Help With: How to Get Through the "Sleep Training"

Hi K.-
I am a mom of 4 with my youngest 18 months. I went through this with all of my kids (I nursed them all until about 14 monthes but stopped night feedings around 8 monthes). Routine, routine, routine. I nurse my son, he usually falls asleep. I sing hime the same song, whether awake or asleep, put him down. If he wakes in the middle of the night the 1st time I go in and pick him up, sing the same song, lay him down, he cries, I waited 5 min, went back in and just patted his back and sang the same song, if he still cried waited 10 min. etc. Same routine, It will get worse for 2-4 days and then kick in. Letting a baby soothe themselves to sleep is hard so look at the clock and make sure you are lengthening the time betwee. Doing this is a personal choice. I did it will all my kids but you have to committ to the routine for it to work. I think it is harder on you than the baby. My son I am happy to say is sleeping well and wakes up happy and talkative!!
Good Luck with whatever you decide!
B.

Hi K.
We would all like our babies to "sleep like babies". Have you ever read the Happiest Baby on the Block, by Dr. Harvey Karp?
Your baby is NOT too old for his calming measures to help him sleep longer.
You can read the book, but it is much better to get the parent kit, as it is easier to watch the DVD, and you also get a soothing sounds CD...(it is a track of different white noise for the baby, that is proven to work, 4 different sounds that loop over and over).
You can also get an in-home consult or class from a Certified Happiest Baby on the Block instructor.
You can check out the Happiest Baby on the Block Website to find one in your area....
depending on where you live, I see clients in the North Shore and in Chicago.
I hope this helps!
Remember, do what feels best for YOU and YOUR family, what feels right in your heart.
Take great care!

K. RN BSN CCE
www.babyfeat.com
____@____.com,net

I recently received a lot of help getting my son to sleep. He's only 4 1/2 months but just under 20 lbs, so my guess is they're probably consuming the same amount or close to it with breastfeeding. He's big enough now to go 14 hours(according to my Ped) without eating provided he gets enough to eat during the day...I feed him every 3-4hrs breastmilk then 2 feedings of solids in the morning and at night. At night my husband and I recently went through a bout of fussing at night bc he wanted to play...crying it out doesn't work when mommy aka food goes in. Pick a weekend or vacation where your husband can go in and check on your son...this way baby thinks soothing not food! I also pushed my son's bedtime routine back 1 hour to 9pm instead of 8pm. It seems to have worked. Damien now sleeps from 9-7! Hope this helps.
Good luck!

You DO NOT have to listen to the crying. Now, that being said, my son still woke once at night until he was about a year....which is when I night weaned him. If you are ok with one or two wakings, then let it be. You know what is best for your child. I used the techniques in "The no cry sleep solution" by Elizabeth Pantley to night wean. Routine is important but that doesn't mean you have to let him cry. They are only this little for a short time and in my opinion it is more important to instill in them a sense of trust that you will always be there for him when he needs you. I think this encourages independence in the long run. Good luck!

I agree about the routine. It helped us with all 3 of our kids. I read Jodi Mindell's sleep book, which heavily emphasized the routine factor as well as checking at different intervals. With each of my 3, it took about a week, but results were seen in just a couple of days. Committing to the same bedtime routine can be tough, but it's worth it if you want a good sleeper! Good luck!

Hi K.-
Oooh I feel your pain. Sleep training is SO HARD but very important. So hang in there. One of the pp's gave great advice on routine.
My husband and I have followed the same routine with our daughter since 4 weeks of age. Bath, lotion massage (she's getting too antsy for this now at 14 mo), stories, final feeding (breastfeeding for a while, then we went to breastmilk in bottle so hubby could do it) now she's on milk but we still do milk in a sippy, lights out, rocking, bed. She wakes up OCCAISONALLY but we don't go to her. THIS IS SO HARD, but constistancy is key. Hang in there girl, you can do it and your lil man will be a better sleeper for it.