Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
My daughter is just over 5 months and for her night sleeps my husband and I
have been bathing her and then nursing her to sleep (she's exclusively breastfed and won't take the bottle). Up until a few weeks ago she was waking once for a nightfeed and sleeping 10 to 11 hours all up (I was quite happy with this). However, the past few weeks she has started to wake 2 or 3 times a night and I know she isn't hungry - just looking for a 'comfort suck'. She hasn't really taken to solids and the nurse said it's probably because she's getting extra at night, even though she's only comfort sucking and not having a full feed, and that I should let her cry/sleep train her. Incidentally she hasn't increased her number of day feeds, and generally feeds every 3 to 4 hours, sometimes going 5 hours without wanting a feed (usually around the middle of the day). Last night we had a hell of a night, my baby went down at 7.30, woke at 10.30 for a feed, then 12.30 and then 2am - I knew she wasn't hungry at 2am and my husband and I went through 2 hours of hell starting 'controlled crying'. I really hate hearing her cry, but am led to believe that this is what we now must do. I'm wondering if anyone on the newsgroup can offer advice/tips/words of wisdom? Also, during the day I often lie with her for her day naps and nurse her down - usually because I'm tired and need the sleep myself! Otherwise I go out for a walk in the pram. I've found the latter is no longer working as her ability to fight off sleep has become very strong. Anyone got any ideas, or am I going to have to face the music and let her cry it out (which I've done on occasion when she's overtired and doesn't want to be rocked/nursed). Any advice very much appreciated. Sarah & Charlotte (born 28 June) |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
I have the same nighttime routine that you have. My baby who is two
weeks older than yours wakes more often than yours does! Babies are DESIGNED to wake through the night!!! They are designed to nurse through the night. I could never let a baby cry. I have never let Olivia cry. This too shall pass. Tammy |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
I tried the whole controlled crying thing with my eldest daughter at about
10 months. After 5 nights, of stress and no sleep, she finally slept through the night.. It lasted for 4 days... She didn't sleep through the night until she was 18 months old (and had the chicken pox and the Dr prescribed a small dose of Phenergan to help with the itching)... She now sleeps through the night most nights... I rocked her to sleep or laid down with her till she was about 12 months old and then just put her in the cot and walked out.. She was breastfed till she was 6 mths old, formula didn't seem to help her sleep either... Sorry not much help.. But I can definately sympathise and wish you all the best.. -- Kelly Mother of Emily 2 and Isabella 1 "Sarah Lee" wrote in message ... My daughter is just over 5 months and for her night sleeps my husband and I have been bathing her and then nursing her to sleep (she's exclusively breastfed and won't take the bottle). Up until a few weeks ago she was waking once for a nightfeed and sleeping 10 to 11 hours all up (I was quite happy with this). However, the past few weeks she has started to wake 2 or 3 times a night and I know she isn't hungry - just looking for a 'comfort suck'. She hasn't really taken to solids and the nurse said it's probably because she's getting extra at night, even though she's only comfort sucking and not having a full feed, and that I should let her cry/sleep train her. Incidentally she hasn't increased her number of day feeds, and generally feeds every 3 to 4 hours, sometimes going 5 hours without wanting a feed (usually around the middle of the day). Last night we had a hell of a night, my baby went down at 7.30, woke at 10.30 for a feed, then 12.30 and then 2am - I knew she wasn't hungry at 2am and my husband and I went through 2 hours of hell starting 'controlled crying'. I really hate hearing her cry, but am led to believe that this is what we now must do. I'm wondering if anyone on the newsgroup can offer advice/tips/words of wisdom? Also, during the day I often lie with her for her day naps and nurse her down - usually because I'm tired and need the sleep myself! Otherwise I go out for a walk in the pram. I've found the latter is no longer working as her ability to fight off sleep has become very strong. Anyone got any ideas, or am I going to have to face the music and let her cry it out (which I've done on occasion when she's overtired and doesn't want to be rocked/nursed). Any advice very much appreciated. Sarah & Charlotte (born 28 June) |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
Sarah Lee" wrote in message
