no-cry sleep solution-if you've done it...

Re: no-cry sleep solution-if you've done it...

• taraleanne member

  January 2014

  Well, I didn't follow the book per se, but I read (most of) it recently. I always just followed my instinct after he stopped nursing to sleep on his own accord when he was bout 2.5 months old (he just wouldn't fall asleep at the boob anymore!!) and then when rocking wasn't working anymore (too distracted by my face) I just started putting him down awake (and sitting beside him stroking his head and talking/singing etc...) I just sorta followed his cues and what seemed right at the time and every night is still a bit different for us, it depends on what his needs are. I will still rock him if he needs it (or wants it) but he STTN and is able to self sooth when he wakes in the MOTN. If he can't, he will let me know. Turns out I was doing a lot of what they suggest in the book.

  
  

  I guess my tips would be that sleep begets sleep, so make sure naps are good during the day. This involves watching wake times and starting the wind-down routine BEFORE she gets overtired. It takes time to figure this all out, trial and error really. You can't just go about your day,  you need to watch for the signs. A relaxing wind-down routine. I use a paci, white noise and an Aden & Anais lovey is a BIG hit. This is what he uses to self sooth. A consistent approach to sleep, even during regressions and patience.  The book is good though, from the bits I read I felt it was a realistic approach.  I wish you lots of success! 

  

  
  

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• aibrean member

  February 2014

  Cuddle to sleep and then move to bed. We use a paci to help her nod off. We've also done bed sharing.

  

  
  

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• coco0723 member

  February 2014

  We tried it with our LO when she was almost 6 months old. It was getting to the point where I was going to have a nervous breakdown because she wasn't sleeping and therefore I wasn't sleeping either. I was extremely hesitant about trying it because I was certainly not about to let my child scream for hours on end, but after trying other options, such as the no cry sleep solution, which was a huge waste of time IMO... and trying to get her to take better naps since she would only nap for 25 to 30 minutes tops 2 maybe 3 times a day because people will say "sleep begets sleep" this sentiment was not helpful. It didn't apply to us and I was at my wits end. The truth is, she is a power napper and only requires cat naps and had been this way since she was 3 months old. I read through the book, talked to some friends who had done it successfully and decided that I would give it a try, but try it in the manner inwhich my husband and I felt most comfortable. That night, we gave her a bath, gave her a bottle (she is FF), read some books and snuggled. Then we told her we loved her, gave her kisses and laid her down in her crib with her paci at around 8 pm. She was of course, not happy but we left the room and set the timer for 1 minute. She cried. Not screaming, just regular "I'm not getting my way" crying. After a minute I went back in, gave her back her paci, patted her back and kissed her cheek and left again. I did this for 3, 5, 7 and 10 minutes. She never screamed, just was upset abut a change in her routine and between every time frame one of us went in to reassure her. By the 2nd 10 minute round, she had fallen asleep and slept for 5 hours straight that night. When she awoke in the night, I changed her, fed her and did the routine again and by 7 minutes she was out again and slept until 6:30 am. I was nervous to try it and I thought for sure my husband would have to hold me down to keep me from going in there before the timer was up, but it worked and without too much drama and she greeted me that morning and every morning after with a huge smile.

  Now there have been some ups and downs, like when she was sick and we were out of our regular routine, but to my surprise, she went right back into it when she started feeling better. There was a little fussing the first night and there is a little fussing some nights but she drifts off pretty quickly most of the time. She still wakes up maybe once or twice a night, but we are at least now getting 5 and 6 hours stretches to sleep. There has even been a times at night where she will fuss and I think she is awake, so I get up and make a bottle and by the time I get to her door, she has gone back to sleep!

  All babies are different. One thing I have learned as an FTM is that nothing is set in stone and sometimes taking bits of advice from friends, family and experts and pieceing them together for what works for your family is the best that you can do. Follow your heart and your instincts. What might work for one may not work for another. It's a little trial and error and common sense.

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• Nesbitt11 member

  February 2014

  With my son if he starts crying right off (like at naps) I would let him cry for about 5 -10 minutes then I go back in and give him his passie and cover him back up. I usually only have to go in once cause hes sleeping by the next few minutes. it took a while but I also found he sleeps better if there is noise in the room. I turn a fan on low or a humidifier on in the opposite side of the room so he doesn't get cold and let it run all night and during naps. its become a sleep cue for him now.

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• BelhurstBride member

  February 2014

  We did it with DD1, though we waited until she was over a year, first. 

  
  

  It definitely helped. She was still up every couple of hours, as well, until she was about 11 months old. Then she'd just be up for hours, ready to play, in the middle of the night. Because we were moving to a new house- with a month layover at my parent's- we didn't both starting with it until she was 15 months old. By the time she was 18 months old we saw a vast improvement, thought she still isn't a great sleeper. Not every kid is. 

  
  

  You just need to be patient and consistent. 

  DD1 4.14.10
  DD2 8.22.13
  MMC 1.4.17 at 16w
  Expecting #3, EDD 1.29.18
  
  

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• Erinruns262 member

  March 2014

  Ferber! I did it success with my DS (now 3) and just did it with my 6 month old DD. My DD started sleeping 11 hours straight and she cried for a total of 16 minutes the first night. I followed his method exactly. Granted, I never really let my DD develop poor sleep habits and worked at putting her down awake for months. She started just snacking in the middle of the night and we were playing the binky game for a month, so I knew she was ready. I would recommend this method to anyone and after doing it twice, I can't understand why people get so worked up at the mention of his name. No one likes to hear their baby cry, but after a few nights of some crying, we are all (even her...she wakes up smiling) much happier. Good luck!

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