Teaching Thomas to Self Sooth

I have always helped Thomas go to sleep both for nap time and for bed. As a stay at home mom this is one of the perks. But now that my son is two years old I would like him to learn how to lay down and relax and put himself to sleep. At least part of the time. I’d love to be able to tell him goodnight and have him lay down in bed and go to sleep.

I have been doing some reading online about how to do this, and from what I have read the first step (which is usually taken at 3-6 months) is to set a consistent bedtime and routine. Ok check. He always goes to bed at 8 pm, and that’s after a bath, supper, and some play time. And then right before bed (what seems to really help sink it in) is getting hugs and kisses from everyone in the house. And I mean everybody – if we have company then they have to give hugs and kisses too. Same goes if we are staying at someone else’s house. And then we lay down and cuddle while he drinks a bottle of milk and goes to sleep. Usually at the end of this he is asleep for the night, unless he has gas pains or is feeling sick.

The best advice I have read is that you have to find what works for him. And since he is older it may take a longer time than if I had started when he was a couple of months old.  So starting tonight we will follow our regular bedtime and instead of cuddling him I’ll just lay there by him.

I’ll keep you updated on the progress. Wish us luck!


First Night - I caved in last night and had a cuddle session with my baby.
Second Night - He had an early bedtime tonight. Coming off of an ear infection might not have been the best time to start learning to put himself to sleep.
Third Night - He had a regular bedtime tonight. And held his own bottle. I also didn’t have to cuddle him, just laid in bed next to him. But he woke up later and needed cuddled to go back to sleep. But I’ll take the small victory.
Fourth Night - He couldn’t get comfortable or calm down enough to lay still and go to sleep. At about ten I gave up trying and we took a drive
Fifth Night - Once he takes a drive it seems that’s the only way he wants to go to sleep. We of course had to take another drive. But hopefully we’ll be back on track tomorrow night. Hopefully.
Sixth Night – We didn’t have to go for a drive, but he did have to go for a drive. So hopefully we will keep having a little more progress. 
Seventh Night – We are now back to him holding his own bottle and just having mommy lay there next to him. To actually go to sleep I did have to cuddle, but only for a couple of minutes.