@MrsMaryK2016 he's usually super good and sleeps from around 11-8 without wake ups. My goal now is to get him to bed and to stay down at 10 so I'm working backwards. Always open to advice if anyone has it!
@RhodaMorgenstern I think teething combo with the fact he got his 6 month needles yesterday. No fever but a super cranky boy!
How do you all manage nights with barely any sleep then getting up and going to work the next day?!
hopefully it is just a one off (or maybe two off) bad night @kristah2 I totally understand the shock though when you go from having a great sleeper to a bad night it feels awful because you're not used to it
as for your question, honestly you just power through and work the next day. For me adrenaline seems to kick in and while I'm tired I can manage reasonably well. Fortunately I've only had a few really bad nights since I've been back to work. I can handle 1-2 wakeups and still be normal.
You mamas are superstars. M has his 12 month needles October 31st and I go back to work the day before. Not only do I have to take my second day back off for his appointment but I'm already terrified of him not sleeping that night and me having to work the next day. I forget how lucky I am that when M has a bad night i get to relax or take a nap the next day. Seriously you are all amazing. I really don't know how you do it.
Also sentimental moment here but I am SO thankful for you all and this amazing support system. Seriously. It's easy for me to go crazy and feel so down and alone but I have to say despite being home alone all day it doesn't happen because I have such a great support system with all of you. Thank you!
This should probably go in dumb questions but it's sleep training related. S was a side sleeper but over the past few days, she has been rolling on her belly and falling asleep. The past 2 nights I've been able to lay her down and she's fallen asleep on her own after I turned her over on her belly. This is really just "practice" before I really start sleep training. When I do start, should I lay her down on her belly or on her back for her to roll over herself?
This should probably go in dumb questions but it's sleep training related. S was a side sleeper but over the past few days, she has been rolling on her belly and falling asleep. The past 2 nights I've been able to lay her down and she's fallen asleep on her own after I turned her over on her belly. This is really just "practice" before I really start sleep training. When I do start, should I lay her down on her belly or on her back for her to roll over herself?
I think the answer lies in whatever is most comfortable for your LO. ODD was a belly sleeper and that's how we laid her down once it was evident. DS prefers his side so we lay him on his back and let him do the rest.
I actually asked our ped this exact question!! Their suggestion was to always place on their back initially and let baby move to their preferred position after that.
Mine also drank a bottle 3 times a night. Then she wouldn't really eat during the day. I told the Dr at her 6mo check up and she actually laughed saying baby S was just weird. I didn't really find comfort in that. She did follow up to say try giving her solids (puréed food, rice cereal) 3 times a day and see if that helps. I've been able to do it twice a day. I will keep it up this week to see if I notice a difference. The Dr gave me that advice and a few days later we went on a cruise that changed her sleeping habits. Praying those habits continue.
cio method, yep still doing that. She cried putting her down for her nap today for 30 minutes. Yesterday in the car she was overly tired and screamed her head off for the entire 20 minute duration of the car ride. Twice actually. I think she gets overly tired and when that happens I notice she cries longer when I put her down. Probably because I wait until she gives me tired signals like rubbing her hands across her eyes. However, she does have a big case of FOMO. (Fear of missing out)
I actually asked our ped this exact question!! Their suggestion was to always place on their back initially and let baby move to their preferred position after that.
I put her on her stomach. When I put her on her back she cries and carries on longer than if I just put her on her stomach.
@camcbeth when your doing CIO for naps, do you eventually help her to sleep after a certain amount of time so she gets a nap? I'm good with doing CIO at night until she falls asleep since more time is involved but I'm not sure if I want her to cry for a hour trying to get her to nap. Guess I'm just wondering if she cries that long should we just skip the nap or help her to sleep so she actually gets one.
@Ladybug2821 I don't have any advice when it comes to nap training, but i'll just tell you what I'm experiencing. I can put DD down wide awake for bedtime (9/10 nights I do and it seems to be what she prefers) and she will put herself to sleep within 5-30ish mins. Any time I've tried to do it for naps, however, she just plays and talks and doesn't nap. She eventually escalates to crying and even the few times I've decided to let her CIO with interval checks, she still never naps. She can easily go 6-7 hours without taking a nap if I don't force her to take one. It stinks, and crib naps are still only 20-30 mins long.
@mrsmoose5 S seems do to pretty well at night. Sometimes she needs help. This week we are doing full blown sleep training so she will be able to put herself to sleep consistently and hopefully to cut out MOTN wake ups since I don't think she needs to nurse anymore. But like you, naps are another story. She takes decent naps now (time wise) but she hasn't been able to fall asleep on her own.
S moves around a ton while in her crib/sleeping. Poor thing moved all the way to the side during her nap and was pressed so hard against the crib she woke up with an indent on her forehead. When I'm going in and doing the checks while she's CIO, should I move her if she's too close to the edges of the crib or leave her be?
