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Old December 17th 03, 07:40 PM
Stephanie Stowe
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Default 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)