Sleep training for hyper sensitive kids

ktnicole

Mobile: sleep training for hyper sensitive kids

Anyone with "spirited" little ones attempted any form of sleep training? I know A's issue is that she is overtired.  She is such a struggle because I honestly am certain she will outlast anyone in a battle of the wills. 

We are attempting to lay down awake right now (6 mo. old), last night she fussed for about 45 minutes before DH was able to get her to sleep with him patting her.  Tonight, she was flat out screaming! DH had to end up rocking her to sleep.  She wasn't "passed out" but never do we see her in that limp stage of sleep.

Naps are a nightmare but I have read to deal with nights before naps.  Any tips/suggestions from other moms that understand that our special babies?

kristyand

I think we are on the spirited end of things. Between her temperament, reflux and tummy issues I'm just unwilling to do anything that allows for any more crying than necessary. She already fights me, and I've tried some sleep training along and along and it rarely ends well (it did once).

I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to fight one battle at a time, and it's just going to be a slower process for us.

Maybe 6 wks ago, it was the swing. That was a fight.

Maybe 4 wks ago, it was the paci. That was a HUGE fight.

Then it was one arm out of the swaddle. That's not been as much of a fight as it has just been a work in progress.

I gave up trying to put down drowsy through these things as I figure learning to sleep with out the swing, paci (it had to go for a few reasons), swaddle and on her own was just too much at once.

I've just accepted it's going to be a slower road, but every little bit of progress or success keeps me content and positive about it. And ultimately I feel better that we were able to get there by working together and with less crying.

(FTR, before she arrived I had read HSHHC maybe 5 times. I was GOING to CIO.) 

linzeek44

We are in the midst of this right now and it's a mess.

He usually is okay at night, and semi-terrible at napping. Recently he has been terrible to put down for a nap, and that has led to him being so overtired.

I am at the point where it really is whatever it takes to get him to nap so that he is not a mess.we drove around for an hour and a half last night because he had only slept 20 minutes during the day and 8 hours of me trying to soothe and wear him and get him to rest was unsuccessful. He slept a little in the car and mediocre last night, so hopefully with a nap or two today we will be back in the tired and not overtired to the point of being wired path.

While I would love to put him down drowsy and have him fall asleep, he just isn't there yet. I'm trying to celebrate the fact that sometimes I can put him down drowsy and he doesn't scream until ten minutes later. For us, that is a victory. 

terri_doula2010

DS is highly sensitive. 

First of all, there is a book that may help you throughout life (not necessarily with sleep) called The Highly Sensitive Child.

Second of all, we tried pretty much every sleep training system we could find. He still needs one of us to be around him to go to sleep (at almost 3). He needs extra TLC and every time we accepted that and gave him what he needed, life was better for everyone. It is SO hard at times, but yeah. He's an awesome kid in so many ways and that helps.