Those who sleep train or nursed to sleep... come in

blond1230

So my LO was the best sleeper til about a month and a half ago. He would go down at 7:30 and wake at 7:30, waking once a night occasionally. I nursed him to sleep and would put him down either drowsy or asleep. He'd eat if he woke up.

Now since he hit about 7 months out routine hasn't changed at all but he will not go down and stay down. At around 7:30-8 every night I rock him and nurse him, and he is just not the least bit tired so he just stays awake and we keep rocking or he falls asleep and when I try to transfer him he screams bloody murder. This goes on for at least two hours every night. Then once he is down he either wakes up hourly or wakes up for a stretch of about 3 hours. When he wakes and I rock him it takes multiple attempts to put him down- again he will scream bloody murder when I transfer him.

Two nights ago was the worst- he was up from 11pm-4am. During this time he wanted to crawl and play and babbled. There was not a tired bone on his body. Last night he was up at 9, 10, 11:30, 2 and 4. He isn't hungry- he eats but it's more to soothe.

I am not against letting him fuss or cry a little, when he wakes I do go right in and pick him up but only because he is now standing and will just stand there and yell so I get nervous he will be so tired he falls. How do you do it? The second he gets up he sits right up or stands in his crib and I just feel like I need to get him and rock him back to sleep. Can you let them cry a bit if they are standing and so awake or is it just a waste because you will have to get them anyway?

He naps 2-3 x a day for about 30 minutes to an hour. He nurses to sleep for the naps too unless we see out in the car and he falls asleep there.

Anyone have any recommendations or books or methods you think will help please let me know. I am a walking zombie and so tired I could cry. I've read a ton about the sleep regression at this age but I think the fact that I've nursed to sleep for so long definitely doesn't help the situation.

Also he will not take a bottle and screams even louder when DH goes in so I don't even let him go in anymore for the purpose of getting him back to sleep.

LnR70707

Both my kids didn't stand in the crib until close to 9 months, so the initial sleep training was over.  With my son, standing up was a sign he most likely was not going to go back to sleep on his own, so I'd go in, lay him down and tell him it was time for sleep (we did Ferber for initial training).  Sometimes he'd get right back up, other times he'd go to sleep.  As long as they know how to sit back down from a stand I think it is fine to leave them (taking level of fussing/crying into consideration of course).  DD will stand up sometimes when I put her down for naps and play for a minute, but will sit down and go to sleep on her own.

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Salemkitty13

We nursed to sleep until last week. We are trying the no cry sleep solution. 

I worked on DS eating and napping schedule. I changed his nighttime routine. He did great until I moved him back to his crib (we had been bedsharing) it is a work in progress but he is learning to put himself to sleep. 

For wake ups, I tried to rub his back and talk to him about sleeping sometimes this is enough. Most of the time I nurse him then put him back. I am using the decreasing based on sucking response method. Honestly I have done that for months so I'm not sure if it's going to work. Maybe as he gets more skilled at putting himself to sleep. 

I have not introduced a lovey I want to but I'm scared to do it. I'm looking for a lovey he likes that I feel isn't dangerous. We have not added a paci.

 Good luck to you with whatever method you decide. My only advice is choose something you feel you can be consistent with

hilalk

We did Ferber with both our kids. Since 6 months old LO is sleeping just fine. DS used to challenge us some days. He even started to jump from his crib a some point. I used to put his back and check on him according to Ferber minutes. If I were you I would go in lay him down and calm him little bit without too much touching and leave the room. He definetely will stand up again but I would wait for certain time and do the same thing again. You can google Ferber minutes. Eventually he would realize that you won't be picking him up and fall asleep. You should be persistent though. Good luck

blond1230

Thanks for all of e great tips ladies. I will definitely look in to the no cry sleep solution first- as much as I think I could let him cry a bit at this point this may be the more realistic start for us. Last night when he stood in his crib I tried to put him on his back and walk away slowly. Did that three times but it just made him madder and madder until he was crying and crying. I tried to soothe him by rocking him and swaying him but all he wanted to do was nurse. It is so frustrating and heartbreaking at the same time because he just ate so I knew that wasn't a hunger cry, but the more he worked up himself, the more he wanted to comfort nurse. Ughhhhh. It's tough. I sang to him, played him a lullabye, nothing soothed til i popped him on the boob and he stopped immediately. He woke up 3 more times til I finally brought him into bed with us and he slept better - so maybe there is some separation anxiety going on. He definitely is teething- he has four teeth on top that all broke thru this past week. I'm hoping it's a phase but it is just so hard to see an end in sight.