Sleepless Nights

Crystal - posted on 03/19/2010

I have to reply to Rachel Snyder... your baby going down at 7 or 8 and waking at 5 or 6 am...that IS sleeping through the night. When they wake up at 1 am for a bottle that is not sleeping through the night. I would love it if my 1 year old wouldn't wake up at 1 or 2 am for a small 2-4 ounces of milk. I think that some ladies are right, it is a habit that needs to be broken, but I have a full house of people that get woke up with him crying too long. He did start sleeping through the night around 4 or 5 months... but at 6 months started teething and none since. He now has 10 teeth, and is working on his 3rd molar...so I don't see sleeping through the night happening anytime soon. Also, I have read that around 10 months they may also be waking because of dreams.

Ivy - posted on 03/18/2010

What time do you put your son to bed? I break my daughter's meals up into 4 or 5 meals. She also has snacks in between but not too much as I want her to eat her meals. My daughter was the same way till I started feeding her two hours before she goes to bed. I try to feed her something that is light but filling. Sometimes I give her pasta, but I found out that cereal and yogurt works the best. Your baby stops digesting food after 11pm, so whatever food is still in the tummy will cause upset and a restless night. So it is best to be done feeding your son by 9pm. Then after that, you can give him breast milk or formula for bed.



Sometimes my daughter wakes up around 4 to have a milk feed then goes back to sleep till 9. Our night schedule is 7.30 is bath time, she plays for 20 to 30 minutes in the bath. We get her dressed and give her cereal and yogurt. She is done by 9. Then we let her play for an hour. At 10 she climbs the stairs to the bathroom and we brush her teeth. I give her last milk feed of the day and then she is generally asleep by 10:30.



This routine works for us. My daughter doesn't have baby cereal anymore. She has ready brek (crushed oats) which has all the vitamins and minerals her baby cereal had in it. I also add in either banana, apple sauce or cocoa with some sugar. She gets the same amount of food at her last feed, that I give her in the morning for breakfast. I've enjoyed more sleep and I don't feel as tired and emotional during the day since we started giving her cereal at night.



Extra: She takes one nap during the day that can be anywhere from an hour to three hours long, but I make sure she is up 6 otherwise she doesn't sleep well at night. If you have a hard time getting your son to take a nap during the day, take him for a walk in his stroller. It works like a charm for my baby girl.

Jennifer - posted on 03/18/2010

I could have written that exact same post!!!! My son turned a year on March 16 and he has only slept 6 hours at a clip TWICE. He gets up every 2-3 hours at night and I take him to bed to breastfeed him and fall back asleep. Sometimes, I wake up and think he's in my bed when he's not and vice versa! I'm exhausted! He fights sleep, wakes up many times, and gets up early. Talk about a triple whammy.

I've tried bathing him at night, feeding him cereal right before bed, giving him a routine. Didn't work. I refuse to let him cry it out because I just don't want him crying and upset.

So, my advice is this. You aren't alone! And this too shall pass! Your son will sleep someday (as will mine)!

Rachel - posted on 03/18/2010

My son does the same thing, he wakes up and its not even for a bottle half the time, normally the pacifier puts him back to sleep. My doctor said there is no need for him to be waking up at night and its now become just a habit. He is so used to waking up at night that he said its just a habit now. Not sure how to break the habit. But he goes to be normally at 7 or 8 and wakes up between 5 and 6. I tried putting him to bed later and he is still up early. :-( One of these years we will sleep all night long. He is complete opposite from my daughter. She was sleeping all night since 2 months old, now of course she is 8 and she can sleep! lol. I think boys are so different w/their sleep habits.

Jessica - posted on 03/18/2010

My little girl just turned 1. she started sleeping through the night at about 6 months. after 5 months of crying alot due to wind and reflux. she only started sleeping properly when we introduced the bubbaroo sleeping bag and a comforter (jemima puddle duck). our bedtime routine is dinner at 530 while she gets to watch iggle piggle. bath at 6. bottle at 7 and bed at 8 or 830. she gets another bottle feed at 1030 (only because she has started not eating much from teething and we are trying to keep her weight up) (now 8.6 kgs)
we used to rock her and sing but once we introduced the self soothing technique with the sleeping bag we haven't looked back . i really hope you get some much deserved rest

im not sure where you are located but there is alot of good places that help you and your baby settle to sleep easier. (tresillian etc)

