Sleepless Nights for Mommy

It's time to reteach him to fall asleep on his own, in his own bed. It may sound cruel to some but the solution for my first child was to let him cry it out. Have a set bedtime, a bedtime routine, then leave him to learn how to fall asleep. Don't go into his room until morning...or if you want to continue night time feedings don't go into his room until feeding time. The first few nights are the hardest, there will be a lot of crying and you will doubt this technique, stick with it and it will be worth it when he figures out how to fall asleep on his own and in his own room. Get a good friend or family member who supports your plan to come have a sleep over with you the first few nights so you can have some support and not cave in, being consistent is key. Good luck!

My daughter was a little older (3 yrs) when i started her in her own bed. I thought she would never got to bed without me! But this worked for me: I got her a new, fun loft bed with hiding space underneath (from IKEA only $180). I let her choose her own bedding and accessories. She was so excited about her new "cool" bed that she wanted to sleep in it. She's been going to bed without a fuss for four months now.

hi T.! my 18 month old twins didn't start sleeping through the night until they were 14 months old. so i know how hard this is. we never had ours sleeping with us so i don't know what to say about that part. but, this is what we did... first night. lay them in thier cribs with some music on and a baby einstien video with the sound off. the video is on a 30 minute timer. i'd kiss them nite-nite and lay them down and walk out of the room. they'd watch their video and then go to sleep. then when they woke up around 10:30 we'd let them cry for about 3 min before going in. each time we'd kiss them, rock them and calm them down. once they were calm, we'd give them the nite-nite kiss and lay them down again. if they cried we just left and closed the door (so hard to do!). each time we left we'd let them cry for 2 minutes longer each time, repeating the same process over and over. the longest cry fit lasted 17 minutes. it was brutal. but, eventually they learned that if they really need me i'm there, but that they needed to go to sleep on their own. luckily, you only have one so you don't have to worry about one waking up the other like i did. i hope this helps. it is a little confusing so you can email me if you have other questions.

Hi,
I highly, highly, highly, reccomend Dr. Ferber's solving your child's sleep problems. It may be tough to stick with, but basically the key is to decide what your bedtime routine is and then stick with it!! Three days and you'll have a sleeping household! This is a let him cry it out method, so if you aren't willing to committ to that approach then don't waste your money on the book. There are many other approaches, but all the members (about 12) of our mommy group have done this when they got to the "I have to sleep now" point and it has worked for each of us. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

I had the same problem. My daughter is 14months and slept with us until the past 2weeks. She nursed all night long(I was the human pacifer)she didn't take pacifers or a bottle. I tried to put her in the crib, but she climbed out so I tried to nurse and rock her to sleep and lay her down then she would wake up and I would do the same thing over and over. It did not work, trust me she woke more frequently every night it got worse. She didn't know how to self soothe to sleep, she only knew how to fall asleep by me nursing or rocking her to sleep. The doctor suggested I baby proof the room, get a toddler bed with a rail guard, and an extra tall gate at the door. I was instructed to go ahead and rock and nurse her to sleep along with a bedtime routine(reading, brush teeth, etc)and then when she woke up to go in pat her or pick her up say nite nite lay her back down and then leave the room and let her cry until she fell back asleep (on the floor and all). The first night she went to sleep at 8pm and woke at 10pm I did as instructed and she cried for 45mins(it was sad, but I stuck to my guns) she climbed in her bed and went to sleep she woke at 2:30am and I repeated the process this time it was 20mins of crying. Then woke at 6am. The next night it was 10mins of crying first wake then 5mins second wake. The next night she slept all through the night. Each day it got easier with some wakings, but always fell asleep after no more than 10mins of crying. I left a sippy cup of water at the end of her bed just in case she was thristy, but I can't say if she ever used it or not. I also slept myself with a bear of hers and put that in with her the first night so it had my scent on it. The doctor suggested to or to put a shirt you wore all day in there with her. I hope this helps and good luck.

Ther's a good book out there called The no-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley which I found very helpful. It's not overnight success, but it offers gentler ways of getting your child to sleep better. Your son probably misses his dad, and the last thing you want to do is to let him cry alone in his room at this point. I say give the advice in the book a try, if they don't work, then take it from there.
I also liked The Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg. She argues that babies and children need a predictable daily routine to sleep better.
Good luck!
J.

Dear T.,

Start right now to talk to him about sleeping in his own bed from now on. Let him know that he will be doing this starting tonight. During the day have him help you get his bed ready for tonight. Ask which stuffed toys he wants to sleep with, and which blanket is his favorite. Let him stand on a stool or chair and help you get the bed ready.

At night start early - still talking about how neat it will be for him to be a big boy now, and how happy Dad will be when he comes home to see him in his own bed. (believe me, that is the truth too.) Dad will need that alone time with you, and you need to begin right now for his return to a peaceful night time home. Night time is for Moms and Dads to be alone in their own bed.

C. N.

Yes, I would continue to keep him in his bed.Do abedtime routine and stick to it. Bath,read abook and then place him in his bed. The doctor once told me to let my son cry for fifteen minutes and then if he hasnt stopped go in make sure he's dry nothing is tight on his body thats bothering him and then rub his back and leave the room.But dont pick him up out of bed. Stick your guns he will get used to it and know you mean business.
Good luck
N. s