... My daughter is just over 5 months and for her night sleeps my husband and I have been bathing her and then nursing her to sleep (she's exclusively breastfed and won't take the bottle). Up until a few weeks ago she was waking once for a nightfeed and sleeping 10 to 11 hours all up (I was quite happy with this). However, the past few weeks she has started to wake 2 or 3 times a night and I know she isn't hungry - just looking for a 'comfort suck'. She hasn't really taken to solids and the nurse said it's probably because she's getting extra at night, even though she's only comfort sucking and not having a full feed, and that I should let her cry/sleep train her. Incidentally she hasn't increased her number of day feeds, and generally feeds every 3 to 4 hours, sometimes going 5 hours without wanting a feed (usually around the middle of the day). Last night we had a hell of a night, my baby went down at 7.30, woke at 10.30 for a feed, then 12.30 and then 2am - I knew she wasn't hungry at 2am and my husband and I went through 2 hours of hell starting 'controlled crying'. I really hate hearing her cry, but am led to believe that this is what we now must do. I'm wondering if anyone on the newsgroup can offer advice/tips/words of wisdom? Also, during the day I often lie with her for her day naps and nurse her down - usually because I'm tired and need the sleep myself! Otherwise I go out for a walk in the pram. I've found the latter is no longer working as her ability to fight off sleep has become very strong. Anyone got any ideas, or am I going to have to face the music and let her cry it out (which I've done on occasion when she's overtired and doesn't want to be rocked/nursed). Many babies I have heard of start to wake around 5 mos even if they didn't do so earlier. She's just doing like the rest of the gang. Tine, Denmark |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
"Sarah Lee" wrote in message ... ... However, the past few weeks she has started to wake 2 or 3 times a night and I know she isn't hungry - just looking for a 'comfort suck'. She hasn't really taken to solids and the nurse said it's probably because she's getting extra at night, even though she's only comfort sucking and not having a full feed, and that I should let her cry/sleep train her. Incidentally she hasn't increased her number of day feeds, and generally feeds every 3 to 4 hours, sometimes going 5 hours without wanting a feed (usually around the middle of the day). Last night we had a hell of a night, my baby went down at 7.30, woke at 10.30 for a feed, then 12.30 and then 2am - I knew she wasn't hungry at 2am and my husband and I went through 2 hours of hell starting 'controlled crying'. I really hate hearing her cry, but am led to believe that this is what we now must do. I'm wondering if anyone on the newsgroup can offer advice/tips/words of wisdom? I'm not clear on how you know she's not hungry at all (or even a tiny bit peckish)? Is it the way she nurses (or doesn't nurse?) If it is solely for comfort, is this a problem (because you have to get up in the morning and your sleep is vital to your work performance), or is it okay for you to accept that she nurses because she needs that kind of comfort (because of discomfort, teething, developmental growth spurt)? Some babies don't "take to solids" until they are much older - even as old as 18 months, and certainly 8-10 months is common. I wouldn't rush to lay the blame on the extra at night, myself. I have a daughter only a couple weeks younger than yours, and I won't even begin offering solids until she's 6 months - if then - unless she shows an undeniable interest in them. Solids tend to have fewer calories and less balanced nutrition in the same volume as breastmilk, *and* solids take longer to digest. I don't know what kind of solids she's being offered, but if she's not taking to them yet, there's no reason to push them. At her age she's better getting formula than solids (yes, I know you said she won't take a bottle, but the nutritional issue remains). Also, during the day I often lie with her for her day naps and nurse her down - usually because I'm tired and need the sleep myself! Otherwise I go out for a walk in the pram. I've found the latter is no longer working as her ability to fight off sleep has become very strong. Anyone got any ideas, or am I going to have to face the music and let her cry it out (which I've done on occasion when she's overtired and doesn't want to be rocked/nursed). I am no proponent of leaving a baby to "cry it out". I've no objection to leaving my daughter to fuss to sleep, which she often does, because she gets *more* upset if I try to hold her until she falls asleep. Yet, if I take her up and lay her in bed, she'll cry fitfully and then just conk out. To me, that is not "crying it out". That is meeting her needs - if I insist on holding her, it just upsets her more. And I can't just vanish into the bedroom and lie down with her (barring a hysterical breakdown on her part) because my other 3 kids need supervision. But if you hear baby in bed, getting *more* upset, instead of less - if her voice takes on that edge of hysteria, you know the sound - at that point, I can't see the value of leaving baby or offering anything less than complete comforting to the point of calmness. I wouldn't leave an adult or an older child to cry themselves to sleep that way, and I won't leave a baby. So obviously I've had to come up with other strategies! Mine basically consist of: if the baby wants to nurse at night, we nurse at night. I tend to fall back asleep during these nursings, as the babe is in bed with us and I just roll over and offer her the breast. I don't see it as a problem, so for us, it isn't a problem. In fact, I *want* my daughter