tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post3527335568130972389..comments2023-08-22T01:59:18.988-06:00Comments on My Baby Sleep Guide | Your sleep problems, solved!: Sleep Props and Sleep AssociationsRachel Rowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160855322599826360noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-2753351790183953162018-01-22T18:50:29.641-07:002018-01-22T18:50:29.641-07:00I just stumbled upon this blog and WHAT A GEM! Tha...I just stumbled upon this blog and WHAT A GEM! Thanks so much for the awesome info. I have a 7 mo old who can’t self soothe. I’ve been doing some sort of sleep training since he was 4 months. We’ve done a lot from Elizabeth Pantley until we hit a wall at 6 months and tried CIO. He has ditched his pacifier, takes three regular naps with a 2-2.5 awake time between them but they are typically still short (30-45 minutes) with an occasional long one. He goes to bed between 6:30-7:00 and we have a solid bedtime routine. My biggest problem is that he wants to nurse to sleep or be rocked to sleep. I had gotten to the point where I could put him down in the crib drowsy and he would fuss his way to sleep or we would check on him every few minutes or so and pat him down… But somehow that got lost after he had his shots a couple weeks ago and he won’t do it anymore. He now wants to be rocked all the way to sleep before placed in the crib otherwise he will scream. When I tried cry it out again he could go a solid hour and not ever decrease in intensity or fall asleep. And honestly I can’t stomach the crying anymore. I’ve developed a severe anxiety associated with putting him down to sleep… I mean heart racing, legs shaking, almost blacking out at every naptime and bedtime because I know he’s going to refuse and cry and I won’t know what to do. He’s a side sleeper too so now in order to get him to sleep we have to basically hold him down and pat him on the back in the crib while he screams. If left alone he will not roll on his side to settle himself, but will just lay on his back farms flailing screaming until we come in and help him. I am so discouraged! I truly don’t know if I’ve got what it takes to teach this boy to settle himself and put himself to sleep. I’m at a complete loss on where to start. He is the funniest, sweetest, easiest baby 98% of the time until you try to put him down to sleep. I know he can sleep through the night because when we last did CIO at 6 months he did it several nights in a row. I’m not sure why he stopped and why he can’t get back to it but I see him becoming more and more tired and us too. I know I don’t have what it takes to do another CIO session. How can I get him to even give his crib a chance instead of going straight into screaming mode? How does one encourage self soothing? He is starting to wake up every hour or so again at night like he used to when he had a pacifier and I suspect it’s because he has now replaced the pacifier association for one of us patting him down. He has a lovey (a little bunny blankie) but will only use it when we tuck it under his hand. Where do I even start? CNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929608741781922673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-42242861761379480172017-12-13T18:32:04.662-07:002017-12-13T18:32:04.662-07:00Hi Rachel! My son is almost 4 months old. He has m...Hi Rachel! My son is almost 4 months old. He has mild reflux (now medicated) and has been described as a “high needs baby” by our pediatrician. He really has been a tough cookie since birth, and has had several sleep issues. Night time has improved dramatically for us, although I still think there is a need for some improvements.<br /><br />Our main problem is that our son relies heavily on sleep props to fall and stay asleep. We try to follow “eat, play, sleep” as we did with our older son but are really struggling. During the day I have to hold him, rock him and let him suck on his pacifier to nap. If I’m really lucky I can transfer him into his rock and play and he’ll stay asleep, but often wakes up within 20 minutes. If I try the crib it’s even worse, awake within 10 minutes. I pick him up and start again, put him down and the process repeats itself until I resign myself to the idea that the only way my baby will take a significant nap is in my arms. At night I nurse him to sleep, he usually wakes up once for a bottle of pumped breastmilk, then goes right back to sleep until morning.<br /><br />He has so many bad sleep associations (nursing, pacifier, being held, rocking) that I don’t really know where to start. I’ve tried to rock him without the pacifier and he flails around and cries until I give in. I’ve tried to put him down “drowsy but awake” (as suggested by so many) and he’s screaming himself purple, covered in sweat and hyperventilating within a few minutes. <br /><br />Our schedule (unfortunately) looks like this: 7:00 am: Wake, Feed bottled breastmilk // 8:45 am: Nap #1, usually awake by 9:10 am // 9:30 am: Feed bottled breastmilk // 11:00 am: Nap #2, tends to be a little longer, usually awake around noon // 12:30 pm: Feed bottled breastmilk // 2:30 pm: Nap #3, usually awake by 3:00 pm // 3:30 pm: Feed bottled breastmilk // 5:00 pm: Nap #4, usually awake by 5:20 pm // 5:45 pm: Feed bottled breastmilk // 7:00 pm: PJs, white noise, nurse to sleep, into the crib by 8:00 pm.<br /><br />I would love to see him take longer naps during the day (at least a few @ 1 hour each) without so much assistance from me. Any advice would be super!<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03652971306228881368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-12412383365664034712017-11-16T03:25:23.095-07:002017-11-16T03:25:23.095-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15038103039597968613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-23586475191605395722017-06-18T17:29:59.785-06:002017-06-18T17:29:59.785-06:00I have a 6 month old who I've come to recogniz...I have a 6 month old who I've come to recognize uses ME as his prop. I nurse him. How do I cold turkey this!?