Jessica

Shannon - posted on 03/15/2010

My daughter will be a year old on the 27th of March. She slept through the night from about 6-9 months fairly well. Month 10 we started teething pretty hard and so her sleep wasn't as good, up several times a night. Recently she has a great dislike for her crib. I spent many hours agonizing over how I get her to sleep through the night? What should I do? Let her cry it out? Put her in my bed? Stress, stress and more stress. First of all, we tried letting her do the "controlled crying method". We tried this for several days. It DID NOT WORK FOR US. It resulted in my daughter being absolutely hysterical, screaming and absolutely no sleep or calming down. Some people might use that technique and it might work for them. It does not work for everyone. Every child is different. Do not let people tell you that you if you don't allow them to cry it out they are never going to sleep, they are going to be horrible sleeper and life on planet earth as you know it will never be the same unless you take THEIR approach. You are the mother, you know what is best for your child. I would encorage you to try different methods and see what works for you. My suggestions would be 1) When he goes to bed allow him to get very full. 2) stick to a consistent and relaxing bedtime routine. 3) When he wakes at night to nurse, try to rock him instead. This was suggested by our doctor when at 4 months we were trying to eliminate the 3am feeding because she wasn't generally hungry and it seemed a comfort thing. It eventually did work for us. They learn they aren't going to get fed and stop waking up. At 11 months you shouldn't feel bad ab eliminating the feedings at night. He's just comfy when you nurse him and that's what he wants when he wakes up. The best advice I have been given is that there is no magic cure for night-time wakings. You just have to play around with different methods. I would definately try using other techniques and use the CIO method ONLY as a last resort. Give him some time to re-adjust. Best of luck!

Marzanne - posted on 03/15/2010

HI there
I breastfed my first baby as well, so I know EXACTLY what you mean.. result? Still sitting with my 2.5 yr old in my bed! The only thing that helped for me to get my little one to sleep at night (not 100% through, but at least not these 2/3 wake ups.. was rescue drops.. they worked like a bomb and is not harfull at all to the child! Rescue doesnt make them sleepy though, so you still need to do that, but it just help them to get into a routine of sleeping better. i still dont have a solution to get my LO out of my bed, but at least while he is there, he sleeps! good luck!!

Nancy - posted on 03/15/2010

I have the same problem with our 11 1/2 month old daughter. Our best success is having her sleep in the swing. Still, we have only had a few nights of good sleep, and I am hoping we are getting to the point where it is the norm, but last night is not helping things! My light at the end of the tunnel is my son, who is 3 1/2 yrs old. we had same problems with him, and by the time he was about 9 months, he was sleeping about 4 hrs, but still had to get up to resettle him when he woke. He started just getting up once a little over a year, and I just nursed him back to sleep that time. Before he was 2, he was sleeping on his own, all night. now he only occasionally wakes at night, we think with a bad dream or something. then we just have to go in and rock him back to sleep.
I do not agree that he does not NEED to eat during the night. Many breastfed babies (mine have both been breastfed, and fed some through the night, but waking up to feed once or twice is VERY different than every 2-3 hrs, I am going through that too) still wake up for feeding after the first year. last night Marissa wouldn't go back to sleep, and was screaming and wailing, would not settle in the swing, would not stay asleep after nursing; so I finally brought a banana in and gave it to her, that was the only way she would settle, and it still took about another 30 minutes or more to swing her to sleep.
I also do not believe in CIO, I think when babies cry, they are telling us something is wrong, and this young, their emotional needs are just as real as their physical needs. I try to tell myself too, it will get better (please let it be sooner rather than later!) We do think part of our problem is we get her to bed too late. Sean has always been a nightowl, but Marissa seems to be on an earlier clock, and we have a hard time adjusting to that. you may want to adjust bedtime. Also, be sure to have Some routine - we also do not do a bath at night, just jammies, story, nurse/rock to sleep, then put her in the swing if she won't stay asleep (I've been putting her in the swing anyway, because she will only sleep about 2 hrs in her bed) she won't sleep in our bed either, she just wants to squirm and play - oh, and I don't think your son will still be in your bed at 3, since you bring him to bed now.
I think if you fulfill their needs, they will grow out of them. If you do not fulfill them, they will creep back up later in terms of sleep problems. Try reading some Dr. Sears. A lot of what he talks about gives you the sense of "it's normal, there is nothing wrong with my baby," but he has some good suggestions that may help you too. He is all about Attachment Parenting, and meeting your baby's needs (and child's needs too when they get older.)
Good luck! I know how you feel. I get very impatient with Marissa in the middle of the night, I'm sure you do too. If this is your only child, take advantage and nap when he does during the day, taht will help you make it through the night. (my 3 1/2 yr old is not napping anymore, so I don't have that luxury anymore). Take care.