to make up any calories she missed during the day, especially as she gets more interested in doing all the new skills she's developing, and forgets to eat (she often goes as long as 6 hours at a stretch between nursings in the middle of the day, like yours). So even though it means broken sleep for me, I know she's getting all the calories she needs. I also know it's not forever. By the way, we also found that when baby cried and cried like that, even when obviously tired, there was *always* something else wrong. Always. Either baby was wet, or dirty, or hurting for some reason, or had become hungry during the time she was crying, or had been crying so long that she forgot why she started in the first place, and was now crying because she was crying, and was incapable of self-soothing by that point. If you suspect teething discomfort, or any other discomfort during the night (even a mild earache, ignored by the baby during the interesting day, can become intolerable during the quiet night), you might want to try paracetamol/tylenol and see if it helps with the night waking. We find teething-times to be times of much night waking. (Also growth spurts in older kids, with the growing pains in the legs.) I suspect my littlie of teething now. She's been waking multiple times a night, or not waking but crying out repeatedly until soothed with the breast. I don't know what it is, but as long as the breast soothes her, I won't resort to pain-killers (and she still spits out the homeopathic teething tablets). I do not believe at all that sleep training is your only option. For *me*, it isn't an option at all, or not with a baby so tiny, so other options must exist. I realise your nurse is making these recommendations, but ask yourself: for whose benefit are these recommendations being made? Are they for baby's benefit? Mom's? Nurse's? Is it to fit into cultural expectations? Do they consider the child as an individual? Do they consider the child's developmental stage, nutritional needs? How necessary is it for her to meet your expectations regarding sleep and solids intake at this stage of her life? (For some families, it is vitally important; for others, not at all - only you can assess your own family's needs). I can tell you that my oldest daughter slept through beautifully from 8 weeks until 7 months, and then began waking (with teething) once a night, then twice, then three times....but eventually, it reduced down again and at the age of 2 she was sleeping through fine. One of my twins slept through from the time she came home from the hospital (at 3 months) but she was getting NG tube feedings all night, no need to wake hungry. The other twin didn't sleep through until she was older than 2. Not once. I survived. I was horribly ragged for a while, but I survived. This newest of mine (born July 29) wakes several times at night, or cries and nurses rather, but I'm getting enough sleep, so it works. Every kid has been different, and I've learned not to have expectations, but rather to go with the child's individual sleep patterns. I know from experience that they'll settle down...eventually. (Though the twin who used to sleep through the night, now wakes 1-3X per night to go to the bathroom, poor kid, and often requires one of us to get up with her - but her situation is unique.) Now of course I've rambled on. To sum up: If she isn't taking to solids, she may not be ready for them yet; this is certainly within the range of normal given her age - I would put her on the 'young for solids' end of the readiness spectrum. She may be making up lost calories at night, because of developmental spurts that distract her from eating in the day. She may have discomfort of some sort that's causing her to seek comfort - denying the breast will not address this; however, the breast itself may not address it either. Letting baby fuss to sleep may be the best way to meet her needs, but "crying it out" may be chosen for cultural reasons, resulting in a real need being ignored. A baby who cries and won't sleep when you know she would ordinarily be sleeping needs some troubleshooting: diaper, check. Too hot/too cold, check. Can't self-soothe, check. Wants another top-off at the breast, check. Lonely, check. I don't know, dear. It's what I still go through, every time, and I'm on kiddo #4 now. So I hope some of this has been useful, or insightful, or something. If you have any suggestions what I should do with Scootcher Moocher upstairs, who moves across the bed like doing the backstroke - backwards and headfirst - I'd love to hear 'em. :) --angela |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
Hi Sarah, welcome to m.k.b I remember you from uk.p.p.p, we were due 2
