Bedtime - that was easy!

[CodensMommy]

My son Coden is 17 months old and still wakes up at nights for feedings. I breastfed him for 14mths and now he is drinking Nido (a powdered milk for babies over 1) from a bottle. Our normal schedule used to be going to bed around 11-1130pm and waking up around 10 in the morning. It didn't matter if I got tired earlier, if Coden didn't seem tired then I gave up quickly and kept my eyes forced open while he played for endless hours with his toys. Finally one night I was so exhausted, I just let him talk and play in our bed until he fell asleep. I couldn't believe it worked so easily. Whenever he tried to get off the bed, I just pulled him back up next to me. So every night around 11, even if he wasn't ready to sleep, we would lay in bed in the dark until he fell asleep. After doing this successfully for a while, I realized one day, why don't I give him a bedtime? So 4 nights ago I decided he would start going to bed at 9pm and it has worked every single night. I have him all ready and we are laying in bed with a bottle at 9pm. Sometimes he falls asleep right away and sometimes he talks and plays with his feet for a while, but he always goes to sleep within the hour. Now that he is in bed at 9, I get some mommy time to read or relax or go online before bed. I have more energy to cuddle with my husband and I feel good knowing that my son is getting better rest. He still wakes up for feedings at night but I know that in time that will get better too. The funny thing is that it took me this long to do something so easy as a scheduled bedtime! I am very happy I did it. Please post if you have any similiar stories!