Angie - posted on 03/15/2010

One more thing that I forgot to mention....I still nurse my son, but not at night. His last feeding is at 8:00 p.m. and sleeps through the night until about 5 a.m. Nursing them at night is only a habit; they do not need to eat throghout the night.

Angie - posted on 03/15/2010

I understand those sleepless nights since we also experienced them, but my 11 month old baby has been sleeping through the night for the past four months. I tried the Ferber method..it took about a week, but we stuck to it and not only are we sleeping, but he is sleeping more during the day. You can look up the Ferber method on the internet, but you have to be strong and stick with it. We put him down eventhough he has crying and after 2 minutes we went in to check on him...we laid him back down and patted him and left the room even though he was crying. We gradually increased the time we checked on him. One other thing...we did put soothing music and that helped tremendously. Try this method....if you do it properly it will work. Good luck

Lisa - posted on 03/14/2010

I know it is hard but you may just need to get tough with him, otherwise this could be a continuous problem. My sister continued to get up during the night for her son and he was still not sleeping through at 21/2 years of age. She finally decided to get tough with him and control cried him and within 3 nights he was sleeping through the night with no problems since. I have control cried both my kids and they both became good sleepers (and both were breastfed). Babies go through different phases in their sleep cycle going between deep sleep and light sleep and often waking up during that light sleep. If he hasn't learn't how to put himself back to sleep then he will automotically wake and cry for you because you are the only way he knows how to get back to sleep. Control crying helps to teach them to put themselves back to sleep and they will not hate you for it. Research just released this month says that it is fine to control cry. I usually try going 4 mins from time they start continually crying. If they stop crying and then start again I will take it 4min from when they start again. If it has reached 4 minutes I will go in and check on them, if necessary give them a cuddle and then put back down again and repeat the process until they go to sleep. If I am weaning though I let my husband go in as I feel it is unfair to have food so close then take it away again. I found I could not handle 10 mins of screaming but 4 was fine.

Samantha - posted on 03/14/2010

I know that it is really hard! My son was formula fed and didn't start sleeping through the night until he was 11 months and we have still been struggling!! And you think, what am I doing wrong that the other moms aren't? Well it is not your fault first of all and weaning of the breast sounds like it is going to be difficult. But I would start weaning throughout the day so he knows that he doesn't need it all of the time and then eventually don't give him the boob at all during the night just a paci (if that is what you use) and then before you know (maybe weeks-months before he gets over it) he will sleep through the night. But just know there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Brandy - posted on 03/13/2010

Thanks to the folks that have responded before me; I just remembered that we still have pacifiers lying around...I think I will try that tonight instead of the middle of the night bottle...it's becoming clear to me!!! Thank you guys! =D

Michelle - posted on 03/13/2010

I'll start by mentioning that I'm a big supporter of breastfeeding and I nursed my baby for 9 months. That being said he did not sleep through the night until I weaned him. If you nurse him in the night he will continue to wake up for those feedings, but I know it's hard to have willpower against a screaming baby at 3 A.M. :o) Maybe giving him water from a bottle at those times would get him used to the idea that middle of the night is not feeding time.

