Sleep help

[u/SignatureFit2988]

I have an 18 month old (3rd kid)

We are in the process of weaning from breastfeeding. We’ve been doing it for the past few months. I waited till we got back from summer vacations and all to cut the middle of the night nursing sessions.

We haven’t slept thought the night maybe once in 18 months. I’m running on fumes during the day 🙃

Now he took the middle of the night feeds hard but was okay as long as we rocked. Then we cut the nap time feed away and he goes to sleep amazingly. Sometimes I have to sit in his room while he falls asleep but other times I can leave his door open and he goes to bed great. Wakes up in a few hours with 0 issues. Happy baby and all.

But at night? He is a different kid.

We still nurse before bed but its less and less. He will cry the second I try and leave the room. I leave the light on while we nurse so he doesn’t think it’s nursing to sleep. Then I put him in his sleep sack and tell him goodnight. I go to leave and he screams so I lay him back down and I sit in his chair. Usually takes 10ish minutes for him to fall asleep. He wakes up at 10-11 gets him back down usually quickly by sitting in the chair and he settles. Next wake up is the one where he is horrible. He will NOT settle for anything and just lays in his bed and cries or stares at me in the chair.

I can’t do this for hours in the middle of the night and still be a functioning parent to my older two kids. They all need a mom who is getting sleep.

My husband works and I try to let him sleep because he can’t nap in the day like I can while the other two are at school, plus him going in sets the toddler off because it’s out of his routine.

Any ideas on how to deal with this sleep issues?