@Ladybug2821 - E sleeps in a pack n play, but often ends up pressed against the side. I leave her be because she seems to like being there, even when she is on her belly with her head pushed into the corner. I wouldn't want to wake her and disrupt her sleep. I would move her if she looked like she could hurt herself.
@lajoliedreamer I definitely wouldn't move her if she's already asleep because she wakes up off of anything unless she could hurt herself of course. I'm just thinking about when I go in during my interval checks and if she has her face pressed up against the wood slats, should I slide her over to the middle.
These past 2 nights LO hasn't wanted to go down to bed he fights it and acts like he's starving. I've taken to giving him those little 2 oz liquid bottles. Hope I'm not starting another bad habit but I can't do anything else
E was doing something similar a while ago, @kvruns, so I just give her more than I think she'll need at her last feeding. Sometimes she eats it all and sometimes she doesn't, but it seems to fix the issue. If for some reason her last feeding is more than an hour before bed, I'll sometimes give her another 2-4 oz to top her off before putting her down.
@Ladybug2821 I don't let her cry long for naps. I get her and try to have her play and then if she gives me a tired signal I try to put her down again. Sometimes it's play and a bottle. I don't put her down at specific times of the day either. Usually it's about the same time and when she rubs her face indicating she's ready and tired. Same thing for bed. However I let her CiO at night Longer.
I've been wondering that @sandnstarsnj it is just weird because I feed him, swaddle him and put him to bed, so it isn't like much time has passed from eating. He hasn't been eating a ton in his before bed feeding but it never affected him until now. Let's hope it passes!
@HeatherC527 a lot of my friends suggested that when we moved M into his crib from his rock n play. We just went for it though at night right away and he did well!
@MrsMaryK2016 How did the sleep training pan out? I am officially starting tonight. What is the most important thing you think I need to know?
AMAZING! I can't say enough how sleep training has completely changed everything for the better for us. Putting him to bed used to take hours and would end with him really upset and me really frustrated and that just wasn't how I wanted to end everyday with him.
I'd say the most important thing you need to know is to stay consistent. If you waffle or change things in your routine you're just going to cause confusion and make the whole thing drag on longer. LO is going to cry and that's OKAY. Be strong in your resolve that sleep training is important for your relationship, your family dynamic, LO's development and health. The first night I called my dad and he and I talked while LO was crying; it helped keep me distracted so I wouldn't cave and go in early. I would recommend finding someone you can do that with. Other than that I'd say keep in mind LO won't cry forever (even though it may feel like it) and sleep training should only take about 3 days for everything to improve.
You've got this mama! I'll check in tonight if you need some help.
@MrsMaryK2016 How did the sleep training pan out? I am officially starting tonight. What is the most important thing you think I need to know?
AMAZING! I can't say enough how sleep training has completely changed everything for the better for us. Putting him to bed used to take hours and would end with him really upset and me really frustrated and that just wasn't how I wanted to end everyday with him.
I'd say the most important thing you need to know is to stay consistent. If you waffle or change things in your routine you're just going to cause confusion and make the whole thing drag on longer. LO is going to cry and that's OKAY. Be strong in your resolve that sleep training is important for your relationship, your family dynamic, LO's development and health. The first night I called my dad and he and I talked while LO was crying; it helped keep me distracted so I wouldn't cave and go in early. I would recommend finding someone you can do that with. Other than that I'd say keep in mind LO won't cry forever (even though it may feel like it) and sleep training should only take about 3 days for everything to improve.
You've got this mama! I'll check in tonight if you need some help.
I know one thing I've done is get in the shower right after putting LO down. That way I don't hear the crying and I can't really just stop in the middle of it. Most of the time she is asleep before I get out.
@mrsmaryk2016 S has actually been doing pretty well with our "practice", but that has been me laying her down awake and still helping her a little bit by patting her or holding her paci still in her mouth (she won't stop playing with that darn thing while she's falling asleep). So this training will be her doing it completely on her own which she has done before just not consistently. She is still waking for 1 MOTN so I plan to still do that but lay her down awake. This may be a little tricky because she falls asleep right after nursing so I may have to wake her a little before laying her down but I don't want to overstimulate her. I'm scared to do naps at the same time but think I will at least try for the first nap. Then help her with the rest of her naps to ensure she gets enough sleep.
@Ladybug2821 I'm going to give you a lot of unsolicited advice because I feel really passionately about how sleep training can improve everyone's life. Feel free to ignore all of it!
If you can take away the paci for bedtime I think she will be better off without it. All the resources I read said if she can't put it back in herself then she's going to wake up wanting it and you're going to have to go put it back in.
