February 2016 Moms
CrystalEOh
member
Bedtime routines, especially if bed sharing?
CrystalEOh
member
Here we are at nearly 10 months and back to a near nightly struggle to get DD to sleep. The swing has completely lost its magic, now she'll only fall asleep on DH or I and even then it can take an hour or more. Any recommendations for successful evening, dinner, bedtime routine? Especially curious about those who are bed sharing.
Re: Bedtime routines, especially if bed sharing?
we dont bed share but do have a pretty regular bedtime routine so thought I might help. I also have a good friend with an almost one year old who bed shares and has had luck as well.
my LO was a terrible sleeper until we started a routine but we also had to do some CIO around 7 months.
we both work and get home between 430-530 depending on the day. But every night we do dinner (cheerios, puffs, water and whatever we're eating) then play A LOT until about 630-7 and then we do a bath if needed if not it's PJs, bottle (she somewhat still takes this one), two books then we go into her room. When we go in we turn on her sound machine, humidifier, and night light then turn off the lamp. She likes a hug from me then her dad and then we lay her down. we've gotten to a point where we literally lay her down and she will roll over and go to sleep or talk softly to herself until she falls asleep.
i think the biggest factors that helped us get here are the fact that she loves her "lovey" which she's had since birth and is just a small swatch of blanket she rubs with her hands and then a pretty strict eating schedule and nap schedule (not that she naps much at daycare). It also just took consistency, we did this for along time before we saw such results, so it can work just takes time!
It can be done, my girl was a seriously awful sleeper we just had to keep at it.
as for my friend that bed shares they do something similar but she lays with him and rubs his back until he is out, he for sure went through phases where he just wanted to play but she had to be firm that bed is for sleeping not being rowdy. It for sure has its extra challenges (but is obviously so rewarding) my girl just will not sleep with us we found that she needs her own space to truly get a good nights rest.
I do hope this helps. Sleep is so important for everyone!
When he is all better we will pick up on the sleep training again for him. And hopefully get him to transition to his crib all NightBut not right now.
Whatever you do, just give it time. A week at least and yes believe it or not, it will get easier to get her to sleep. She just has to learn a new way to get to sleep. Whatever way you choose still enjoy it cause this too shall pass and you will miss it. My son is the world's worst sleeper ever... in the history of forever!!! But one day be won't be
He nurses ALL NIGHT LONG. He nurses to sleep because thats the only way he will fall asleep. And he sleeps maybe a solid 3-4 hours until he starts waking between every 20-45mins until we wake up for the day. so each time he wakes, I just nurse him back to sleep. and I'm pretty sure it's comfort nursing because he's pretty much weaned himself during the day (except for naps).
I love bed sharing and snuggling, but it's been months since I've had a solid nights sleep
Pregnancy #2-Due 8/24/17 MMC-01/09/17
DD-Due 10/24/17
A routine is so important! I could do better at ours but it certainly helps to have one established.
Hugs