Lisa - posted on 03/13/2010

My son will be 1 end of march, and has NEVER slept through the night, I am just as tired as I was when he was newborn. never sleeps longer than 3 hours tops, and he is bottle fed. cry it out does not work, easier said than done and is traumatizing for not only him but me aswell! he most of the time just wants a bottle, sometimes I wonder if he has bad dreams, I've had him checked for sleep apnea, he's fine....I am more than sure hell sleep one day, he's bound to get just as tired as I am,. so I just wanted to say that your not the only one, and it has nothing to do with breast feeding. I bottle fed after four weeks & he's never slept with me past that, been in a crib in his own room since 3 months as well

Michelle - posted on 03/12/2010

This is going to sound harsh but you HAVE to let him cry it out. I did this with both of my kids and they need to do for their wellbeing as well as yours. He will be a happier kid and you will be a happier mommy. The reason your son is wking up at night and needs to be nursed to sleep is because he does not know how to soothe himself. Everyone, adults and kids alike, wake up mulitple times thoughout the night. We just roll over and go back to sleep but babies need to learn this. Try starting with a routine like snack, story, song and then but him to bed. Make sure he'll be comfortable and is sleepy. He will of course start to cry. Wait a minute or two and then go in to check on him. Don't pick him up but let him know you are there, tell him you love him and then leave again. Do this until he falls asleep, legthening the time between checks. It took 3 days for my son and 1 day for my daughter. I used the Sleep Trainer with my daughter and it made it so much easier. It has a timer on it so you know when to go in to check. I believe they sell it at Babies R Us. It's called the Goodnight Sleep Trainer by 4moms. It was one of the hardest things I had to do and I cried as hard as they did but now they both sleep throught the night and it is SO WORTH IT. All I do is put them to bed and they sleep with no fuss. Just make sure to follow throught with it because if you cave it makes it that much harder the next time. Trust me! Let me know how it all works out and Good Luck!!!!!

Elizabeth - posted on 03/12/2010

oh by the way my son is 1 yr old an im still breast feeding and im planning on weaning him on monday and i only breastfeed during the day and formula feed in the day..it might work for you..good luck

Elizabeth - posted on 03/12/2010

i borrowed the movie from the library sleep easy its about sleep training your child and i had the same problems as you did my son is now a year old and sleeps thru the night most nights and wakes up once when hes not feeling well i think thats pretty decent and even has tips on nap training and weaning if you are interested in that segment it really works if you can't find it i may have given you the wrong name but i hope it works for you like it did for me but you have to be able to make your own effort to make it work.. good luck -from a first time mom

Tanya - posted on 03/12/2010

Well this might not be what you want to hear, Tylar is 11 months old up until our teeth cutting began which started the beginning of February, he has been a great sleeper. He has a bath every night, he loves it. We tried skipping it a couple times and he just would not settle. I breastfed up until 5 months, then put him on the bottle. He has not had a feeding between 8pm and 7am since then. These last few weeks have been bad, usually if he would wake up he would take his soother and go right back to sleep. Not lately, he also has a runny nose, I think from the teeth, but it's bot helping in the sleep department. On a good night, it's bath, bottle and off to bed. Good luck and I hope you get a good nights sleep soon!

Alexi - posted on 03/11/2010

Do you know what....your child is your guide. They will learn to sleep through at some point. But they will let you know when they are ready. I have done it with my 3 boys and am doing the same with my daughter. How can we expect them to do so much so soon at one time? I have stopped BF, so the sleeping through the night can wait until she adjusts to not having breast.She is really struggling. She likes being breastfed at night, so i am not going to push her further by forcing her to sleep through the night. It will come quite naturally.....eventually lol

Ashley - posted on 03/10/2010

When my daughter, now 1 y/o, was old enough to sustain herself through the night, we let her cry it out in the crib. It is heartwrenching but it only took 3 nights and she was sleeping through the night. Your son is old enough now to know that when he cries, mommy comes. You need to break that cycle. The longer you wait, the harder it'll be. Another issue to consider is acid reflux disease. If he is cranky throughout the day and doesn't seem to sleep well, even with napping then you should discuss this with your doctor.

Bree - posted on 03/09/2010

My little one is 1 year and 1 week old. Still wakes every 2 - 3 hours for milk so usually ends up in bed with me. Controlled crying isn't for me and I'm still breastfeeding with no intention of stopping anytime too soon. I've found baby massage and not turning the light on at night when he wakes is a huge help, I just feed laying down with a nightlight in the room, just enough to see and it prevents him from getting too excited and waking up completely. I just keep reminding myself they're only this little for so long and that "this too shall pass". (A 10 year old can sleep through the night right?!?!)

