sleep training

Dstevens429 · October 2013

Sorry for taking over the board today but mommy needs sleep. A turns 6 months next week and I am EBF.

When did you start sleep training?

Method used?

Books read?

Any other advice?

ELF4321 · October 2013

After an 8 week failed attempt at the No Cry sleep training, we did a modified version of Sleep Easy just before 6 months (I didn't like their no-touch approach during check-ins, so we did a little back rubbing).

DD was still wanting to eat like 3 times a night, and I really liked the wean down plan in the Sleep Easy book (plus it was a much faster read than Ferber, which I also perused). We weaned the first and third feedings first, but kept one MOTN feed until around 8 months, then weaned that one too.

The best advice is to make sure both you and YH are on board and to be consistent -- if you break and pick LO up because you can't handle the crying, you'll completely undermine everything you're trying to do.

srveatch · October 2013

We started around 7 months. I EBF as well but I knew she could make it through the night because she did it for a few months and then developed bad night time habits. It was sure hard to listen to the crying but it only took three nights before she went down without crying. I started dream feeding her at 10:30 to cut out the 3am feeding.

pb_bride · October 2013

4 months. I know it was really early but M was a nightmare all day long (I SAH) and I was crying all day long because he wouldn't nap more than 20 minutes, after I spent an hour trying to get him to sleep.

We did Ferber. Highly recommend reading the book before starting.

advice?

1) make sure you and YH are on the same page, and be supportive of each other.

2) be consistent and don't give up, otherwise all the crying is for nothing

3) start in a Friday night so you aren't stressed about getting up for work the next day

4) get earplugs. Seriously. You can still hear the crying but it won't be as loud. I cried at every nap outside m's room when we were doing nap training.

5) understand that it will be all worth it in the end. You, your LO and YH will all be much happier when everyone is getting the rest they need!

ccam · October 2013

We "Ferbered" at 4.5 months. It seems early but I think it was the perfect time for DS. He got to the point where he was waking up every 2 hours. He didn't need to eat, but he needed to be held, rocked and placed in bed completely asleep. We knew he was ready to learn to put himself back to sleep. Every child is different though and only you know when it's time.

I read Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems and highly recommend it. Even though you can find the basic Ferber method online, the book deals with specific situations that might apply to you.

Like the other ladies said, make sure you and your SO are completely on board. And once you start, don't give up or the crying really will be for nothing! I found night #1 and 2 to be the worst and it only got better from there. Try to do it on a long weekend, if possible. Good luck!!

TJ1979 · October 2013

Sorry, I responded on your other post before I saw this one.

We did Ferber, but we didn't do it until 10 months. (E was very sick from 6-9 months, which was when she really needed sleep training, but I wasn't comfortable doing it while she was so sick.) Since she was older, it went really, really well. I definitely recommend reading the book first though. It's all about the sleep associations. We also night weaned at the same time.

GL. Sleep issues are so hard.

kaf7 · October 2013

We did Ferber at 4.5m. It only took about 3 nights for him to get to sleep quickly. We still have to do it for most naps but bedtime is easy. He did have a regression at 6m but we just stuck to the same plan. He does have a frequent waking night about once a week still but he is able to settle himself by the 10-15min mark. I just stopped the 2am feed and he learned to cluster a bit more in the morning and evening. He still gets up to eat at 5am. I've tried to drop it but he just wakes every 10min until I feed him so it's not worth it to me to push the issue. He's clearly hungry then and if I feed him he sleeps for another 2h. GL you can do it!

kaf7 · October 2013

I meant to add that I agree with PP tips. And if you do Ferber you will feel like the worst parent on the planet when you start...but then life is so much better on the other side and ultimately you aren't hurting your baby.

Robeano · October 2013

We started sleep training at 8 months. She just wouldn't stay asleep, and she wasn't falling asleep until quite late.

We "Ferbered" it, as in I used his gradually increased times. But otherwise I followed the book Sleep Sense. Which I have as a PDF if you are interested. It's working quite well for night sleeping, naps we're still working on. But it's more my fault for being inconsistent at nap times.

Advice, it's worth it. It sucks to hear your child cry, but after everybody gets a restful night sleep you'll see how wonderful it is!

Dstevens429 · October 2013

Robeano said:

We started sleep training at 8 months. She just wouldn't stay asleep, and she wasn't falling asleep until quite late. We "Ferbered" it, as in I used his gradually increased times. But otherwise I followed the book Sleep Sense. Which I have as a PDF if you are interested. It's working quite well for night sleeping, naps we're still working on. But it's more my fault for being inconsistent at nap times. Advice, it's worth it. It sucks to hear your child cry, but after everybody gets a restful night sleep you'll see how wonderful it is!

I would love a copy of your PDF. My email is dstevens429@aol.com. TIA

jessica_gail2 · October 2013

@Robeano can I have a copy too? I'm with @dstevens429 - S is in need of some sleep training! Ill PM you my email if you don't mind sharing.

Good luck dstevens - keep us updated!!

Robeano · October 2013

jessica_gail2 said:

@Robeano can I have a copy too? I'm with @dstevens429 - S is in need of some sleep training! Ill PM you my email if you don't mind sharing. Good luck dstevens - keep us updated!!

Send away @jessica_gail2

I love sharing what worked for us b/c it's so wonderful now

Dstevens429 · October 2013

jessica_gail2 said:

@Robeano can I have a copy too? I'm with @dstevens429 - S is in need of some sleep training! Ill PM you my email if you don't mind sharing. Good luck dstevens - keep us updated!!

Good Luck to you also! I think at 6 months old we deserve a few extra hours of sleep

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