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14800000584086404923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-88046371751395427032017-02-08T15:15:06.539-07:002017-02-08T15:15:06.539-07:00Thanks. He can go back and forth but for some reas...Thanks. He can go back and forth but for some reason wont go on his belly even though that is how he sleeps. So frustrating. i am so tired of every 3 hours of feeding. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07209660195262380556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-21647818065769904442017-02-08T11:45:06.849-07:002017-02-08T11:45:06.849-07:00unknown,
If baby can get to her tummy and back by ...unknown,<br />If baby can get to her tummy and back by herself while sleeping and won't, that is more of an issue you'd probably have to have her figure out on her own. If she simply can't get to her tummy on her own, then it's more of a safety issue. More on that below.<br /><br />http://www.mybabysleepguide.com/2012/11/when-can-my-baby-sleep-on-his-tummy.html#moreRachel Rowellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160855322599826360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-52137853781460248932017-02-08T11:39:49.101-07:002017-02-08T11:39:49.101-07:00I have a 6 month old i put him on his tummy for na...I have a 6 month old i put him on his tummy for nap awake and he usually goes to sleep fine but he wakes up all night long every 3 hours if not less and needs to be nursed or rocked back to sleep. I don't know how to stop unless i cio which sucks for my two year old. Is putting him on his tummy a sleep prop?<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07209660195262380556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-77128067846832487372016-11-20T21:41:06.756-07:002016-11-20T21:41:06.756-07:00My 7.5 month old has been waking once in the night...My 7.5 month old has been waking once in the night for months. I haven't mined feeding her once. I feed her in her room in the dark and don't talk. She sometimes falls asleep on the bottle, sometimes doesn't. The problem is she is now waking and talking/crying during the night for up to 3 1/2 hours even if I feed her. It's now starting earlier in the night. Help please.Tannishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17778239625963539667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-61729950031429167812016-09-18T09:31:36.733-06:002016-09-18T09:31:36.733-06:00My 4 months old has started waking around 4 am. At...My 4 months old has started waking around 4 am. At first she was just talking to herself and no crying. My husband couldn't leave her alone and he picked her up. Now she keeps waking up at that time. How do I know if it's created a habitual waker or if she is genuinely hungry because of a growth spurt the spurt? After I feed her she sleeps again anywhere to 8-930 in the am? Any help would be great! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08917554784105669730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-76719782121100595152016-07-11T09:03:27.734-06:002016-07-11T09:03:27.734-06:00Or is it ok to let him sleep in my arms just for t...Or is it ok to let him sleep in my arms just for the afternoon nap ? Will it confuse him ? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02215150478009245035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-14555619562074247802016-07-09T22:11:44.078-06:002016-07-09T22:11:44.078-06:00Hi ,
Great blog, I have been reading a lot on ST f...Hi ,<br />Great blog, I have been reading a lot on ST from the past 2 months but still couldn't gather the courage to implement any. After reading your blog I could gater some courage and started to implement some basic good sleeping habits(early bed times, putting baby to sleep drowsy but awake for atleast few sleeps).<br /><br />My Son has just turned 3 months old and I need some help with taking a right direction to ST him. The first 2 months he was severely gassy and was in constant pain . Due to which he couldn't sleep well.Hence he was constantly held and rocked to sleep.<br /><br />After he has recovered from the gas he has been a good sleeper, the problem is the way he goes to sleep and where he sleeps. In the nights I rock him a little and put him in the swing drowsy but awake. He sleeps well in the swing with 2 wake ups for feed.At times during the night he cries and wakes up in the sleep when he has to pass gas or poop but self soothes himself and goes back to sleep. <br />At around 11 weeks I tried to put him in the crib after he is deeply in sleep but he would wake up with in 1 hr of sleep(where as in a swing he would sleep for 5-6 hrs). I tried doing that for 4 days and saw no improvement . I gave it up and started to put him back in the swing.<br /><br />During the day he only naps in my arms( morning nap 1hr, afternoon nap 3hrs and evening nap around 30-45 mins).He is growing big and I am unable to hold him in my arms for such long times. I tried to put him in the swing for naps but he would wake up with in 30-45 mins. This is fine for the morning and evening naps but getting difficult for the afternoon naps as he sleeps for 3 hrs in my arms but wakes up after 30 mins when put in a swing.Once he wakes up he cries inconsolably as his sleep is not completed. After 20-30 mins of soothing he settles and then I rock him again and put him in the swing after he is deeply in sleep. He wakes up again in 10-20 mins and starts crying.And he continues to be unhappy and crying for the rest of the day. <br /><br />I want to first wean him off from sleeping in my arms for naps and get him to sleep well in swing. Once I get this done I want to ST him to sleep in his crib.