Good luck :)

Christel - posted on 03/04/2010

also if they move around and get out of bed lots then i found a "safety sleep" very helpful. its a sheet that you can velcro around their waists so they cant move around. (supposed to stop cot death so they cant get tangled in their blankets)

Christel - posted on 03/04/2010

your son will be waking in the night to have the comfort of a breastfeed and cuddle from mummy not because he is hungry. my son was doing the same but at 6months of age i just said enough was enough with the night feeding.
do whatever you usually do to settle your bub in the night (for me it was a pacifier and some soothing music played in his room) and after 2-3 nights they learn that they wont be fed any longer and should start to sleep through.
good luck!

Afua - posted on 03/03/2010

I am n advocate for breastfeeding I did nursed till he was six months and he basically weaned himself off. I do not know how you feel about formula feeding. But if you want peace buy just one can and start feeding him a formula bottle around 6 till bedtime. He will sleep..and you should also involve some sort of structure when going to bed, We are creatures of habit. If you give him a bath, lotion him up, put on the pj's and read to him. if you do this for a month straight he will learn how to go to bed on his own. TRY it out..

Jade - posted on 03/03/2010

have you taken him on a big walk or for a swim in the hot part of the day or make him run around on the grass and wear himself out. My son is 11 1/2 months old and he sleep through the night cause i wear him out. Are you feeding you son solid food, he may still be hungry......... i give my son mashed veg and some meat cut up very finely and a bottle of milk and a couple of sips of water before he goes to bed so his tummy is completly full and he is happy to go to sleep.
see how you go
good luck (:

Corlia - posted on 03/03/2010

My son is a year on 17 March. he has slept through on 5 nights since birth. I breastfed until 5 months. we do have a bedtime routine including a bath. he goes to bed easily but wakes up all the time. some nights only once or twice but sometimes every hour.

people told me its because I'm breastfeeding, onto formula still no sleep, started with solids, stil no sleep. 3 meals a day and formula still no sleep. i also tried johnsons bedtime bathtime whatever. no sleep.

crying or sleeptraining is just not for me. i can't do it.

so basically all i am saying is that i have made peace with it that one day he will sleep through and that i am not alone with this problem. alll the advice i have received have made no change in his nights sleep pattern.

GOOD LUCK !! one day it will pass and then we will wish that they are small again. small children small problems. big children big problems :)

Melanie - posted on 03/03/2010

it wasn't like i was just ACHING to let my son cio. but it was our only option left. up until about 5 mos he would go to sleep while nursing and lay down without waking up. and then he started waking up when i'd lay him down, he also learned to stand in his crib at 5 months. it turned into a 2 hr struggle to get him to sleep. i'd rock him to sleep and lay him down and he'd jump right back up and cry. it got completely exhausting so finally after a few weeks of that we decided it was time for him to learn that when he's put in his crib it's time to go to sleep. the first night he cried for 1-1/2 hrs. i went in every 10 min or so and laid him back down and gave him his pacifier. the 2nd night was shorter and after a few nights he went to bed without protest. which he still does. and he does NOT feel unloved or uncared for! if your son lays down and never protests, that's great. but don't judge others who's babies are more strongwilled and need a different solution.

Maria Fernanda - posted on 03/03/2010

i am not to found of crying it out i have read who some people let there baby cry for an hour i think it cruel. My Buba sleeps through the night now we give hes bath a massage then close the door in his room turn of the lights play his musical and he drinks hes bottle it has to be super melow or he wont go to sleep the house he will drink hes bottle we burp him give him a hug and then put him in his cot and he falls asleep sometimes he wakes up an hour after putting him to bed usually when hes teething or sick we give it a minute listen we o in give him a hug and he will go back to sleep, he only takes one nap a day and helps a lot if he sleeps in hes sleeping bag

Melanie - posted on 03/01/2010

let him cry it out. it won't hurt him! at 11 mos he doesn't need ANY feeding during the night. my son drinks about 6 oz of milk (cows milk, we just recently quit bfing) before he goes to bed at 8:30 and then he wakes up at 6 for a sippy with juice/water and goes back to sleep till about 8. you just have to be firm. i'm sure mine would still be waking to eat several times at night if i'd have let him.

