Sleep training, help!

sarbieb · October 2011

I think LO is long over due for sleep training! She's 7 1/2 months and waking up sometimes at 11pm then again at 4am, 5am, 6am and finally 7am for the day. Sometimes it's just 5 and 7 am, other times it's 4 and 5am, sometimes it's 4 and then 6am she's up for the day, but whatever combo she chooses that day, my last few hours of precious sleep are always interrupted!

Here's my question ... How do you deal with all the crying while training? I've been avoiding sleep training bc I'd rather go in and feed her (yes, my boob is the answer to all problems!) for a quick 6 minutes and we canall go back to sleep (for a quick hour before we do it again) than listen to a baby cry in the middle of the night for what feels like for-ev-er! We've tried in the past and we didn't let her cry for longer than 5 min intervals, but really, who wants to go through 8 rounds of 5 minute crying intervals at 4am when you have work in 4 hours!?? I think it's time we buckle down and suck it up (like this weekend!) but I'm afraid my sleepy self will give in and offer a boob just to go back to sleep ASAP! Help!! I need to break this cycle!

JuJuBe3 · October 2011

Well, you don't have to do a CIO method of sleep training if you don't want to. There is the PU/PD method or the No Cry Sleep training. They take longer, but those are some options to consider.

Otherwise, if you already have a consistent bedtime and bedtime routine, you could just start with the initial bedtime. Maybe once she learns to put herself to sleep, the night wakenings would lessen.

nugget0411 · October 2011

sarbieb:
I think LO is long over due for sleep training! She's 7 1/2 months and waking up sometimes at 11pm then again at 4am, 5am, 6am and finally 7am for the day. Sometimes it's just 5 and 7 am, other times it's 4 and 5am, sometimes it's 4 and then 6am she's up for the day, but whatever combo she chooses that day, my last few hours of precious sleep are always interrupted!

Here's my question ... How do you deal with all the crying while training? I've been avoiding sleep training bc I'd rather go in and feed her (yes, my boob is the answer to all problems!) for a quick 6 minutes and we canall go back to sleep (for a quick hour before we do it again) than listen to a baby cry in the middle of the night for what feels like for-ev-er! We've tried in the past and we didn't let her cry for longer than 5 min intervals, but really, who wants to go through 8 rounds of 5 minute crying intervals at 4am when you have work in 4 hours!?? I think it's time we buckle down and suck it up (like this weekend!) but I'm afraid my sleepy self will give in and offer a boob just to go back to sleep ASAP! Help!! I need to break this cycle!

OMG - i could have written his!! i have no answers because i do the exact same thing so i'm curious what others say...

sarbieb · October 2011

We do have a consistant bedtime and she falls asleep perfectly. For naps too. It's just the random hourly waking up from 4-7am! Otherwise she's great!

JuJuBe3 · October 2011

I've been reading lots of sleep books lately, so I'll tell you what I read about this situation. If you are nursing her several times a night and she is not truly hungry, they say to have Dad go in and put her back to bed. Supposedly, after a few nights of realizing she's not going to get fed, she won't wake up anymore. If you go in, then she knows food is there and she will fight harder to get it, rather than going back to sleep. No idea if it works, but that's what I read just this week.

Good luck!

shuaytos · October 2011

We did the Ferber method of sleep training. The first night he cried for 45 min and the second night 15 min and the third night no crying at all.He seemed to have almost all of the sleep attachements, slepted with me, needed to be rocked, held, pacifier, nursing............poor kid. It's been almost two months and he still wakes up once a night to eat but that's because I still want to. It was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be and he caught on quickly. I would read the book of whatever method you pick before you start. It really helped me not feel so anxious about the process because it's all layed out for you and answers all your questions before you get started.

sarbieb · October 2011

Thanks everyone! I like the idea of Daddy going in

I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

JulieBadulie · October 2011

Daddy did the check-ins for us too. I have to say, I wish we hadn't waited so long to do nighttime sleep training. After two days, things were mostly worked out. A few little bumps that first week other than those two days, but nothing major. And he only cried for a few minutes on the first two days. Had anticipated much worse. Hope this is the case for you as well.

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