At 11 months, how can I get him to soothe himself to sleep?

I've been seeing topics like this over the past few days and I'm in need of advice. DS is very good and typically sleeps from 9pm-7:30am. Since he sleeps so well we haven't really thought about NOT rocking him to sleep, or nursing him to sleep. But I do not want to be doing this with a 2 or 3 year old.

Do I break the habit now? How can I do it? Should I start putting toys in his crib? Do we now allow crying? Am I too late? Could I have any more questions?

TIA!

Re: At 11 months, how can I get him to soothe himself to sleep?

Try putting him down and see what happens. We always fed DS and he fell asleep. I was afraid that he couldn't soothe himself to sleep. I put him in the crib with the aquarium soother and we haven't had a problem.

Re: At 11 months, how can I get him to soothe himself to sleep?

i allowed crying. each night i would let it last a little longer and a little longer.

its hard but it definitely helps.

DS falls asleep and sleeps all ngiht - we did it with him.

DD is such a pain! She has to fall asleep near us and usually wakes up in the middle of the night and comes in bed with us. We are trying hard to break the habbit. I wish I did it from the beginning.

Re: At 11 months, how can I get him to soothe himself to sleep?

Have you just tried to lay him in the crib to see if that works. If it doesnt, I say you have to let him cry. I think thats the only solution. Its rough and I hate doing it but its the only way.

Re: At 11 months, how can I get him to soothe himself to sleep?

What do you do for naps? I always start whatever I want to try with naps first, then moved onto nighttime.
I would try to set up a 'routine' - whatever works for you. Bottle, then a quick cuddle, then down or maybe you want to try just to put him in there with a favorite stuffed animal and walk out.

If he cries, rub his back, tell him you love him and walk out again. Wait a few minutes, do it again. If he is inconsolable, pick him up, hug him and sooth him, then put him down again. This is kind of what I do - it varies on the type of cry but I will go in and out and sooth him trying not to pick him up unless he is inconsolable.

Re: At 11 months, how can I get him to soothe himself to sleep?

I put ds in with a stuffed animal, truck and a book...oh yeah and his winnie the pooh pillow. The rules are you do not have to go to sleep but you are staying in the crib in your room by yourself! He usually is out within 15 minutes.