Susan - posted on 03/01/2010

My son turns 1 on March 22 and he nurses at night still. He would not sleep even 5-6 hrs straight until we put tubes in his ears this past Christmas. His sleep has improved now, but is not perfect. He goes to bed by 8:30 or 9, then wakes to eat at midnight, and then (hopefully) sleeps until 6 or 6:30 am. If he is teething or feeling bad, he wakes up again at 3 am to nurse. He takes 1-2 naps a day, totaling 2-3 hrs. We do the bathe and nurse to sleep, but I am about to night ween him (he is day weened right now).
This week I plan to put him to bed w/o nursing and see how he does. Good luck!!

Felicity - posted on 02/28/2010

I tried this with my little one when I was brestfeeding their last feed at night make a formal feed it makes them feel a bit fuller in the tummy. Next is try water in a bottle, and then try control crying, sometimes you have to be hard to be kind put them bed after the feed and let them have a cry go back in cuddle comfort them.them but them back down walk out. Its hard it works.

Amanda - posted on 02/28/2010

Our son is 11 months and has also started waking up several times a night. After his bath we use California Baby calendula lotion and he is back sleeping through the night.

Kristina - posted on 02/28/2010

My daughter is also 11 months...she has slept thru the night twice...she will NOT sleep in her crib, she bangs her head against it so we just took it down and bought her a big girl bed, which she tolerates a little better, she will sleep 2-3 hours and once she slept 5 1/2 hours in it but usually still ends up in bed with us. If she wakes up and no one is in the room with her she freaks...I hope she grows out of this!

Melissa - posted on 02/27/2010

My little Alley Jo will be one March 23rd. I have the same issues! The only way that we have gotten a full nights rest is when we put her in her laydown car seat... She doesn't even stir! I don't know if it is the snuggle tight, or if it is the some-what upright position, but, everything else we have tried has failed. Also, she crawls OUT of her crib, and so, it gives up peace of mind that she won't fall and get seriously injured. We tried to turn her crib into a toddler bed, but she just crawls right out and comes into our room-- We even tried a babygate across the bedroom doorway (so we could keep her in, but hear her), and she crawls right over-- I think routine is very important. Some parents will recommend crying it out, but I could never let mine cry for more than 10-15 min. Breaks my heart.
I stopped feeding my little one in the middle of the night, and she goes back to sleep much easier. I also have a pacifier that she ONLY uses when she is going to sleep... That helps with the soothing, suckling comfort sensation....
I hope you can get something in place soon... I feel sad for you that your not sleeping well. Good Luck!!!

Vicki - posted on 02/27/2010

Oh and some babies never sleep through the night even as toddlers, but again i beleive a lot of it is habit induced

Vicki - posted on 02/27/2010

At 11 months he does not "need" to eat through the night. when I cut out middle of the night feedings (formula) I got up and just rocked and cuddled him until he went back to sleep. yes it would've been quicker to feed him. and I was pretty tired. Unfortuantly know your son is in the habit of eating in the night and it will be much much harder to stop...maybe rather then breastfeeding in a few weeks switch to offering cows milk but i suspect it is You that he wants, not the food and you are just enabling it.
Stopping this habit won't be easy, at all!!! it will take a lot of will power from you and probably some (even more) sleepless nights

Becca - posted on 02/27/2010

Well i don't know much about brestfed babies because mine was formula fed and started sleeping throught the night at 3 months. BUT, i do know that breastfed babies don't sleep throught the night sometimes until 2 years old...as a friend of mine has a son that is almost 2 and still doesn't sleep through the night. You should try giving him a bath at night i know that that ALWAYS works with my daughter, and using the Johnson's sleeptime bath soap as well as the lotion helps relax and soothe her. You just have to start getting into that routine and it might work...Try giving him some cereal before bedtime nursing..that may help fill him up a little bit more!! And you definatley want to break the habit of having him in bed with you esp. since he will be 1 soon....i know its just soo much easier but you will be kicking yourself in the butt when he's 3 and still wants to be in bed with you. Hope this helps.... and GOOD LUCK!! ;)

Beck - posted on 02/26/2010

My son is one next week and has only slept through 5 times since birth...3 in the past 3 nights WAHOO!!! Anyway, I have had some success and thought I would share some advice. I dont see not bathing at night a problem, we do, but what ever your routine exsists of it fine as long as its the same every time.

