Hellobee Boards

We switched DD from being rocked to sleep at around 18 months. Basically, I would rock her on my lap if she asked for it, but I stopped offering. During the transition, she basically had two options: she could either lay down and we would read, sing, and rub her back until she fell asleep, or she could play, but we would leave the room and not stay with her. There was some crying if she chose to play and we would leave the room, but we always came back when she said she was ready to lay down, and we never left her to cry it out.

I would rock/nurse DD while DH read her one story. Once the story was over DH gets/gives hugs/kisses and leave. I would put her in bed when she was still drowsy. Once DD was in a toddler bed we had the rule that she couldn't get out of bed unless mommy or daddy said it was ok. She is now 3yo and rarely gets out of bed without us giving the ok first.