https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 15 May 2026 03:24:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2554523 Mon, 23 May 2016 09:05:06 +0000 youboots 2554523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH does 75% of bedtimes and rocks her to sleep. She's too big &amp; heavy for me so I just put her down drowsy but awake- same for naps- and she goes right to sleep. DH rocks her for naps also. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2554516 Mon, 23 May 2016 08:59:48 +0000 snowjewelz 2554516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did not sleep train and DD learned to fall asleep and STTN around 8-9 months! I also nursed/rocked to sleep. Then I started laying with her in bed (we cosleep) and she takes anywhere from 5-20 minutes to roll around, talk, try to jailbreak, but she will fall asleep! Next goal is to have her do this in her own bed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2554047 Sun, 22 May 2016 09:35:30 +0000 FaithFertility 2554047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: We rocked DD for a few for a year!<br /> We still hold her and sing 1 song before we set her in her crib, but she is awake 99% of the time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553938 Sun, 22 May 2016 00:42:22 +0000 simplyfelicity 2553938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: We are in the same boat, DH rocks him to sleep every night and for naps on weekends. Daycare just puts him in his pnp and he falls asleep on his own. We are going to start weaning him off the rocking in a couple weeks but we aren't sure how. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553925 Sat, 21 May 2016 22:47:19 +0000 ALV91711 2553925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nursed DS to sleep until 20 months when he weaned. If he didn't fall asleep nursing I would rock him. After nursing I rocked him to sleep for a while. Then I'd just rock him till he was drowsy and put him down. Now at 3 (and since he got his bed about 7 months ago) we read a book and cuddle in bed and then I just leave and he goes to sleep. </p> <p>When he started daycare he still nursed to sleep for naps (12 months) but he has always napped well there. They have some kind of sleep magic. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553857 Sat, 21 May 2016 19:08:25 +0000 MrsADS 2553857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird @Catomd00 @joyfulkiwi that's good to know about daycare. He will be either 12 or 15 months when he starts (we haven't decided yet). He'll be in the 1 year old room so I think they sleep on mats. I have heard that "peer pressure", so to speak (LOL) helps - they see the other kids laying down to sleep and they do it, too. It's a great place so I think they will help him if he needs it. </p> <p>@sweetiepie yes, we do bath, diaper, PJs, sleep sack, turn on sound machine, sometimes read a book, then nurse/rock. I would like to do more books/routine but usually by bedtime, LO is an exhausted wreck and just doesn't tolerate it. </p> <p>Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions. I would like to work towards him falling asleep more independently, but I'm also lazy and it's easier just to nurse. LOL. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553756 Sat, 21 May 2016 13:25:05 +0000 Ajsmommy 2553756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nursed and rocked to sleep. My dd actually self weaned herself from it, never had any issues and she's been a great sleeper </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553754 Sat, 21 May 2016 13:20:31 +0000 Mama Bird 2553754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: don't worry about day care, they have some special day care magic! Or maybe it's peer pressure. My oldest stopped napping at home when he was like 18 months. He's 3.5 and still naps in day care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553722 Sat, 21 May 2016 12:08:41 +0000 catomd00 2553722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: oh and as for daycare, don't worry they'll deal with it. They often do completely different things for different people. My in laws can just dump DDinthe crib and she never cries! We could never do that without a meltdown haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553719 Sat, 21 May 2016 12:02:54 +0000 catomd00 2553719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: hmm I'd say maybe around 9-10 months, but not consistently. We started early on with drowsy but awake and would go back as much as necessary if she started crying. It was all a natural, gradual process and honestly once one thing started working, she switched it up and we had to figure out a new plan. We just kind of went with the flow and followed her lead and did what we had to do to survive knowing that everything is a stage and will pass eventually. We kind of set our expectation that for at least 2-3 years we would deal with night wakings to some extent. It sucks being tired, though! Luckily both DH and I are pretty low sleep needs to begin with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553633 Sat, 21 May 2016 07:59:40 +0000 SweetiePie 2553633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: Piggy backing off of a couple of PP's, do you have any other routine for sleep besides rocking / nursing?