days apart! Sorry to hear things have started getting worse in the night, we've just been going through similar where we might have 2 or 3 nights in a row where he wakes up, the first time he wants to eat, properly, but later wakings he just fusses (he hasn't comfort sucked for a long time). We think it might be teething, apparently they go through phases where the teeth are moving around in the jaw even if they aren't close to coming through. Unfortunately there doesn't seem much you can do about it, just go with it and comfort them. Thankfully we've just had 2 nights where hs has slept through after a bad weekend where he was up for an hour or more at a time. One thing we just did which I wish we'd done sooner was put a cot toy on the bars of the cot (we were passed one one by a friend who was clearing out), it's a big yellow plastic teddy with activities on it. Last night at bed time we put him down and left the room, we could hear these taps as he played with it (in the dark), this was the first sound we heard this morning as well. For naps, my solution is when he is tired, I make sure he is well fed, then changed his nappy, put him down, close the curtains whilst talking to him, telling him to sleep well etc. then I leave the room and set a timer for 15 minutes, first thing I do is put some washing or drying on so I can't hear him (sounds cruel, but it seems to work for us and it's less than 1 time in 10 he is actually screaming), then I dash around for 15 mins doing anything that needs to be done and at the end of that time I check on him at least 9 times out of 10 he is fast asleep, then I take some me time, make a cup of tea, put my feet up etc. Hope this helps. Anne |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
Sarah,
I have four children and never have had one sleeping through the night by five months! Your baby may BE hungry; how can you know? Grown-ups sometimes wake in the middle of the night and need a snack. If your baby needs a little snack, she's depending on you to give it to her. :-) Perhaps she's going through a growth spurt and needs more calories. Or maybe she's so busy during the day that she isn't eating as much as she should. Or maybe she does just want to nurse for comfort--and what's wrong with that if she does? She's still a very young baby and is depending on you to meet all her needs, physical and emotional. Have you considered co-sleeping? It can make all the difference. You can nurse in your sleep (well, I can, and others have said they can--you'll have to try and see how it works for you) and then you will be rested and baby will get what she needs as well. I can honestly say that I have never felt sleep deprived as long as my babies were sharing my bed. I still nurse my almost three-year-old to sleep. And he still wakes at some point and comes into bed with me to nurse some more. As your baby gets older, if you are not comfortable with nursing in the night, there is a book that a lot of people on this ng recommend: The No-Cry Sleep Solution. It sounds to me like you are really concerned about your baby and doing what is best for her. So trust your own instincts, even above what any nurse tells you. There is a reason that you hate to hear your baby cry. You don't have to make her do it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with nursing a five-month-old to sleep. (And I do understand the pressures--I did controlled crying with my first at 7 months. It was awful. Yes, it worked--at least for awhile--but I would never do it again.) Leslie |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
"Sarah Lee" wrote in message ... My daughter is just over 5 months and for her night sleeps my husband and I have been bathing her and then nursing her to sleep (she's exclusively breastfed and won't take the bottle). Up until a few weeks ago she was waking once for a nightfeed and sleeping 10 to 11 hours all up (I was quite happy with this). However, the past few weeks she has started to wake 2 or 3 times a night and I know she isn't hungry - just looking for a 'comfort suck'. She hasn't really taken to solids and the nurse said it's probably because she's getting extra at night, even though she's only comfort sucking and not having a full feed, and that I should let her cry/sleep train her. Incidentally she hasn't increased her number of day feeds, and generally feeds every 3 to 4 hours, sometimes going 5 hours without wanting a feed (usually around the middle of the day). Last night we had a hell of a night, my baby went down at 7.30, woke at 10.30 for a feed, then 12.30 and then 2am - I knew she wasn't hungry at 2am and my husband and I went through 2 hours of hell starting 'controlled crying'. I really hate hearing her cry, but am led to believe that this is what we now must do. I'm wondering if anyone on the newsgroup can offer advice/tips/words of wisdom? Also, during the day I often lie with her for her day naps and nurse her down - usually because I'm tired and need the sleep myself! Otherwise I go out for a walk in the pram. I've found the latter is no longer working as her ability to fight off sleep has become very strong. Anyone got any ideas, or am I going to have to face the music and let her cry it out (which I've done on occasion when she's overtired and doesn't want to be rocked/nursed). Any advice very much appreciated. Sarah & Charlotte (born 28 June) M y only advice is to let her sleep with you. You sleep and nurse her during the day, she probably misses it at night. |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
"Sarah Lee" wrote in message
