*jeann*

aliciaroset

hey!

So, we're thinking about trying the routine the sleep specialists recommended to you. Our DD has been sleeping for a solid 4 hours at first but then waking every 1-2 (rarely 3) after that and nothing seems to help. 

Could you tell me how it went for you? I know you said 4-5 days were pretty rough. I'd love to hear any more advice you have about it. We have been thinking about trying to night wean because she always wants to nurse at night but I don't think that's the source of the problem. But then again my sleep-deprived brain is pretty messed up at the moment so I have no idea. I'd just appreciate any advice you have! 

 

LatteLady5

I am so glad you asked this question. I was going to ask for details also. We will be moving in a month or so and N still struggles with sleep. She has never STTN and after reading Jean's suggestion I am interested to try it.

jeannkerricotober09

Sure!  We night weaned before trying this, I don't know if it would have worked but who knows.  I didn't expect it to work. At all.  In fact, he said we would have to do it with CIO/progressive waiting but we didn't because of his hernia. We didn't' feel comfortable letting him cry unchecked and he learned how to STTN on his own in just a few days.  And as I said in the other posts, he never slept more than 3 hours in his life and that was twice!  He normally woke every 45-1.

His neurologist told us to not put him to bed before 9:30 but even later, basically wait until he was so damn tired he couldn't function and wake him at 6:30 no matter how poorly he slept.  N is still taking 2 naps so he said to put him down for nap #1 at 9:30 and nap #2 at 2:30 and no matter what don't let him sleep over 60 min and no other naps.  If your LO's are on 1 nap than no longer than 2 hours.  No quick snoozes in the car or while nursing, etc.

The idea is that their bodies learn to capitalize on the time they have in bed and will stop waking up.  They said (I met with 2 neurologists at different times and this is where Dr. Ferber works) that most babies don't need more than 9 hours of sleep.  10 is usually the maximum but some babies, typically babies who have done CIO, will sleep longer, up to 12 hours but for babies who don't, you have to start at 9 hours.  Time longer than 9 hours, for a baby who wakes frequently at night, is unnecessary time in bed time and they will get up and play or cry or whatever.  Another difference between babies who have learned to put themselves down/CIO and babies like N who don't, is that they, babies who put themselves to sleep, often play in their crib for a while, before falling asleep so they aren't usually getting the full 12 hours their parents think they are. 

They weren't knocking CIO and neither am I, as I said above, they said I would have to do it.  I'm just repeating what they said about time in bed because I asked when they said 9 hours, knowing a lot of babies on here sleep 12 and that was the explanation they gave.

It won't work if they're teething or sick or whatever.  N is back to waking up 2 times a night.  The wakeups are very brief  and normally he puts himself back to sleep for one of them.  He had surgery last week and needed to take meds every 4 hours so we were waking him for 2 nights straight to give his meds and then letting him sleep as much as he wanted, while getting the anesthesia out of his system.  We're going to implement his late bedtime, early wake up this weekend and see if we can get him back on track.  I've felt like crap, morning sickness, and absolutely exhausted and nothing is getting me out of bed at 6:30 these days.  Not even STTN!  If it doesn't work, I'll be more vigilant about it when I'm in my second trimester and have energy.

so:

6:30 wake up no matter what

9:30 one hour nap

2:30 one hour nap

9:30 bedtime

Once they are STTN for a week or so, you can start moving the bedtime later by 15 min a week.  By his surgery, he was going to bed around 830 and waking up around 7.

Let me know if you have any other questions.  If I can find my paperwork, I'd be happy to scan it and email it to you. 

LatteLady5

Thank you! Once we move and transition N to her own room I think I may try this if she doesn't start sleeping better. I really appreciate you taking the time to type it all out! I'm glad your LO is sleeping better