I did naps naps and bedtime at the same time because things were so bad and he did okay. I think for him it would have even confusing if at night I didn't rock him and put him down awake but then for naps I rocked him and put him down asleep. I really think if she's already shown you that she can fall asleep on her own then she's going to do fine.
As as for the falling asleep nursing, I just burped M after he ate and then that combined with putting him in his sleep sack would wake him up enough to qualify for "drowsy but awake". If you want me to send our full nighttime and nap routine let me know.
@mrsmaryk2016 Yes, that would be awesome. I've been thinking about the paci thing myself. She can put it back in herself but I'm still going back and forth on whether to take it or leave it.
@MrsMaryK2016 how long did you let LO cry for? We tried sleep training last week and he cried for over 4 hours. We did checks every 10 minutes and i BF too. Eventually we gave up because we were worried he had cried for too long.
B has been going down decently, even if he is awake he might fuss a bit but will go down. But his MOTN I cannot get him back down without nursing. It sucks because he slept through the night with no wakeups (nothing that woke me up) for about 6 weeks until the 4 month regression hit, so I know he can go through the night without eating but he's super grumpy when he wakes and it is the only thing that calms him.
A is usually pretty good about going to sleep but for whatever reason last night she wasn't having it. My husband tried to put her to sleep, she went nuclear and screamed for 45 minutes. I came up with a bottle in case she was hungry. My poor husband tried to give her the bottle while I left to refill her humidifier. Every time I left the room, A went bananas. Finally we switched, I gave her the bottle and rocked (and sang) her to sleep. It was a total knock to my husband's confidence though. This morning, he went to go get her and she was happy as a clam, playing with her feet and smiling. She was happy all morning, didn't even scream in the car like she normally does. It was just bizarre.
@MrsMaryK2016 how long did you let LO cry for? We tried sleep training last week and he cried for over 4 hours. We did checks every 10 minutes and i BF too. Eventually we gave up because we were worried he had cried for too long.
@mrsmaryk2016 Yes, that would be awesome. I've been thinking about the paci thing myself. She can put it back in herself but I'm still going back and forth on whether to take it or leave it.
@ladybug2821 BEDTIME: Bath starts at 6:30 everyday. Lotion, pjs and hair brushed. One-2 books depending on how hungry/sleepy he is. Bottle while rocking. New diaper if needed. I put on his sleep sack in the crib and give him his lovie. Sing one or two Christmas carols (guilty pleasure) while rubbing his belly. Then I always say "Ok baby, time for night night. Mommy loves you" leave and shut the door. He will usually play for a few minutes and pass out. If he plays for ten minutes go in and check his diaper and change it if needed. Sing the songs and say the same phrase and leave. He's usually out shortly after that.
NAPS: Bottle in his room while rocking. Clean diaper. Sleep sack in the crib. One song while rubbing belly. Same night night phrase and leave. Basically the same as bedtime with no bath or books.
Bedtime routine should be about 30 minutes so they have time to wind down.
Put him in the crib awake for five minutes. If he's crying I go in and check him. If he has a wet diaper I change it and then put him back down otherwise no picking him up.
Leave for ten minutes. Check and soothe.
Leave for 15 minutes. Check and soothe.
Repeat 15 minute intervals.
I read that if it goes on for an hour and a half to take a 30 minute break out of the room. No tv and keep lights dim but get him to calm down. Then do a modified bedtime routine. We never had to do this but if we did it would probably be like books, a small bottle if needed, new diaper, sleep sack, lovie, song, sleep phrase, leave. And then you do the same check in pattern. If that doesn't work I'd probably try starting bedtime earlier.
Is anyone else still struggling with naps? We have no nap schedule at all; they are still completely all over the place. She is a good nighttime sleeper, but naps are the worst. Every single one is a battle with her crying, flailing, kicking, etc. If I can actually get her to sleep, she only lasts about 20 minutes in her crib. Yesterday she was up from 12:30 to 6:30 with no nap. I tried from about 2:45-4:30 to get her down, but she just would not do it. I've come to dread nap time and I don't have hours a day to dedicate to get her to sleep as I have DS too. Ugh, just so frustrated
B has been going down decently, even if he is awake he might fuss a bit but will go down. But his MOTN I cannot get him back down without nursing. It sucks because he slept through the night with no wakeups (nothing that woke me up) for about 6 weeks until the 4 month regression hit, so I know he can go through the night without eating but he's super grumpy when he wakes and it is the only thing that calms him.
S STTN until the sleep regression also. She then began waking 3 times in the MOTN. She is finally down to 1 maybe 2 if she poops.
Thanks @MrsMaryK2016 yes we will try again and we know it will take more than one night. Doing a mofified bedtime routine if the crying goes on for a while sounds like a good idea. I've actually been sleep training him for his naps this week and so far he hasnt cried for more than an hour.
