I don't want my baby to STTN

JDO

I just want him to sleep more than an hour at a time.

He used to go down drowsy but awake and STTN, but around 3 months old he wouldn't go down drowsy anymore and started waking frequently again. We got rid of the swaddle, and it got worse. We moved bedtime earlier and increased solid foods per our pediatrician, and saw no difference. We got the Magic Sleepsuit, and saw very marginal improvements. We've been applying Weissbluth for 2 weeks again with very little difference. We have the Seahorse and a white noise machine.

Last night, we finally got him to sleep at 10. He woke at 12, 2, 3, 4, and I finally brought him to bedshare at 5. From there, we slept until 10am because we were both so tired. The only way he sleeps well is when we bedshare. This is a pretty regular pattern.

I'm struggling here, not sure what to do. I'm pretty sure we're done with Weissbluth. I never liked the idea to begin with, but it was recommended by two people I trust so I went with it.

So, what now? What should I try next? I don't expect him to STTN, but these sleep habits are not healthy for either of us.

MrsJeffers2006

I don't have much advice for you, as we are in the exact same situation. I just wanted to say you are not alone in this! I'm thinking the 4 month wakeful is hitting full force. 

fotobird

I agree with the four month wakeful. We've been bedsharing since it started, but I think it's slowly starting to calm back down.

Laurn2012

I don't have any advice, but my personal philosophy is to do whatever works to help both you and LO sleep best.  And if that means bedsharing, then so be it.  We did when she was 2 & 3 months before moving her to her crib and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if it helped us both get some rest.  Hope your LO starts sleeping better soon!!

pepomntpat

This is why we full time bed share.  Could you put him in the crib for the first part of the night and when he wakes up the first time bedshare from there? 

Otherwise, is his room a comfortable temperature?  I find when DD sleeps alone she always feels cold to me even if I am warm and she is dressed warmly.  I've heard that warming the sheets with a heating pad can help with that (take it out before you put LO down of course). I haven't tried it, but it might be that he is too cold. 

The solids will only help (and I don't think they really do help anyway) if he is waking up hungry. It doesn't sound like he is hungry. It sounds like he needs some comfort or security that he is missing in his crib.

JBear1005

I don't have any advice either because we're going through the same thing.  Hopefully it passes soon.  It feels like the newborn stage again.

mrsashby

Read the Weissenbluth book through...at least the first chapters about healthy sleep.  I'm not sure what about Weissenbluth you are "done" with.  He doesn't nec. advocate any one sleep training pattern.  Although, you might try his idea on graduated extinction.   Letting him cry for 5 minutes, then comforting him in his crib...then if he cries going 10 minutes etc...

Don't just read the chapters on just your DC age...read about his sleep research in the beginning chapters.  Teaching your DC good sleep habbits is good for development!  I'm not advocating CIO-but teaching DC to fall back asleep-even if it means some crying.  Also-is DC overtired?  That can mean bad sleep patterns as well.

This book seriously changed my life with my first DS.  I got up with my DS starting at 3 months through 6 months every 1-2 hours at night! By following his advice and believing that good sleep was good for him and us we were able to get night wake ups down to 2 a night at 6 months, then around 8 months down to 1 wake up-then he eventually droped nighttime feedings by 14 months on his own.

JDO

mrsashby:

Read the Weissenbluth book through...at least the first chapters about healthy sleep.  I'm not sure what about Weissenbluth you are "done" with.  He doesn't nec. advocate any one sleep training pattern.  Although, you might try his idea on graduated extinction.   Letting him cry for 5 minutes, then comforting him in his crib...then if he cries going 10 minutes etc...

Don't just read the chapters on just your DC age...read about his sleep research in the beginning chapters.  Teaching your DC good sleep habbits is good for development!  I'm not advocating CIO-but teaching DC to fall back asleep-even if it means some crying.  Also-is DC overtired?  That can mean bad sleep patterns as well.

This book seriously changed my life with my first DS.  I got up with my DS starting at 3 months through 6 months every 1-2 hours at night! By following his advice and believing that good sleep was good for him and us we were able to get night wake ups down to 2 a night at 6 months, then around 8 months down to 1 wake up-then he eventually droped nighttime feedings by 14 months on his own.

I have read the entire book, and yes Weissbluth does have some great ideas that I think have helped us. In the past two weeks we have developed a more regular wake up time every morning, have a more regular nap schedule, and an earlier bedtime. But I'm done with the crying, for now at least. Two weeks with no improvements are telling me that W isn't ready for this kind of sleep training yet.