<br /> I would be sure to start incorporating that or continue with a very consistent routine. Something like:</p> <p>Bath<br /> Lotion<br /> PJs<br /> Sleep sack<br /> Books<br /> Sound machine / turn off lights<br /> Rock / nurse</p> <p>Then when you feel ready to stop nursing or rocking to sleep, you can just shuffle around and rely heavily on the other routine pieces / sleep cues. It might not be entirely painless, but it will help, I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553629 Sat, 21 May 2016 07:45:34 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2553629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: he'll be nearly a year when he starts daycare, yes? My daycare would rock him in his crib (or in their arms if they could, but that wasn't often). He wasn't a great napper until he went to the toddler room at 15 months. They slept on little cots and teachers would pat/rub his back until he fell asleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553622 Sat, 21 May 2016 07:35:23 +0000 MrsADS 2553622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks all... I feel sooo much better! </p> <p>@catomd00 I totally agree. I wasn't really sure how I'd feel on some issues like sleep training when I was pregnant, but now that he's here I can't imagine doing CIO. Not hating on anyone that does - but it's not for me. He will only be little so long. Although I wish he was a better sleeper. The sleep deprivation is killing me. Question - how/when did your 2yo learn to fall asleep on his/her own, if you aren't rocking all the way to sleep anymore? Does that make sense?</p> <p>And a follow-up question (for anyone): we have a part time nanny right now (I work out of the home 3-4 days a week, work at home 1-2 days a week). I am going to have to go back to full time 5 days a week out of the home in a few months. We will likely start daycare at that time (after LO turns 1). Right now, our sitter rocks him to sleep for naps. What will they do at daycare?! I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.</p> <p>On mornings like today when I am so exhausted, I try to remember he will only be little and need me for such a short amount of time... it is hard being so tired all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553601 Sat, 21 May 2016 06:20:08 +0000 matador84 2553601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I read title older baby, I was thinking like 2. Ha! Same as a pp, I rocked/nursed all my babies to sleep and now the older one sleeps in his bed no problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553586 Sat, 21 May 2016 04:31:10 +0000 OhCaptain 2553586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well.<br /> You know I'm in the same boat as you, BUT.....I did the same thing with my now 4 year old. His sleep progression went like this....<br /> 0-24 months nurse to sleep (rock if DH was doing it)<br /> 24-28 months, DH took over bedtime. Rocked him to sleep.<br /> After that he quickly moved him to starting out in his own bed and the transition was easy. I rocked him for longer when I did do bedtime, but Thats because By then I was pregnant and sappy about him no longer being my baby. From three on, one of us lays with him in his bed while we sing songs/say a prayer and then we get up and walk away and he's asleep in two minutes.<br /> Never did any sort of sleep training. Ill add, when you have a nine month old, two year olds seem impossibly old and independent. But now, with a four year old, I see how much of a baby he still was. I Don't ever rock him to sleep now, and probably won't ever again, and I cherish all those nights I did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553554 Fri, 20 May 2016 21:56:08 +0000 MrsBrewer 2553554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: love this! </p> <p>I still rock my 11.5 month old to sleep. I nurse so sleep at night, and rock her for naps. I plan to do so as long as I need to. I also don't do CIO. It works for us! The only thing that's tough is that she won't sleep anywhere beside her crib (or being held). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553552 Fri, 20 May 2016 21:49:12 +0000 Beth24 2553552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nursed my daughter to sleep for about 8 months, then we did a bottle in the rocking chair, and then it moved to reading books in the rocking chair. She is a great sleeper and at 20 months she knows the routine....goes right to the chair, picks out 3 books, and then gets down and goes to her crib. I loved that time I had with her nursing her to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553543 Fri, 20 May 2016 21:24:04 +0000 peaches1038 2553543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: love this whole post.