Drowsy but awake...

orangegoggles · May 2013

Mobile: Drowsy but awake

Tell me about how and when your child learned to go down drowsy but awake. As many of you know, we've been dealing with lots of sleep issues. Mostly because DS cannot self soothe at all and wakes after the first sleep cycle for naps (30 minutes on the dot for the last two months). As far as night goes he's up throughout the night. He does not want to eat, just needs to be soothed back to sleep.

I was reading another post where the poster said its important to put LO down drowsy but awake so they can learn to put themselves to sleep if they wake in the night. It makes sense, if LO falls asleep in your arms, they will probably freak when they wake up in a different spot.

Right now I have to rock DS to sleep for both naps and night time. He has to be completely asleep and will sometimes wake if its not totally out when I put him down.

I realize that right now might not be the best time to start this as we are dealing with lots of other sleep issues but I am curious about when you were able to accomplish this. A part of me knows that DS is probably still too young (4 months) but I think it has a lot to do with his sleep problems.

orangegoggles · May 2013

andrea ri 80:
To be honest, I tried this all with DS who was/is still a terrible sleeper.nbsp; None of it worked, but it has improved over time DS still doesn't STTN with consistency. DD is a brilliant sleeper compared to him so I can put her down drowsy but awake.nbsp; I think its just luck of the draw and time.nbsp; Sorry if its not what you want to hear, I totally sympathize :

Thanks...it is so exhausting plus I worry that he isn't getting nearly enough sleep. I'm hoping that in time things will improve. Thanks for sympathizing with me!

Mmm79 · May 2013

I don't have any advice as DS has actually been pretty great at going down drowsy- and honestly sometimes awake but calm- since pretty much the beginning. Last night he was fussy before bed. Once I had him calmed down, I put him in the PNP for bed (swaddled as usual) and he was quiet. I went to check on him 15 minutes later and he was still awake, but just laying there quietly. 15 minutes later he was asleep. Some nights I have to go back in once or twice to soothe him,but s far that's more the exception. He's 10 weeks. I should probably post this to JBugs "Grateful" list.

I'm guessing it's not anything you're doing or not doing. It may depend on the kid.

melly918 · May 2013

I think our LOs are still a little young for sleep training. I know I started early with DS and it was a huge PITA. I think once they're able to move around and even fiddle with their musical crib toys, it will be easier for them to fall asleep on their own.

I still nurse DD to sleep before we all go to bed. We carry her up to the crib when she appears to be sound asleep. Sometimes her eyes open after she is placed in the crib, she looks around drowsily, and goes back to sleep. Other times she is just conked out. There's no difference in her sleeping patterns through the night however way she falls asleep at the start of the night. I jinxed myself last night after I posted in that thread about being grateful for LOs, that DD falls right back asleep during MOTN feeds. Last night she was wide awake for quite a while! GRR! I had to pick her up several times, try to rock her to a drowsy state and every time I put her down, she was wide awake. I finally just laid in bed holding her until she was completely conked out. I am so freaking tired this morning. I am so mad...I'm the one who has to go to work and DH slept through the whole thing (even though he JUST texted me this very moment saying he was aware of it). It took every amount of strength not to kick him while he slept! (MEN!)

Do whatever works for you right now...They will get older and they will eventually learn how to fall asleep.

Oatoa · May 2013

Mmm79:
I'm guessing it's not anything you're doing or not doing. It may depend on the kid.

This exactly. It all depends on the kid. Don't stress yourself out, esp in the beginning with putting your LO down drowsy but awake. Sleeping is sleeping.

ikissedthecook · May 2013

DS is a terrible sleeper. I tried the drowsy but awake thing several times but it was always a gigantic fail. It wasn't until we switched to the toddler bed before I could lay him down drowsy but awake, and that's because I can sit beside him until he falls asleep. He rubs my arm while he dozes off. It's great if you can get them to do that though, but don't consider yourself a failure or anything if you can't. GL!

CdnFarmGirl08 · May 2013

No advice as I've been going through the same thing and my little guy is 7 months! He will only sleep if rocked and or nursed to sleep (bad habits that I am kicking myself for starting!) I tried putting down drowsy starting around 4-5 months and it was an epic fail. So here we are, still getting up 5x a night because he can't go back to sleep, is up every 90 minutes on the dot, if I'm lucky I get 2 hours but that's rare.

I really hope it gets better, however, I am starting to feel that it won't. Naps are no better, so it really sucks!

Keep trying, hopefully LO will come around for you!

tetiananina · May 2013

I do this exact thing with Jackson. I have to be careful to lay him down and not wake him. But once he's asleep at night he typically sleeps for 3 hours and then is ready to eat. Sometimes it's just giving him the paci and he falls back asleep. Jackson needs a blankie and music. Good Luck and I sympathize with you. But I know eventually then grow out of it. This is what I tell myself now.

orangegoggles · May 2013

Thanks ladies, glad to know I'm not alone. I guess I was just worried because he's never fallen asleep on his own after he turned 2 months. Like won't even fall asleep in the swing. He's now starting to not fall asleep in the car either....ugh.

I just want to give him some tools for when he gets to the half hour point for naps bc he wakes up so grumpy but wont go back down. I realize he's still so young. Nighttime is different every night but usually after 1 or so he's up every 45 minutes to an hour.

It's so draining and were both definitely not getting the sleep he needs. Hoping things will improve but it's been like this for over 2 months now. I want to see the light at the end of the tunnel lol!

MrsRiceARoni · May 2013

My lo has to be put down completely asleep especially when initially putting her down at night, she's a little more lenient after her motn feedings. She also still needs to be swaddled and I've even started keeping a swaddle sack in the diaper bag because she gets frantic if she's tired and can't calm down to sleep unswaddled I'm dreading the day she outgrows the swaddleme. And she's a terrible napper, usually only napping for 30-45 minutes so I feel your pain.

Want a personalized experience?

Drowsy but awake...

Re: Drowsy but awake...

Choose Another Board

Search Boards