[finallyamom0310]

So my DD is now 16 months old and still in a crib. I have enjoyed putting her to sleep every night since she was 3 days old. Our nighttime routine consists of us pulling the window shades down together, starting her lullaby music, taking off slippers, turning on her night light and then rocking in the chair together. I first will say that she is my only child and we feel if we are to adopt again we will adopt a 2 4 year old.

DD also, if not quite asleep when I try to move her to the crib starts crying hysterically. She is also 3 nights a week waking up in the middle of the night. I listen to her and if she cry abnormally (tantrum like) I go in and soothe her back to sleep. But if her crying is more like, can I get mommy in here, then I don't go in, just listen.

Anyway, I know that I need to change her routine slowly so that she is better prepared to sleep in her bed when we transition to the toddler bed. Any suggestions?

[jalapeno]

Well, I just want to wish you luck. I wish I had some magic advice for you. We went through this with our daughter. It was still very difficult moving her later to a toddler bed. But it's a good thing she was used to falling asleep by herself while still in her crib. Otherwise I can't imagine what kind of nightmare the switch to toddler bed would have been. She's wonderful at going to bed now but there were definitely some really difficult nights along the way. Just have faith in your decisions. It's perfectly reasonable IMO to expect a 16 month old to fall asleep on her own (although she'll probably make you feel horrible while she's figuring it out). Stay stong! She'll be fine and you'll be fine!