<br /> DS is only 6 months old, but I have no plans to stop nursing him to sleep. I love that time with him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553535 Fri, 20 May 2016 20:57:03 +0000 catomd00 2553535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I still rock my 2 year old for 5-10 minutes a night but not to sleep. It's just our routine and then I lay her down and she will sing to herself or just roll around until she falls asleep. I don't know any kid who goes to college needing to be rocked to sleep. :silly: they're only this little for a short time, do what makes your life easiest and them happiest. There's plenty of time for them to be big kids that don't need you for anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553532 Fri, 20 May 2016 20:52:23 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2553532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We stopped rocking our son to sleep around a year old and stopped nursing to sleep at around 2 years old. From 12 months to 2 years old, we'd sit in bed with him or cuddle him as he fell asleep and then put him in bed. After 2.5 years old, we tried some light sleep training to get him to fall asleep alone. We ended up with a routine where we sit in his room for 5ish minites and pat his back. Then we leave and he falls asleep on his own. He's 3.5 years now and can fall asleep on his own, but he prefers cuddles. He wakes in the night and asks my husband to come cuddle him in his bed and my hisband usually goes. I feel like he'd sleep alone if we took a hard line, but we're pretty soft about sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553528 Fri, 20 May 2016 20:44:31 +0000 GoGoSnoGirl 2553528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is almost 1yo &amp; we still nurse/rock her before most sleeps. For bedtime it's her quality time with Daddy, who sings her songs while rocking her. Many nap times she'll either fall asleep nursing or I pace while rocking her in my arms until drowsy enough to put her in her crib, or sometimes all the way asleep. I'm not too worried yet that we won't be able to transition to a more do-it-herself kind of sleep routine, but I don't have a time frame for making this happen &amp; we won't do any CIO to get there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553511 Fri, 20 May 2016 20:13:24 +0000 MrsSRS 2553511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sleep trained DS, but DD is almost one and she still gets nursed to sleep... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553506 Fri, 20 May 2016 20:06:51 +0000 MrsKoala 2553506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nursed him to sleep until 13 months. Then we rocked him for a couple more months and eventually he learned to put himself to sleep. Now at just over 2 we just put him down in his crib, say goodnight, and walk out. He puts himself to sleep every night and every nap. We never sleep trained. We just developed a really reliable routine that we always use. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553505 Fri, 20 May 2016 20:06:17 +0000 twodoghouse 2553505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nursed my twins to sleep for naps and nighttime until about 22 months. At 24 months, they still nurse before naps and at bedtime, but they don't fall all the way to sleep. We actually did do sleep training several times but it never seemed to work (and I couldn't stick with the regiment, so to speak, so it was probably my fault) so we always fell back on nursing to sleep. One day they just start climbing off my lap when they had nursed enough and we'd put them in their cribs. I always liked the snuggles and loved nursing them both to sleep, but outgrowing nursing to sleep coincided with them finally sleeping through the night, so I was ok with them giving it up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553504 Fri, 20 May 2016 20:03:46 +0000 kitty 2553504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice but just wanted to say we are exactly the same, our 9 month old gets rocked or nursed too. Sometimes I put him in the crib and he has played and then gone to sleep but if he cries I just go in and rock him. Planning to transition to lying next to him and cuddling when he's out of the crib. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553500 Fri, 20 May 2016 19:52:29 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2553500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've nursed all my kids to sleep. Never had any problems with it. They were fine after weaning too. A couple nights with longer bedtimes and then back to regular routines.<br /> I don't understand why nursing to sleep gets a bad rap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553499 Fri, 20 May 2016 19:52:15 +0000 JerricaBenton 2553499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nursed to sleep until lo weaned at close to 3! It worked fine for us. Once she weaned we changed the routine up a bit, going right into her room after bath for stories and cuddles and now that's the routine (after a week of adjustment) instead of nursing out in the living room. I think you have to start a new routine rather than just eliminating the nursing/rocking, at least that's what worked best for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-rockednursed-your-older-baby-to-sleep#post-2553495 Fri, 20 May 2016 19:40:02 +0000 MrsADS 2553495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is almost 9 months and we still rock or nurse to sleep for naps and night. (*hides*) For multiple reasons we are not interested in cry it out sleep training. I don't mind what we are doing now to get him to sleep, it's working for us. </p> <p>That being said.... if you did this, did your baby or toddler eventually learn to fall asleep? Without sleep training? My husband said he wonders if we are going to be rocking a 2 year old, which.... I mean, not really what we had in mind. </p> <p>Just curious about others' experiences. </p>