Advice on future planning for crib transition

st.augbride

We've been discussing upcoming vacation plans and it's gotten me thinking about when I should really focus on trying to transition dd to the crib in her room. Dd is 9 months and bed shares with me. We both sleep great, since when she wakes to nurse, neither of us fully get up and she goes right back. I also work FT, so I love this extra bonding time. I've always figured I'd wean at a year and then we would transition her, but as that date approaches (too quickly!), I am starting to feel like that is just so arbitrary and even if I get her drinking milk in the day, she might still enjoy nursing at night and I'd be fine with that. That said, I also am wondering if there is a point developmentally that would be best to move her by, after which it would be much harder. On top of that, we have three trips planned: 1) to our parents in FL when she is a year (she will bed share with me there), 2) to Disney at 14 months (they can set the beds up with guard rails and we will have 3 beds, so I could easily bed share there too though we also have a nice travel crib if she is in a crib then), and then 3) dh and I are going ALONE to Hawaii when dd is 18 months old and in-laws will be watching her, so she NEEDS to be in her own room and likely weaned by then.

Based on all of this, when do you think would be the best time to work on it? I know it will require effort and patience as she's a feisty one and likes what she likes, which I assume will become more intense as we get further into toddler-hood. Anyhow, for those of you who've BTDT, what are your thoughts?

ncbelle

My motto is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" - sounds like it ain't broke at your house  FWIW, I transitioned to a floor bed at 16 months and 22 months both without issue.  I'd wait a while and skip the crib (save yourself another transition down the road) if you are happy with sleep right now.  I also found 10-12 months to be my kids most wakeful period - would not have wanted to transition at that time!

pixieprincss

You'll know when the time is right because you'll have an acute problem to solve vs. just planning for potential problem. You've still got 9 more months before the alone trip, which means you could have 9 more months of the ease and connection of cosleeping and night-nursing without getting up. Also for the family vacations, you might love cosleeping and nursing--in my world, it makes getting baby to sleep in a strange place with load of stimulation much easier. 

st.augbride

    pixieprincss said:

You'll know when the time is right because you'll have an acute problem to solve vs. just planning for potential problem. You've still got 9 more months before the alone trip, which means you could have 9 more months of the ease and connection of cosleeping and night-nursing without getting up. Also for the family vacations, you might love cosleeping and nursing--in my world, it makes getting baby to sleep in a strange place with load of stimulation much easier. 

Love this! When I think about it as having 9 more months until the big trip (which is essentially her whole life thus far!) that makes it sound way more doable and less scary! It just feels so overwhelming. When I moved my son into his crib at 5 months, he literally just spread out and went right to sleep! With dd, every time I try she does her super sad 'why are you leaving' me fuss and cry, even when I'm right there! Breaks my heart, so I scoop her back into bed and she goes right to sleep. I'm just so nervous that I'll miss some window after which it will be truly heinous.

kcisthebombdotcom

It's really tough to say when that window was. For dd it was 12 months; for ds it was 20 months. We've also fallen back into cosleeping during times where the kids went through separation anxiety again at two ish but its never been an issue transitioning them back to their own beds. I'm sure there's some kids out there who don't transition until school age or beyond and it's really difficult for them but I don't think that's most assuming you have some gentle techniques and are willing to wait until lo is developmentally ready for the change. I wouldn't sweat it at all.