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Sleep training Q

chargermamachargermama
in Austin Babies
Ok I'm sorry if this is scattered... I'm exhausted. I have to do something to get K to sleep better, go down easier, etc. I bought the book Sleep Easy and was going to start that process this weekend, but first I have to break her of the swaddle. Well that is not going well. Last night it took me 3.5 hours to get her to sleep, and sfter 2 hours I swaddled her. She obviously isn't ready to be unsaddled. So my question is, does anyone have experience sleep training a swaddled baby?
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Re: Sleep training Q

  • KDM2006KDM2006
    How old is your baby?
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  • chargermamachargermama
    imageKDM2006:
    How old is your baby?
    4.5 months.
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  • meg120510meg120510
    Maybe she isn't ready. That seems a little young to start sleep training, IMO.
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  • ali-1411ali-1411 member

    I haven't read Sleep Easy but we had great success with Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby.  It breaks down each section by age so you can definitely find appropriate advice for a 4 month old.  My kids were done with the swaddle by a month old, so I can't help there.

    I don't think 4 months is too early for getting into good habits at all.  We waited until 7 months to sleep train DD and it just about broke me.  I wish I hadn't been such a freakin' martyr and just done something about it sooner.  I would have much fonder memories of DD's baby days if I had :)

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  • august8080august8080 member
    I agree that 4.5 months is a little young (IMO) for actual sleep training (like CIO), but maybe you can tell us what y'all are doing and what she's having trouble with and we can offer some suggestions? I'm sorry--being exhausted is SO SO hard!! Hang in there!!
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  • chargermamachargermama
    Yes, I'm not ready for CIO but something needs to change. I wish I could say here is our typical routine, but there is no typical routine b/c she is stubborn. But here is what happens the most. 7:15ish - bath time 7:30ish - up to bedroom for story 7:35ish - start nursing Around 30 minutes later she falls asleep, only to wake up 20 minutes later Start nursing, rocking, patting, anything that will work until usually 9:15 or 9:30. So usually I'm in her room for almost 2 hours every night. I don't remember it taking so long to get my other two down at night... SOB
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  • L L CGL L CG

    I am just throwing this out there, so just take it with a grain of salt.  What I used to do is for the last feeding of the night she would get a bottle.  I figured at the end of the day my boobs were a lot less full than for the other feedings and she was getting less.  So, I would give her a bottle (or DH would) and that way I knew that she got a good feeding with 4 or 5 ounces.  It sounds like she's hungry to me.  Maybe try that and see if when she wakes a couple hours later she can be rocked back to sleep without a feeding?

    Is she rolling over?  We dropped the swaddle when she started rolling.  It was painful but only for a few days.

    Hang in there, Mama.  You'll sleep again, I promise. 

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  • colleenorcolleenor
    I'm going to have to post and run but we use the same book Ali recommended and love it. That being said I would maybe try doing everything earlier, like anywhere from 30-60 min. I've been doing that with my LO and it's made all the difference. We usually start bedtime around 620/630, asleep anywhere between 7/730. He eats then gets swaddled up and then we walk or rock for a bit. When his eyes are starting to get heavy I put him in the crib and then sing/pat him until he just about asleep and then I leave. 
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  • Mrs.PurdueMrs.Purdue

    agree with colleenor - i'd stop nursing to sleep because you're causing a sleep association that your LO can only fall asleep if nursing.  I'd either do a pumped bottle at night or just nurse for a set amount of time, then burp, swaddle, and into crib.  pat/shush until asleep.  have you tried a white noise machine?  does your LO take a paci? your current routine has you nursing 20 minutes after you just finished nursing, so that's just becoming a crutch for both of you instead of figuring out how to let her get to sleep on her own (or with something other than a boob). 

    I'd also establish a real routine and stick to it.  always do things in the same order and at the same time of night.  FWIW, our routine is:  6:45: bath, 7: drying off and into jammies, 7:05: bottle, 7:20: back to the changing table to get into sleepsack, then into crib with sleep sheep on and paci in the mouth. we have a seahorse that we usually turn on too (goes off after ~5 minutes) that she can look at while she's falling asleep.  

    and i don't think that you'll find sleep training especially successful while still swaddled because the point of it is to let the babies figure out how to self soothe.  in a swaddle, she's not going to be able to do that (suck on fingers, get a different, more comfortable position, etc).  I wouldn't drop the swaddle until she's really ready though - we're still doing a modified swaddle at 8.5 months. 

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  • brooke152brooke152

    First, I am so sorry that you are exhausted.  I know the feeling well and to say it sucks major donkey is a big understatement. 

    I don't have anything new to add, but wanted to ditto LLCG on the bottle and others on the strict routine.  We did bottle at night for a long time to give me a break, DH a chance to help, and make sure he was getting enough.  The routine is our life saver.  I know this because he goes down at night easy peasy and everything else (naps, night wakings) totally suck.  Around 3 months or so, he was going to bed about 9, then a week or so later he pushed it back to 8, then a couple more weeks he pushed to 7.  We've been at 7 for a while.  Maybe try starting the routine a little earlier if you can.

    We didn't drop the swaddle until he could roll.  It was painful for a few nights or so and then he got it. 

    Also, RE: nursing to sleep - I, personally, and having a hard time with not nursing to sleep.  I know it is not good and it's screwed me over in terms of night wakings, but I am OK with that (as long as he goes back to his crib at a decent time!).  I have been doing Pantley's Gentle Removal Method (or something like that).  It's where you remove the breast when they get drowsy.  You're supposed to give it back if they want it, but the goal is to get them to stop nursing to complete sleep.  I am seeing success, where it took 15 times the first night, then 8 and now 5 for a few nights. 

    GL - I hope you can find something that works for you and gives you some waking and sleeping rest. 

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  • SaraLouiseBride08SaraLouiseBride08
    You've gotten some great tips, but I just wanted to remind you: 4.5 months is sucky time for sleep! "This too shall pass" and this phase will be behind you soon. I'm sorry you're so tired!
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  • chargermamachargermama
    Thanks ladies. 8 will try to get a copy of the book. Bottles are out, she won't take one. I can try moving up routine, but I have two others I have to get ready for bed too. She isn't rolling so I can still swaddle. She freaks her freak if I pat her in her crib. Man she used to be such an easy baby until she reached 12 weeks...
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