Pantley Pull Off method for nursing to sleep-25 times?!

ginafun · October 2012

Has anyone attempted the Pantley pull-off method for nursing to sleep? DD is 3.5 months and has a very strong nursing to sleep association that has just gotten worse the last few days; so much so that now she won't even take a bottle from DH during nighttime routine. I started the PPO method today and I laid down with DD on the bed for naps like we always do. It took about 25 pull offs before she finally gave up and fell asleep. I know this is a gentle method and could take a while, but does that sound normal? Her book said 2-5 times. I just hope we will notice small improvements this week. She was such a great sleeper but now this wonderful nursing relationship has turned her into an angry baby if she doesn't get the boob come sleep time! Any encouragement from previous experience with this?

nosoup4u · October 2012

She's 3.5 months, that's really young to suddenly be able to fall asleep without nursing to sleep.

Have you tried nursing her before starting bedtime, and having your DH just do the bedtime routine, sans bottle? My kids would let DH cuddle them down most of the time at that age. hth

tokenhoser · October 2012

The PPO wasn't really targetted for such a young baby, so yeah... it will take a lot longer than just nursing to sleep. It may improve in a week or two, if you want to spend that many hours at it.

ginafun · October 2012

Well that's the thing. He used to and she let him. Then, suddenly, she has been getting very angry if she can't allowed to fall asleep at the boob. I carried her 42 weeks so she has always been ahead developmentally, so I'm wondering if she already has a strong sleep association? I'm not wanting to train her I would just like her to be able to fall asleep other ways if need be (DH, my mom, nursery workers at church). I'm pretty sure she isn't sick because she is very happy when up and awake. Though I am open to other suggestions I haven't thought of. Pantley says that you can work on the sleep associations even at this age.

michpedelle85 · October 2012

At 3.5 months you shouldnt even be doing this. Really.

ncbelle · October 2012

I responded in your other thread but...I think you are definitely hitting the 4 month wakeful from what you are saying here. I think you will drive yourself nuts doing PPO if it takes 25 times - she's just not there! Better to nurse and then pass her off to daddy to rock down (vs. having him give a bottle).

MouseInLux · October 2012

Have you considered a pacifier for when others are putting her to bed/nap? DD still nurses to sleep but my Mum has always been able to get her down as long as she has a pacifier.

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Pantley Pull Off method for nursing to sleep-25 times?!

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