For those who have assisted their little ones to sleep...

[*EJ*]

For those who have assisted their little ones to sleep how long did it go on for?

DD is two and fairly dependant on me to get her to sleep, she's never been a self settler. It's just what we do no so i'm not looking at trying to get out of it but i'm just wondering about how long the dendancy carried on for? I'm more so just curious, i was lying with her as she went to sleep tonight and i had this picture in my head of her being in PS and possibly still needing me. Would this be the case?

[onthefly]

nah. it's a developmental thing, they get there when they're ready. And you can feel reassured that you gave your child what they needed, when they needed it, laying ht foundation for a more secure, true independence later on.
DS was a little over 2 when he stopped needing help to sleep. I know of lots of poeople who've done this - the age seems to be 18-30 months on average, though obviously some are sooner and some later.

ETA - although, I should add, actually yes. she probably will still need you to read her a story, kiss her goodnight, or tuck her in. It's all one and the same thing, really, just taking different forms.

[MummyNaomi]

I have always cuddled my babies to sleep

DS is now 3y8m and I still lie in his bed with him as he falls asleep, I have suggested a few times he put himself to sleep with a book or teddy while I sit on the couch where he can see me, he gets upset at this suggestion so I am happy to lay and cuddle. Soon enough he won't need me so will continue until he wants me to stop, whenever that nay be, school age or not

[*EJ*]

Thanks ladies, truthfully i love the way we get to sleep right now. My boys self settled so i never had this with them, there are still times when they need me so i'm there but it can get tricky trying to be in 3 places at once.

We'll just see how this year goes then

[MummyNaomi]

It's hard when you have more than one needing you at bedtime. DS will often lie on the couch with DH while I put the baby to bed as he wants to wait for me, tricky when DD is taking a while to settle. At these times I take us all to my bed and transfer them to their own bed/bassinet once asleep

[Jellyfish]

My DD1 transitioned out of needing us right there around the time she weaned (was fed to sleep) at 3yr 3months. We started reading books and then a cuddle to sleep but now we cuddle and walk out while she is still awake no problems ever. She has never fought or resisted sleep. She is almost 4 now and still such a dream to get to sleep

[Arimeh]

My DS is 6 tomorrow and still can't put himself to sleep. So of course my 4 year old and 3 year old can't either.

And I feed the toddler to sleep, or if she doesn't fall asleep, I sit by her bed and she falls asleep with me sitting there.

Bedtime is a bunch of joy here in this house....

[Jennifer13]

I bf DD1 to sleep until over 2 and bf her as part of her bedtime routine until 3 1/2. I stopped because she was just not falling asleep and started mucking around. I think not long after this age she went to bed with her normal routine (brush teeth, story) but went to sleep on her own.

The transition from not bfing to sleep was spectacularly simple in our case. DD1 never complained once. And put that theory to bed!

Each child is different. But you already knew that.

[Teeki]

At almost 19 months I still feed DD to sleep. She won't have it any other way. I'm ok with that, except that I won't always be available to her. If she goes to her when she wakes at night she flips out, turns herself inside out, cries, points to the door and the rocking chair and calls for mama.

The problem is, on Monday I had to make an emergency dash to the city an hour away to see my sick Papa and didn't hget home til just before 10. She was still up! All attempts by DH to get her to sleep were resisted. I fed her and she was zonked in minutes.

Soon I need to spend one or two nights in Melbourne for work. What the heck are they gonna do?? He can't her to sleep, and even if he does, it'll be a nightmare when she wakes.

So whilst I know it's normal for her to feed to sleep and I'm happy to do it, when these situations come up I wish she'd been able to find a way to go to sleep for DH too.

[*EJ*]

Our DD's sound very similar Teeki. It used to be exactly like that with DD. If she woke a feed was the only way to get back to sleep and if DH tried without the feed she got so angry. These days she's a little better, if I'm not home she goes to bed fairly independently with no issues for him but if I'm home she screams the house down unless I do it. I'm lying here with her now while she's playing in her cot... So cheeky they are...

Thanks ladies it sounds like they generally move on from it when they are ready

[RhiChiChi]

My Eldest DD is 5.5 and still has DH or I to lie with her at bedtime. She doesn't need us to stay there until she falls asleep but the cuddles are part of her routine