... She hasn't really taken to solids and the nurse said it's probably because she's getting extra at night, even though she's only comfort sucking and not having a full feed, and that I should let her cry/sleep train her. IME, I've found this to be total hogwash. My DD (almost 13 months now) also took a long time to take to solids (and still is not as keen as many others her age). Various people told me it was because I was nursing her at night and that she should cut down. I tried to eliminate night-nursings and had DH rock her to sleep instead. She would wake up even more than ever, which resulted in all of us being tired and crabby in the day. Tired and crabby = no patience for solids. So it only exacerbated the problem. YMMV Lucy |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
"Sarah Lee" wrote in message ... My daughter is just over 5 months and for her night sleeps my husband and I have been bathing her and then nursing her to sleep (she's exclusively breastfed and won't take the bottle). Up until a few weeks ago she was waking once for a nightfeed and sleeping 10 to 11 hours all up (I was quite happy with this). However, the past few weeks she has started to wake 2 or 3 times a night and I know she isn't hungry - just looking for a 'comfort suck'. She hasn't really taken to solids and the nurse said it's probably because she's getting extra at night, even though she's only comfort sucking and not having a full feed, and that I should let her cry/sleep train her. Incidentally she hasn't increased her number of day feeds, and generally feeds every 3 to 4 hours, sometimes going 5 hours without wanting a feed (usually around the middle of the day). Last night we had a hell of a night, my baby went down at 7.30, woke at 10.30 for a feed, then 12.30 and then 2am - I knew she wasn't hungry at 2am and my husband and I went through 2 hours of hell starting 'controlled crying'. I really hate hearing her cry, but am led to believe that this is what we now must do. I'm wondering if anyone on the newsgroup can offer advice/tips/words of wisdom? Google "Ferber" and "No Cry Sleep Solution" If you ARE going to try "controlled crying" (don't know where that term comes from) read the book by Ferber called Solve Your Child's Sleep Problem. It is truly worth the trip to the library. Also, during the day I often lie with her for her day naps and nurse her down - usually because I'm tired and need the sleep myself! Otherwise I go out for a walk in the pram. I've found the latter is no longer working as her ability to fight off sleep has become very strong. Anyone got any ideas, or am I going to have to face the music and let her cry it out (which I've done on occasion when she's overtired and doesn't want to be rocked/nursed). I would not do it "on occaision." That is setting an inmanagable expectation. Ferber's book is good on the subject if what your child is experiencing is an untenable sleep association. Others recommend No Cry Sleep Solution as a good resource. Any advice very much appreciated. Sarah & Charlotte (born 28 June) |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
However, the past few weeks
she has started to wake 2 or 3 times a night and I know she isn't hungry - just looking for a 'comfort suck'. She's in need of the comfort because she's uncomfortable. It's very, very common for babies around 6 months to start waking more frequently than they used to, for a number of possible reasons: -Growth spurt, leading to hunger. Older babies are often so busy exploring the world during the day that they "forget" to eat enough, and then want to make up for it at night when there's nothing more interesting happening. Try increasing offers of daytime feeds, especially in the evening. You might be able to get her to "tank up" before bedtime. -Teething pain. Try bedtime ibuprofen if you think that's it; take heart in that if this is the reason for the waking, it's probably pretty temporary, although it may happen many times for a few days each time over the next couple of years. You can also try offering a cold washcloth or the like rather than the breast when she wakes, if that's easier for you. -Illness. Ear infections, particularly, may be symptomless during the day but bother the baby when she's lying down. Or a stuffed up nose might be a minor bother during the day but worsen at night. Try a humidifier, elevating the head of her bed, and/or appropriate medication. -Digestive upset. Babies who are just starting solids may just have an uncomfortable tummy, even if the problem doesn't rise to the level of an allergic reaction or true food intolerance. Their digestive systems may just be struggling a bit with the new experience. BTW, at 5 months your DD is still a bit young to be eating solids, so it's not at all surprising that she hasn't "taken to" them. Try no solids for several days and see if that improves her sleep. -Developmental progress. A baby who is just learning to crawl, stand, and walk may "practice" in her sleep and wake herself up with physical activity, and then have a hard time going back to sleep. There's not a whole lot you can do about this one, although changing your bedtime routine and/or sleep training might help if the problem is that she just can't fall asleep without nursing. I do know one mom who found that her daughter would stand up, hanging onto the crib railing, and then not know how to get back down. Once they taught her how to lower herself back down to the mattress, the daughter was able to go back to sleep on her own. Even if you are willing to use cry-it-out methods (which I never was), I would advise considering all of the above before you do it. In this case it does little good to treat the symptom (night waking) without curing the disease (whatever's causing her to wake). Holly Mom to Camden, 2.5 yrs EDD #2 6/8/04 |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
