Gently transitioning 24 month old
 

Hi all. We have coslept for two whole years (either with him in our bed or a side cared crib) and feel it's time to gently transition him to a toddler bed. We will start off with him in our room and take the next few months to let him get used to that first. He sleeps very wild and my DH is a bit done with getting kicked in the head all through the night (-: WE got him one of bthose beds shaped like a car since he loves cars and trucks. Hoping this will help??

The issues:
1. How do I do this as gently as possible? What are some pointers? I don't mind if it takes a month or so as long as he won't be traumatized by it. He's a bit of a high need little guy, so I need to really ease him into the transition.
2. He's NOT night weaned. So, I'm confused as to how to begin. Should I night wean first? Should I just bring him into our bed once he wakes at night?

Re: Gently transitioning 24 month old
 

My best advice is to try and start with a diferent bed sidecarred that is not a crib or toddler - like a twin sized if possible.That sems to help because it gives them mor space to move those legs around,you can lie over there with him to nurse and then scoot over to big bed and he may sleep longer because hass his own surface.Either that or try puting car bed next to yours and having him in there and you ca at back etc. and have him come up and nurse then lay him back i car bed.

Re: Gently transitioning 24 month old
 

I think having a twin would be ideal, but not feasible right now, unfortunately. I like the idea of putting the car bed next to ours though. That will make nursing easier. Should i save night weaning for later vs trying to do them at the same time?

Re: Gently transitioning 24 month old
 

It may happen at the same time. I don't know that I would try to do both on purpose. With Lucca, I slept with her in her bed then just started getting back up after she fell asleep each time. The first couple nights I was up all night :) but she was totally ok, I stayed with her until she fell asleep. Now she falls asleep in her bed and if she wakes up I either bring her in with us or lay with her until she falls asleep again, depending on how tired I am. I don't really know how we made the transition. I started out staying until she was totally out, then started backing up how long I stayed with her until I was leaving once she was settled but still awake. Right now she falls asleep in her bed with me sitting beside her, I usually tell her stories until she's asleep while I get DC to sleep. That probably doesn't help at all, Lucca is hanging on my leg right now so thinking is kind of hard :)

Re: Gently transitioning 24 month old
 

Monkey has had his own bed since 15 months, but still nurses at night. He comes to my bed when he wakes up. I didn't have the option of putting his bed in my room, so he spends the first half of the night in his own room. I nursed him to sleep in his bed, then left at first. Now, we nurse on the couch, then I sit in his room while he falls asleep.