Sleep training ...

Good Day! - posted on 12/27/2009

I used a very controlled form of cio. My daughter slept in a cradle next to my bed and I would let her learn to fall asleep on her own. I would let her cry as long as I knew she wasn't hungry, dirty, scared or angry. If she cried for 15 to 20 minutes, I would pick her up, rock or nurse, then put her down before she fell asleep. It was important to me that my daughter learned to fall asleep on her own. She's been sleeping consistently through the night since about 3 months of age. I do understand that not everyone agrees with this type of sleep training, but I can say from experience that it worked. The whole family wakes up well rested and happy!

Eve - posted on 12/27/2009

Thanks mums, that was encouraging and enlightening. I started off 3 nights ago .... I'm keeping a journal so I can share my (hopefully positive) experience in say a week or so. I'll keep you posted .... Happy new year in advance!

Belinda - posted on 12/24/2009

I know how you feel. My two children (2 years and 4 months) are both struggling with sleep. (Not so much my 2 year old, she is quite good now but we have had trouble getting here). Some nights, and days are devoid of any decent sleep. I feel like I have been in some sort of sleep deprivation for over 2 years with some periods far worse than others. I haven't slept longer than 3 hours in a stretch for 2 years and recently if i get 2 hours straight it's a miracle.
In saying this, I have never contemplated doing anything I would regret later like using any form of CIO. I really strongly believe that it is detrimental to a babies development; physically, emotionally, even brain development. I have no solutions for you. What I can say is that it will get better. When my daughter was 8.5 months we were still waking as often as you are, but ever so slowly she got better with some gentle caring techniques. Now at 2, she sleeps through most nights and is still giving me a good 2 -3 hour nap of a day. I know when she is older , my efforts now are going to pay off with a very trusting relationshop between us. My son at 4 months is a work in progress, but I know we will get there. Hang in there. Good luck.

Francesca - posted on 12/23/2009

I know how you feel. You have hung in there for sooo long. I co-sleep. It gave us all an opportunity to get a good nights sleep.



This option is not for everyone. If you smoke, drink or take any form of drugs. Statistically its safest for breastfed babies, and some doctors even encourage it. Almost all do in Europe since it promotes breastfeeding too.



And if your worried about SIDS according to studies done in North America and Europe, when it comes to SIDS the top risks are sleep position (on their tummies is worst), etnicity (afrian americans have the highest rates), maternal smoking, and formula feeding were the worst things to do...so...try it out.



But if you are worried about having a baby free zone for you and your Dh, then this option may not work for you either...But when I did it, I went from cranky zombie to happy mommy and well rested baby.



And remember you can always change your mind. Nothing you do now has to be a life long commitment. People may wanr you otherwise but remember, your baby adapted just fine when they went from the world of the womb to here...so remember that.



Good Luck, no matter what you do. I remember those days and wish I started co-sleeping much earliar. It was hell.

Katie - posted on 12/23/2009

My one year old still doesn't sleep through the night. We had a good run from about 3.5 months to 5.5 months but ever since then it's been a rollercoaster. It's always something. Teething, separation anxiety, growth spurts, milestones, and so on. I'm sorry I can't really offer you any sleep training advice, but I can tell you that between 8 and 11 months is supposed to be one of the trickiest times to sleep train. Here's a link you should check out...

http://www.isabelagranic.com/bed-timing/...

Jessica - posted on 12/23/2009

my son is 5 months old and since he was 2 months he has been sleeping from 7pm till 7am and falling asleep on his own every nap time as i started teaching him at 2 months how to self sooth. I recommend the book 'Save our Sleep' by Tizzie Hall. This book is jammed packed with advice and tips on how to have your baby sleeping through the night, feeding, routines, solids, everything. Its not a book about CIO or controlled crying but a book that teached you to understand your babies cries and when to go in an sooth them.

After about 1 week my son was falling asleep on his own and within 2 weeks sleeping from 7pm till 7am (still with 1 feed inbetween untill 3 months). It sounds like you bub is waking each sleep cycle as they sleep in 40 minute and 80 minute sleep cycles but a baby that can self sooth will drift into the next sleep cycle without completely waking and crying.

Please have a read of this book its about $24 but it will ne the best $24 you will spend. I was very scepticle of all books at first but was at my wits end having my son waking up twice for feeds then wanted to start his day at 5am, I was getting near to no sleep at all.

Good luck! =))

Andrea - posted on 12/23/2009

I am with you on the sleep deprivation! I have a three and a half month old boy who has NEVER let me sleep through a night. What has helped me is watching how much I stimulate him when he wakes up. For example, if he wakes up and I hear him fussing a little I will hurry up and get to him before he is completely awake. I keep the lights off, and I just use the night light in his room to see. I don't make any noise either. I quickly feed him. Most times a feeding is enough to get him to go back to sleep. If he is still squirming and fussing after the feeding I rock him for a few minutes. The more he is awake, the harder it is to put him back to sleep. Basically, since he never really wakes up completely, he has learned to sleep for longer stretches. Hopefully through the night soon. Hope this helps a little. Happy Holidays.

Teresa - posted on 12/23/2009

Well.... my 21 month old son still doesn't sleep through the night, so I'm probably not the best person to give advice.... ;)



Can he fall asleep on his own or is he always nursed to sleep? I think that was the starter for us. At 9 months my son was becoming almost impossible to nurse to sleep. I had to do modified CIO w/ him, but it helped tremendously. It took him about an hour of screaming which was completely heartbreaking, but when you are at the end of your sanity you do what you have to. He was in a crib (in my room) at the time and I stayed w/ him the whole time and did everything I could to try and comfort him w/out nursing. He finally realized that he COULD fall asleep w/out nursing. Some nights he would still nurse to sleep, but if he was still awake I could just put him in his crib (I stayed in the room) and he would go to sleep.



We started bed sharing again around 14 months because he was suffering w/ major seperation anxiety, but that's another story... We've been 'night weaning' for 2-3 weeks now. Most nights he doesn't nurse (but still wakes once earlier sometimes) til 5ish now.



Not sure if any of this helps, but it's all I've got. ;)