I'm more worried about naps than bedtime. H has tried having her CIO and it has not worked. But he didn't do it with the checks so hopefully that will help. If the crying last 1.5 hrs for naps, do they suggest doing the same thing or just helping them to sleep?
I'm more worried about naps than bedtime. H has tried having her CIO and it has not worked. But he didn't do it with the checks so hopefully that will help. If the crying last 1.5 hrs for naps, do they suggest doing the same thing or just helping them to sleep?
I'd have to go back and read it but I believe they said that naps should only be 1.5 hours total so if they don't sleep during that time you get them up and make a big deal about being up and then try again in an hour. Buuut, I never had that issue so I'd recommend reading up on it.
Re: All Things Sleep Training
- BFP: 3/10/16 — Baby Girl born 11/20/16
TTC#2 April 2019as for your question, honestly you just power through and work the next day. For me adrenaline seems to kick in and while I'm tired I can manage reasonably well. Fortunately I've only had a few really bad nights since I've been back to work. I can handle 1-2 wakeups and still be normal.
I forget how lucky I am that when M has a bad night i get to relax or take a nap the next day. Seriously you are all amazing. I really don't know how you do it.
Also sentimental moment here but I am SO thankful for you all and this amazing support system. Seriously. It's easy for me to go crazy and feel so down and alone but I have to say despite being home alone all day it doesn't happen because I have such a great support system with all of you. Thank you!
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16
cio method, yep still doing that. She cried putting her down for her nap today for 30 minutes. Yesterday in the car she was overly tired and screamed her head off for the entire 20 minute duration of the car ride. Twice actually. I think she gets overly tired and when that happens I notice she cries longer when I put her down. Probably because I wait until she gives me tired signals like rubbing her hands across her eyes. However, she does have a big case of FOMO. (Fear of missing out)
@mrsmoose5 S seems do to pretty well at night. Sometimes she needs help. This week we are doing full blown sleep training so she will be able to put herself to sleep consistently and hopefully to cut out MOTN wake ups since I don't think she needs to nurse anymore. But like you, naps are another story. She takes decent naps now (time wise) but she hasn't been able to fall asleep on her own.
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16
I'd say the most important thing you need to know is to stay consistent. If you waffle or change things in your routine you're just going to cause confusion and make the whole thing drag on longer. LO is going to cry and that's OKAY. Be strong in your resolve that sleep training is important for your relationship, your family dynamic, LO's development and health. The first night I called my dad and he and I talked while LO was crying; it helped keep me distracted so I wouldn't cave and go in early. I would recommend finding someone you can do that with. Other than that I'd say keep in mind LO won't cry forever (even though it may feel like it) and sleep training should only take about 3 days for everything to improve.
You've got this mama! I'll check in tonight if you need some help.
- BFP: 3/10/16 — Baby Girl born 11/20/16
TTC#2 April 2019If you can take away the paci for bedtime I think she will be better off without it. All the resources I read said if she can't put it back in herself then she's going to wake up wanting it and you're going to have to go put it back in.
I did naps naps and bedtime at the same time because things were so bad and he did okay. I think for him it would have even confusing if at night I didn't rock him and put him down awake but then for naps I rocked him and put him down asleep. I really think if she's already shown you that she can fall asleep on her own then she's going to do fine.
As as for the falling asleep nursing, I just burped M after he ate and then that combined with putting him in his sleep sack would wake him up enough to qualify for "drowsy but awake". If you want me to send our full nighttime and nap routine let me know.
This morning, he went to go get her and she was happy as a clam, playing with her feet and smiling. She was happy all morning, didn't even scream in the car like she normally does. It was just bizarre.
NAPS: Bottle in his room while rocking. Clean diaper. Sleep sack in the crib. One song while rubbing belly. Same night night phrase and leave. Basically the same as bedtime with no bath or books.
@HeatherC527 The schedule we did was:
Bedtime routine should be about 30 minutes so they have time to wind down.
Put him in the crib awake for five minutes. If he's crying I go in and check him. If he has a wet diaper I change it and then put him back down otherwise no picking him up.
Leave for ten minutes. Check and soothe.
Leave for 15 minutes. Check and soothe.
Repeat 15 minute intervals.
I read that if it goes on for an hour and a half to take a 30 minute break out of the room. No tv and keep lights dim but get him to calm down. Then do a modified bedtime routine. We never had to do this but if we did it would probably be like books, a small bottle if needed, new diaper, sleep sack, lovie, song, sleep phrase, leave. And then you do the same check in pattern. If that doesn't work I'd probably try starting bedtime earlier.
This is is the site I did most of my research on. https://www.babysleepsite.com/
Edited to add, if you're going to do CIO you have to stick with it more than one night.
Edit: spelling
S STTN until the sleep regression also. She then began waking 3 times in the MOTN. She is finally down to 1 maybe 2 if she poops.