to make the change. It is a personal choice and there is no perfect way to make the transition. CIO method was never an option for me because that is not the way we choose to parent. So, remember you have to do what is best for you and your family.
Here are some guidelines on how you could make the move:
To minimize tears on both your parts, the more gentle the transition the better. If co-sleeping is all your little one has known it is going to take a little getting used to.
How to transition your toddler from co-sleeping to sleeping in a cot.
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Stay close.
Depending on the age of your little one, you could try a co-sleeper or even the cot against your bed to begin with. This will get them used to their own space but they have the security of knowing you are near. If you are breastfeeding this is an option which makes life easier for everyone. A little space for you and still a little reassurance for your baby.
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Stay with them.
Again, depending on your little one's age, if they are going into their own room and there is space, put a bed in there too and have a sleepover for those first few nights. This way your little one can get used to this whole new sleeping arrangement and their different surroundings all with the comfort of knowing you are near.
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Comforter.
If for whatever reason that is not an option for you, try giving your little one something of yours that you have worn or that smells like you. Even having your smell next to them will give them some comfort too.
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Take it step by step.
There is no point in having a time frame in your head, as that could all change when you go to make the move. The best thing you can do is to take it step by step, start slow and ease your little one into it. For example, if you have the cot in your room, let them get used to it there before moving it out.
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Go with your gut.
Remember this is your baby. If you try to make the move and it doesn’t work out the way you expected, trust your gut instinct. If you feel you or your little one aren’t quite ready to make the move, try again in a couple of weeks.