<br /><br />My question is <br />1)Can you provide me some direction/suggestions on how to get him to get a good afternoon nap for 2-3 hrs in the Swing .I am fine with doing extension with a cap. He seems to slef sooth and sleep well at nights, why cant he do the same for the afternoon nap?<br />2) Is he too young to try the extension with a Cap?<br />3) Am I moving in the right direction? First get him to sleep well in swing for both night and naps by placing him drowsy but awake in the swing. And then ST him to sleep in the crib? <br /><br />I need to ST him to sleep in his Crib as soon as possible as I am afraid his back might hurt due to the long hours he sleeps in the swing. I am a first time mom and getting very nerous about the entire ST process and if I would be able to ST him:(.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00765289982679673219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-17933663772491577562016-07-07T13:44:21.447-06:002016-07-07T13:44:21.447-06:00Sorry for the long response, but I thoguht it migh...Sorry for the long response, but I thoguht it might be helpful to have the whole story: I have been sleep training my daughter for a month (night sleep only), and while she has made a lot of progress, things are still fairly unpredictable. She now only eats twice a night, but the times she eats changes often. some nights she eats at 10:30 and 3:30, some nights at 12:30 and 4, a couple times she only ate at 3:30. At first I tried sticking to fixed feeding times, but I realized she goes back to sleep after sooner when I just feed her rather than cry for 2 hours and still not be asleep! Also, she has never been a big eater. so I'm always stressed about her not getting enough. Maybe I am reinforcing her waking up by going in at different times to feed her? Should i be sticking to fixed feeding times or just make a twice a night rule? <br />Now the second part of the equation: my daughter is in daycare so I've never attempted to nap train her. I figured it wouldn't be worth it because of daycare. She's always consistently had three or four 30 minute naps a day, which although has not been great is now getting worse! She now only ever naps 3 times a day, and only for 15-20 minutes!!! Needless to say, she is falling apart at bedtime and thus the reason I can not get her to stay awake during her bottle. Should I try to nap train on the weekends or is it not worth it because she's in daycare? <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12472457869652525470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-65451040284957025412016-07-07T13:37:03.324-06:002016-07-07T13:37:03.324-06:00Also, it's very likely that the night time sle...Also, it's very likely that the night time sleep issues aren't related to the bottle at all, but to simply not knowing how to settle to sleep at night by herself or because the wakings are being reinforced by something.Rachel Rowellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160855322599826360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-65907168010060053112016-07-07T13:35:11.399-06:002016-07-07T13:35:11.399-06:00Jamison Lousbury,
Not sure I'm understanding t...Jamison Lousbury,<br />Not sure I'm understanding the last question right, but at 6 months the bottle before bed can definitely hurt sleep with some babies. I would try to move it up a bit earlier so she's at least a bit less sleepy during it. Maybe try giving her other bottles in a dark and calm room, like right when she wakes in the morning and from naps, to see if she'll eat more milk this way.Rachel Rowellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160855322599826360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-78404467179814301472016-07-07T13:30:16.692-06:002016-07-07T13:30:16.692-06:00Haha, yeah I tried doing that for a couple nights ...Haha, yeah I tried doing that for a couple nights but she gets drowsy so quickly! I was literally holding her up to look at a book and she started crying with her eyes clothes because she wanted to go to sleep. Reading just seemed to annoy her. She's only 6 months. Do you think she's too young to worry too much about the bedtime bottle?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12472457869652525470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-67217577238630097972016-07-07T13:18:23.150-06:002016-07-07T13:18:23.150-06:00jamison lounsbury,
Sometimes there isn't alway...jamison lounsbury,<br />Sometimes there isn't always a great solution to something :) You could always try taking the bottle out right when she finished so she doesn't get very drowsy, or read a book or do something else to cut the eat to sleep/drowsy associationRachel Rowellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160855322599826360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-78926914834685166632016-07-07T13:16:14.600-06:002016-07-07T13:16:14.600-06:00My baby always sucks on her bottle until drowsy an...My baby always sucks on her bottle until drowsy and I am worried this is why she wakes up so much and can't settle. However, she has such a small appetite and her last bottle of the day is the only one she chugs. But...if I try to give it to her earlier in the bedtime routine she won't take it. What do I do???Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12472457869652525470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-22363228619371022662016-06-20T06:50:19.227-06:002016-06-20T06:50:19.227-06:00Hi there, I realize this post is from a number of ...Hi there, I realize this post is from a number of years ago but I thought I'd post anyways and hope for a reply!