I dont believe tht controlled crying is the only way!!!! I used to have the same problem with my little man. My bub is a low sleep requirement baby, meaning they only need 8-14hrs sleep in 24hrs. We do the following and it works a treat!! plus its getting better and better!! as I said especially the past 3 nights! 7pm-6am (drink of water) then retucked in and back off to sleep til 7.30am!

Corey wakes usually around 7am he has a bfeed then breakfast

9.30 milk (bfeed for now) and fruit for morning tea

11.20 lunch - meat, vegies, carb (rice / pasta / potato) then desert (yoghurt)

12noon bed time (usually sleeps 2-2.5hrs!!)

2.30 milk (bfeed) and arvo tea (cheese on toast / avacardo and ham on crackers, pikelts etc)

5.20 tea (vegies and carb)

6pm Nudie time (clothes off play)

6.15 bath time

6.30 out of bath

6.35 milk

6.45 story time

6.55 into cot



We also do the nappy change, story then bedtime routine at 11.45 before lunch time sleep.

Cuddle on couch whilst reading - household calm, whilst reading we say before, during and after "nearlt time for nigh, nigh" "nealry time to find teddy" etc

Good night to anyone at home - kiss

then into bed room

We lay bub in our arms and rock him whilst we sing twinkle, twinkle, then lay him in his cot with his teddy (loves his bedtime ted)

We tuck him in tight - shoving a towel rolled up down either side to keep him in firm. Corey starts on his side. We dont have to tuck him as tight now that he sleeps so well.

We then rub his back and legs and say

"sshh, sshh, sshh, sshh time to sleep"

" sshh, sshh, sshh, sshh mummy and daddy love you"

"sshh, sshh, sshh, sshh nigh, nigh"



we repeat this twice, then stop rubbing and walk out. Corey now never needs re settleing but at first if he did put up a fight we would go in - shut the door behind us so there is no confusion that he is getting up then repeat the sshh, shh..... and out. It only ever took going in twice maybe three times.



When he wakes and has had a decent sleep (if he ever wakes under and hour we do the sshh, sshh to get him back off for at least 1hr 20mins) we walk in and say "good sleeping bubba" happy and bright and get him up. This way he knows the difference between when you are expecting him to go back off and when he can hop up.



If he wakes during the night we go in (maybe give him a sip of water), re plug the dummy, re tuck him in and do the sshh, sshh - we are in and out in under 1 min and he always (except when teething and needs a shot of panadol) settles in one go.



He seems to know now when he needs more sleep and that he needs to go back off. He can now resettle himself too which he could never do, occasionally he will yell out once then go back off. We now wait, he will yell out, we wait, he may yell once or twice more and go back off. We were rushing in and therfore always helping him back to sleep. Now we wait only a minute or two and he goes back off. Anymore than that and we go in. Some people wait longer.



Our little man is also gogogogo and is happy with no sleep, that was always the problem, he would be happy so I would not fight him to go back off so it formed BAD habits. Now he is an even happier bub.



We must make sure he doesn't sleep when we are out in the pram or car before 12noon otherwise it can muck it up (occasionally its fine we have learnt to addapt) but we try to hold him out til 12 so he has one good sleep.



We read 'Dream Baby guide' from Shayne Rowling which is where our above addapted routine is from. We started when Corey was 6mths and it changed our life.



Good luck, its so hard. You have done well, Corey was still doing the same as your bub at 6mths and I had had enough!! I love my sleep and had to do something quick!



P.S I never thought Corey would cut all his night feeds (at 6mths) as like you he was still feeding severla times a night in our bed just to get him back to sleep. Its all about creating sleep associations and the same environment so when they go to sleep its the same when they wake up so they can think 'ok, all the same, goodo, off to sleep again!" This is why its important to be out of the room when they go to sleep, cos of course if you have them back in their cot you are not there when they wake between sleep cycles. We were expecting to HAVE to use controlled crying with Corey at 6mths but never had to using this above routine (and many more hints from the book) - like having a heater in his room set at 21degrees in winter, using a sleeping bag etc and lots of other day time communication things. This is just a wrap up for you... would love to think it works for you like it does us.... fingers crossed for you!!!



Email me for more info if you would like



Sorry, I could go on all day!!