suggestions for getting DS to STTN

wifey26

ok, no flaming...i know every baby wants to go at his/her own pace and will do it when they're ready.  i know DS can go for longer stretches of sleep.  he's done it before and often times he just wants to be comforted/rocked/held when he wakes during the night.  sometimes he really does want to eat, and eats a lot! 

now, i'm totally patient and am willing to work at his pace, but if there are any tips or tricks for HELPING DS on the path to sleeping through the night, please share.

DS is 16 weeks, is BF + supplemented with some formula, and is a big healthy boy! 

displaced kiwi

I hope and pray a lot. It doesn't seem to help.

Marielle0430

I have no idea.  We just follow his cues.  In our case, we think it may have had something to do with putting him in his own room and crib.  The very first night that we put him in his room and crib (at 5 weeks), he STTN and has continued doing so for the most part so far.  We are wondering if it's because it's quieter in there.

cros8380

My only suggestion would be to keep trying new things. For example, if you decide to put him down sleepy but awake this week and it doesn't work out...try it again next week. I know with ANYTHING else trying the same thing over and over hoping for a new outcome makes you insane, but with babies, it's different. As they grow they can handle new things! GL!

wife1014

I've tried crossing my fingers and wiggling my nose...hasn't worked yet.  But if you find the magic trick, please let me know.

utlawgirl

It's just dumb luck, honestly. Babies mature at different paces and STTN at different times. If you're not up for Ferber or something like that, I think the only things you can really do are make sure he gets enough calories in during the day and give him a nice, quiet place to sleep at night. Beyond that, I'm out.

krisnolan22

I give DD some scotch on the rocks and she always seems to STTN.

 

JUST KIDDING!!! she has been STTN since 6 weeks, I think because her room is very dark (when our house was built in 1950, the "nursery" was built in the part of the house that has no street lamps and then a bush was put outside to keep the light out- I live in a Levitt house...built for young soldiers and their families.) Have you tried black out curtains though?  We also have the Lamaze Sea Horse, that i swear by. If i knew the trick,I would be rich...i just say that DH and I are very blessed. Like PP said, trial and error..see what works.

xche

Just this week DD went from sleeping 5 hours at a time to 12 when I started paying more attention to her napping schedule. I put her down 2 hours after she wakes up, almost to the minute, and she falls asleep on her own now. We just hit the 4th day in a row with 3 naps, then 12 hours at night.

Also, I noticed a huge change when DD started falling asleep on her own with her seahorse now and can self-soothe. She woke up the first two nights at 2am and fell back asleep without REALLY crying, just fussing.

GL.. it's definitely a process figuring out what works.

MHeming

Wish I could give you some guidance, but I have no idea what made DS start STTN.  He started around 6 weeks and except for the past 2 weeks (4 mo wakeful) has continued like a champ. 

wifey26

do any of you still swaddle?  DS still has the moro reflex, so we still swaddle otherwise he wakes himself up when his arms flail.  he's great with sucking his hands/fingers though...i wonder if he'd self soothe if he had his hands free...