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Attachment Parenting
Toddler weaning & going to sleep
Hi All- DD is about to turn 2 1/2. We've been slowly weaning for months now. Currently she tries to nurse to sleep but gets frustrated and says it's broken. We've been talking about the "big girl party" we'll be having when she's all done nursing and about how nursing is going to be broken and she's excited! Every night before we try to nurse we talk about the big girl party and what we'll do and who will be there. She's ready to wean, I'm ready to wean. But.... She is struggling with falling asleep on her own.
She stopped nursing for naps a few weeks ago and I can only get her to nap in the car or on my shoulder if she's really exhausted. She's fallen asleep a few times at night on her own but it's a struggle for her and she's staying up too late. We introduced a bed-time routine a few weeks ago and have been sticking with it. We are still co-sleeping and up until weaning I'd nurse her down and sneak out.
I guess I'm just looking for advice from those that have been there. Any magic solutions to get her to be able to fall asleep 
? Or anyone go through this and have it pass? I'm guessing it's all a phase and it will pass, but I feel bad that she just can't get to sleep when she's trying. I'd also like to be able to leave her for the night in the next few months but I don't want to burden relatives with a toddler who can't fall asleep lol. Thanks!
Me 38, DH 34
Missed M/C 10/08 at 10 weeks
DD born 8/09, TTC#2 since Jan 2011
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Re: Toddler weaning & going to sleep
DD weaned at the same age and the to sleep session was the last to go. In our case I left the country for work for a week and DH had no issues getting her to sleep. He would stay next to her crib and hold her hand in the dark until she fell asleep. When I returned we had one frustrating nursing session that resulted in DD crying and asking to go to her crib. From then on I have put her in her crib and held her hand until she goes to sleep. Inititally it could take 30-45 minuts for her to settle but now it is rate it takes 10 minutes. She was not ready to go from nursing to sleep to being put in her crib with a kiss and a wave and we did not want to CIO at that age.
It has worked for us although others may not find this to be desirable. We are trying to figure out the next step now that #2 is arriving soon. She is fine going down for DH if I am not home but it gets ugly if he tries and I am home. We've started incorporating DH into more of the pre-bed rituals and I'm sure like every other transition it will be easier than I expected.
GL! Weaning, even though it was nearly all on DD's terms, was tough. But we lived to tell about it :-)
Glad to hear it went well. GL ttc!