Sarah Lee wrote:
My daughter is just over 5 months and for her night sleeps my husband and I have been bathing her and then nursing her to sleep (she's exclusively breastfed and won't take the bottle). Up until a few weeks ago she was waking once for a nightfeed and sleeping 10 to 11 hours all up (I was quite happy with this). However, the past few weeks she has started to wake 2 or 3 times a night and I know she isn't hungry - just looking for a 'comfort suck'. Welcome to my world :) The first thought that came into my mind was that 5,6,7 month old babies seem to *stop* sleeping through the night if they had done so previously. There's so many developmental milestones occurring: teething is a big one, rolling over, standing up, etc. So, night wakings aren't unusual. Last night we had a hell of a night, my baby went down at 7.30, woke at 10.30 for a feed, then 12.30 and then 2am - I knew she wasn't hungry at 2am and my husband and I went through 2 hours of hell starting 'controlled crying'. I really hate hearing her cry, but am led to believe that this is what we now must do. I'm wondering if anyone on the newsgroup can offer advice/tips/words of wisdom? Hmmm... if my son were last fed at 10.30 then I would assume that he would be hungry at 2 am. In any case, I nurse my son (6 months old) whenever he wakes up. Crying it out isn't the right solution if your child is 1) teething, 2) waking to development milestone, or 3) hungry. So you really need to be sure why you're doing the controlled crying. It doesn't sound like your baby had a sleep issue before, so I really doubt the CIO method is the appropriate solution for you. Jeanne |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
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Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
"Stephanie Stowe" wrote in message news:_q1Eb.1698$%
Google "Ferber" and "No Cry Sleep Solution" If you ARE going to try "controlled crying" (don't know where that term comes from) read the book by Ferber called Solve Your Child's Sleep Problem. It is truly worth the trip to the library. Also, read Weissbluth's Healthy Sleep Habits (that's not the exact title, I don't have it in front of me, but it's something like that). He's great at explaining sleep patterns and cycles. It sounds to me like it's time for sleep training. Good luck. Rachel |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
Sarah Lee wrote:
My daughter is just over 5 months and for her night sleeps my husband and I have been bathing her and then nursing her to sleep (she's exclusively breastfed and won't take the bottle). Up until a few weeks ago she was waking once for a nightfeed and sleeping 10 to 11 hours all up (I was quite happy with this). However, the past few weeks she has started to wake 2 or 3 times a night and I know she isn't hungry - just looking for a 'comfort suck'. One thing about babies... their schedule changes constantly! ;) They're keeping you on your toes. She hasn't really taken to solids and the nurse said it's probably because she's getting extra at night, even though she's only comfort sucking and not having a full feed, and that I should let her cry/sleep train her. Bogus re the nurse! I don't think babies nursing at night means they wouldn't like solids. I think they're separate things. Last night we had a hell of a night, my baby went down at 7.30, woke at 10.30 for a feed, then 12.30 and then 2am - I knew she wasn't hungry at 2am and my husband and I went through 2 hours of hell starting 'controlled crying'. I really hate hearing her cry, but am led to believe that this is what we now must do. Sometimes babies do this. I personally do not believe in "crying it out", but if you are going to do it, please do what other people have recommended, which is read the books thoroughly so that you know what the crying is for. It's not just letting the baby cry and ignoring her so that she'll eventually sleep. Also, during the day I often lie with her for her day naps and nurse her down - usually because I'm tired and need the sleep myself! I nap with Pillbug sometimes on the weekends, but I don't have to nurse him to get him to sleep. I've found if he's making any kind of sleep motion (rubbing eyes, sleep-fussiness, turning head back and forth), I lay on the bed with him in my arms and firmly pretend to be asleep. He'll fuss a bit and squirm, but within 10 minutes, he'll fall asleep. I found the "No-Cry Sleep Solution" by Pantley, I think, is really good. I took her advice on unlatching Pillbug before he falls asleep at the breast at night and putting him into the crib very drowsy helps him fall asleep and also makes me less "afraid" and need to sneak out of his room. Good luck! -- Anita -- -- SUCCESS FOUR FLIGHTS THURSDAY MORNING ALL AGAINST TWENTY ONE MILE WIND STARTED FROM LEVEL WITH ENGINE POWER ALONE AVERAGE SPEED THROUGH AIR THIRTY ONE MILES LONGEST 57 SECONDS INFORM PRESS HOME CHRISTMAS. |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
Thank you all so much for your advice - particularly Chotti's epic posting
