For those who sleep trained-

lorelei11 · April 2012

Did anyone sleep train for just middle of the night wakeups? DD falls asleep on her own when I put her down for the night, usually takes about 15 -20 minutes of fussing and talking. But she still wakes up twice a night and the few times we've tried to let her CIO at those times, it hasn't worked-we caved in after 30 minutes or so of check-ins. When we don't do check-ins she will sometiems doze off but then wake up in another 20 minutes or so and then I end up feeding her to get her calmed down. I've read a lot of positive posts about ferberizing but they all seemed to be for babies who didn't fall asleep on their own initially. Anyone in my situation had success with sleep training?

CA2006 · April 2012

We are in the same boat. It's SO HARD to figure out how to handle it, but something's gotta give. We jsut had DD's 6 month appt and our pedi pretty much told us again that she doesn't need to eat at night (she's a big girl and has STTN once). Like you, we tried a couple times and she was a determined little girl. We have a DS, too and he gets stressed when the baby cries so I dont' really want to wake him up to that in the middle of the night. We are so torn.

nbbride06 · April 2012

We initially sleep trained to get LO to fall asleep on her own. That was at 4.5 months. Just last week we started sleep training during the night. After 1 crappy night with 2 hours of fussing, it seemed to work, but the last 2 nights she's woken up at 3:30 again...so...

JaysonandKristin · April 2012

I read Ferber's book with DS1. We used his methods, and DS1 sleeps like a champ (after 9 months of hellish sleep).

DS2 has always gone down ery easily, but woke 4-7x/night. I used Ferber's methods last week, and we are down to bedtime at 7:15, feeding at 11, and up for the day at 7am.

CA2006 · April 2012

LalaMama81:

CA2006:
We jsut had DD's 6 month appt and our pedi pretty much told us again that she doesn't need to eat at night (she's a big girl and has STTN once).

I'm not addressing wake ups in general, believe me, we have plenty of them and she doesn't need to eat 4-8 times a night. However, your pedi is wrong in my opinion. Some babies do need to eat in the middle of the night at 6 months. Some even at 10 or 12. Just like some don't need to eat starting at 3 months. If they truly need to eat, sleep training them is just cruel. I know it is hard to figure our which times they really need to and when they don't, we are still figuring it out. Also, STTN once or twice doesn't mean they are ready to do it full time. DD STTN 7-5 from 2-3 months and then stopped and is up several times a night at least, needing to eat at least 1-2 times. Just because she used to do it doesn't mean she doesn't need to eat now.

I am not going cold turkey with no feedings. I will wean, but I definitely agree with the pedi that she doesn't need to eat 2-3 times per night. She eats 16 oz/day at daycare alone and I nurse her in the morning and night and it has been 2-3 times overnight as well. The probelm is that she "knows". DH will go in and she will shriek. We always try to figure out if it's hunger or not first, but she will always stan her ground until I come in and nurse her. And as soon as I do, she will eat, but will immediately fall asleep while nursing. We had to use ferber for DS and have the book. I am familiar with the methods and am going to follow my instincts as well, but something has GOT to give. DH and I are at each other's throats. DD was up SEVERAL times over the weekend.

ClickMama · April 2012

We held on to one feeding around 3ish AM of 2oz for a good 6-8 weeks. She started randomly sleeping through the night, then not sleeping through the night. We never knew what was up, it was frustrating for us and her. Last week we decided she didn't need to 2 oz after she increased her overall daytime intake and we are sleep training for middle of the night wake ups now. It can be very trying, but its very important to be consistent. We have done check-ins, but they are long - like 20 minutes and usually she is out within 25-30. Its important for babies to be able to put themselves back to sleep in addition to asleep in the first place, so I am in conjunction training for naps. It seems to be getting a bit better even in only 4 days/nights.

lorelei11 · April 2012

Good to know I'm not alone but I was hoping one of you would have a fix-all answer for me Stick out tongue

We had some success with limited night weaning, and then it all fell apart, so I think that's the next plan of attack - feeding her less and less each night to see if she can up her intake in the daytime to make up for it so she doesn't need to eat at night. Fun times...

chibride4 · April 2012

I've successfully sleep trained both of my LOs via the "extinction" method that eliminates nighttime feedings without check-ins. Those just aggravated both of them. Like you, DS2 goes down ridiculously easy, but was waking up for milk out of habit. I first got rid of his midnight bottle, then his 2:00 and up until this week, he was stil waking for a 4:00 feeding. All of a sudden, WALLA, he stopped and is now making it thru the night. Sometimes, l'll hear him grovel in his sleep, but he'll put himself back to sleep. That's what sleep training is all about: learning how to self-soothe and manage the natural sleep cycle. It's SOOO worth it! Good luck!

livalil319 · April 2012

We've always had to do overnight training in addition to initial put down. I think you should read ferber's chapter on night feedings. At that age I would only use the method to help space the feedings to a reasonable interval, and no more than 2 feedings. So say that she has to go at least 4 hours, or 5, whatever you pick before the first feeding, and then again before the next feeding. I think that you'll find that she will cut back to just 1 or maybe 2 feedings if you push just a little. Then she will eat more at that feeding, and hopefully also up her daytime intake. Plus get better sleep.

DawnJM25 · April 2012

We were in a similar boat with DD; she went down to sleep fine on her own, but woke up anywhere from 3-7 times per night. She would eat 1-2 oz. when she woke up, which told me she probably didn't NEED to eat, she had become used to the bottle/sucking motion to get back to sleep. So, we sleep trained using Ferber's method when she was about 6mo 1wk old. We weaned her off eating each night, and after 3 nights she was sleeping from 7PM-between 4-5AM. She scarfs a 6 oz bottle then goes back to sleep until about 6:30-7. I'm okay with the early morning wakeup because she seems to be very hungry at that time, and she's on the small side for weight. She never cried for more than 15-20 minutes, though- she gives up after that long. So, I can't say what I would have done if it would have gone on for 30+ minutes!

tmpoulton · April 2012

We used a book called Sleep Sense - after night #3 Liam has slept through the night every night - occasionally wakes up during the night, has a little chat with himself and goes back to sleep.... night #3 was the roughest but hubby and I made a pact that we were working together and it was best for him.

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