<br />My son (second child) is 5 weeks now. I have been working really hard trying to get a good routine happening and putting him down in his crib awake. when I get him at the right time he does fall asleep on his own which is glorious. He seems to get overtired in a split sedond though and when he down it's game over for falling asleep on his own in the crib. I rty the methods you mention on your site (pu/pd( for about 20-30 mins but as you mentioned I try not to go over that too much as I don't want to make him so overtired. At that point the only way I can consistently get him to sleep is if I put him in the carrier on me. Would this be considered a prop? I am feeling really discouraged when things go this way, but with a demanding 3 year old as well I can't spend my whole day trying to get him to fall asleep in the crib. If a carrier(in this context) is considered a prop I will have to re-evaluate....but what can be done when you have a screaming overtired infant? Thank you so much.<br />Discouraged Mom <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17633843167644436497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-81405339544621310172016-03-06T20:34:08.194-07:002016-03-06T20:34:08.194-07:00...waking up around 2:30 every night *** since a g......waking up around 2:30 every night *** since a growth...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18214100159260899413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-38802827227575238042016-03-06T20:33:23.958-07:002016-03-06T20:33:23.958-07:00hi
my son is 4 months old and is used to go to sle...hi<br />my son is 4 months old and is used to go to sleep with pacifier. once is asleep, he reject it. been doing this since 2 weeks. hes been waking up around 2:30 everyone since a growth-spurt and wants his paci. is there any tips to keep him asleep...i know he'll be able to place it back by himself in a few weeks..but still. sometimes, he'll wake up at 2, 3 and 4 am...we tried feeding him but he only drink 1-2 oz so thats not it. and i dont think its the diaper....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18214100159260899413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-21238774636934147082016-03-06T20:32:32.979-07:002016-03-06T20:32:32.979-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18214100159260899413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-84692056555843273922015-11-20T12:11:24.816-07:002015-11-20T12:11:24.816-07:00Thank you a lot Rachel. I will look into it. We ar...Thank you a lot Rachel. I will look into it. We are a little bit older now 2mths and half, but we are still dealing with the same problems. We tried for a couple of nights tummy sleep and it was considerably better because of the lack of startle, but finding the little one with his head in the matress made tummy sleep a no no. So back to the basics :) i try to male a routine same hour bath, sleeping sack, breastfeed and than sleep. No self soothing and we have a good day or two and afterwrds a 2h sleep night.....i think sleep training is our solution for the future....<br />thanks again!!!<br />AdrianaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10947720801476635105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-69438056898023812652015-11-01T22:31:22.063-07:002015-11-01T22:31:22.063-07:00Adriana,
At this age, I would look at the suggesti...Adriana,<br />At this age, I would look at the suggestions on the 0-3 month sleep post. You can only do so much to help baby sleep longer at this age. That post will have some suggestions. In the end, if they don't work, then you will probably need to assist some for now. But that won't last forever. You can always adjust things when he is older.<br /><br />best,<br />rachelRachel Rowellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160855322599826360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-67941056988952900372015-10-13T06:56:27.993-06:002015-10-13T06:56:27.993-06:00Hello,
My name is Adriana and i have a wonderful...Hello, <br /><br />My name is Adriana and i have a wonderful little boy that is now 1 month and 4 days old. We were ok with sleeping during day and night. Our only problem was that he starts moving his hands and the startle wakes him up. We would swaddle him and the problem was solved. I must say that he goes to sleep only on my arm in vertical position as it is the one for burping. I do not need necessarily to rock or move only to keep him this way. Since a week now he finds it impossible whether it is day or night to sleep longer than 30 -40 min. He wakes up crying. As i see he does not go into deep sleep beacuse in those 30 min starts to move and say sounds and in the end wakes up. I tried to soothe him with ssh method untill he woke up but it is in vain, this does not work anymore. The only way to keep him asleep more than this is for me to lay on my back and place hom on my chest. This works every time but i do NOT want to co sleep or put him to bed. I dream of s baby thst puts himself to sleep in his crib...oooh! He sputs out the pacifier in 1 sec...SOS!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10947720801476635105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230077724876087121.post-34295003865041837532015-07-31T13:11:38.589-06:002015-07-31T13:11:38.589-06:00Katie,
You could try the wake to sleep method, but...Katie,<br />You could try the wake to sleep method, but most likely the issue won't resolve until she learns to go to sleep by herself at bedtime, and when she wakes up. So you would need to try some sleep training. Look at the sleep training tab and decide which method fits your family and what you can be consistent with. and Review the healthy sleep tips to make sure there isn't something stumping you there (like a super late bedtime).<br /><br />best!<br />rachelRachel Rowellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160855322599826360noreply@blogger.com