Hi all...long story short..I am trying to sleep train my 6 month old...something I said I would NEVER do. He never slept through the night, sometimes woke up 5 times. He maybe napped 2x a day, possibly 3, for no more than 20-30 min. This baby was so tired all the time... I tried 3 prong approach per doctor: Tylenol in case he was teething. Didn't work. Intro of solids a few weeks back in case he was hungry. Didn't work. Then sleep train. I seriously never wanted to do it but I was desperate, not for me, but for him. He literally was so incapable of sleeping that he had no energy. He is in PT for delayed gross motor skills. One day, after a miraculously good nights sleep and excellent nap he did things he has never done before. I was like...omg this poor guy. Thing was, he was never cranky so I never knew. I also asked my cousin and his wife, who are the parents of 5, happy, healthy kids. My cousin's wife also happens to be a pediatrician and she recommended Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.
Well.things don't seem to be improving. I adjust his bedtime and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Tonight he was super cranky by 4:30/5...he was out by 5:45...woke up screaming 40 min later. We tried to let him self soothe but that didn't work so we caved and got him. I know some of you will say this is cruel but I felt it was more cruel to let him be chronically exhausted. Does anyone have words of encouragement, stories of success of teaching their babies how to sleep? The doctors at the practice were adamant he needed more rest than he was getting so this is where I am. I thought this method was so supposed to get easier. Not harder....help. Sad mama.
Re: Sleep issues...sleep training?
First off, sleep training doesn't have to be some HORRIBLE experience and something you swear you will never do. IMHO, teaching a kid how to sleep is just like everything else you have to teach them and CIO isn't the only option. There are lots of ways to sleep train but nothing will work if you aren't consistent.
I have 2 kids. A 3.5 year old and an 11 month old. I've done some sort of sleep training with them both and it has been fabulous. They are happy and well rested children who will not grow up to be disconnected, messed up adults because of it
First off you need to formulate a plan ahead of time, know what you are going to do and then stick with it. DO NOT GIVE IN. Make sure both you and your husband or SO are on the same page and stick to your plan no matter what. You cannot cave and pick up your LO because right now, he knows that is what you are going to do. You are not being cruel. I repeat, you are not being cruel. He won't remember any of this.
Consistency is key, trust me. If you are consistent, sleep training will only take a few days and a few tears.
Again, I'm so sorry you're having such a rough go. As the previous poster mentioned, consistency is key. Stick with one method and be strong in your resolve. Sometimes we had to turn the monitor down during our increments of letting our daughter fuss for our own sanity. I hope things get better for you.
I like the troublesome tots web site.