and Anne. Lucy - thank you also for your posting - which makes alot more sense to me than what the nurse has said. I don't feel it's right to let my child cry it out (controlled crying is what the nurse recommended - going in and checking to see if there's a problem, if not leaving child to cry for 10mins, then going back, resettling child, patting tummy, reassuring them for 10mins, then leaving them for 10 etc. etc. - repetitive reassurance). There are some occasions when Charlotte doesn't want to feed and when I try to rock her she wrestles to get free of my arms, as though she's being over fussed. When that happens I've found putting her down in her cot for 10 minutes (where she soothes herself with her favourite toy) helps. After 10 minutes she then throws away the toy in frustration that she can't get off to sleep and then is usually happy to be nursed or rocked. This usually happens when she's overtired. I'm perfectly happy to nurse my bubs during the night, it's just the past few nights the second or third time she's woken she hasn't really fed - just latched on and dozed, but then cried when put back in her cot. She doesn't seem to be showing teething symptoms - though Anne's posting where she mentions the teeth moving around in the jaw even if they aren't close to coming through is interesting. Also, Charlotte's cry, when she wakes, hasn't been one of pain, which led me to think she could have been waking and struggling to resettle herself - though as one person pointed out - if she was previously waking for only one feed then she does know how to settle herself. I'm really thankful for the reassurance that it's okay to nurse Charlotte to sleep and to trust my instincts. So many people/nurse/other parents/books say to do the feed, play, sleep routine - but sometimes Charlotte's need for a feed and sleep come at the same time and I know, as an adult, I enjoy a glass of hot milk before I go to bed - so what's wrong with a little'un having a sup of Mummy's milk! It's so hard to know if what I'm doing is right, when there is so much conflicting advice 'out there' - though it's interesting and reassuring to read that many of the posters in response to my e-mail seem to think along the same lines and disagree with letting a young baby 'cry it out' and agree with doing whatever possible to soothe and comfort their babies. Charlotte is a very happy baby and is so alert and interested in the world around her - her proud Daddy has set up a wee website so her Grandparents and family in the UK can keep tabs on her progress - which you're welcome to visit at http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/danlee73/ - I just want to make sure I'm doing the best for her, but often wonder what that is! I really must learn to trust my instincts and put blinkers on when the nurse/joe bloggs/whoever tells me something that doesn't feel right. Sorry this is such a HUGE posting! Thanks again for all the wonderful advice and reference to books, Best wishes, Sarah & Charlotte "Sarah Lee" wrote in message ... My daughter is just over 5 months and for her night sleeps my husband and I have been bathing her and then nursing her to sleep (she's exclusively breastfed and won't take the bottle). Up until a few weeks ago she was waking once for a nightfeed and sleeping 10 to 11 hours all up (I was quite happy with this). However, the past few weeks she has started to wake 2 or 3 times a night and I know she isn't hungry - just looking for a 'comfort suck'. She hasn't really taken to solids and the nurse said it's probably because she's getting extra at night, even though she's only comfort sucking and not having a full feed, and that I should let her cry/sleep train her. Incidentally she hasn't increased her number of day feeds, and generally feeds every 3 to 4 hours, sometimes going 5 hours without wanting a feed (usually around the middle of the day). Last night we had a hell of a night, my baby went down at 7.30, woke at 10.30 for a feed, then 12.30 and then 2am - I knew she wasn't hungry at 2am and my husband and I went through 2 hours of hell starting 'controlled crying'. I really hate hearing her cry, but am led to believe that this is what we now must do. I'm wondering if anyone on the newsgroup can offer advice/tips/words of wisdom? Also, during the day I often lie with her for her day naps and nurse her down - usually because I'm tired and need the sleep myself! Otherwise I go out for a walk in the pram. I've found the latter is no longer working as her ability to fight off sleep has become very strong. Anyone got any ideas, or am I going to have to face the music and let her cry it out (which I've done on occasion when she's overtired and doesn't want to be rocked/nursed). Any advice very much appreciated. Sarah & Charlotte (born 28 June) |
Sleep routines and nursing baby to sleep
Hi Sarah, I too remember you from p.p.p.
I come in late to this one but read avidly cos my DS is doing exactly the same. I have saved all the responses to jam under the noses of the 'doubters'. I went to Charlotte's website and she is an absolute cutie- such enormous eyes, you could almost drown in them :-) Glad it's all going well after the traumatic start. --Alison |
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