BabyWhispererForums.com
SLEEP => Night Wakings => Topic started by: LauraTH on June 12, 2006, 18:24:26 pm
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I guess that I should first right that this is the first time I have ever done any kind of message board or chat room scenario so please forgive my mistakes as I am learning as I go :)
first let me answer your questions:
How old is your child?
4-1/2 months
What’s his/her daily routine?
wakes up between 5-6:00am but I can usually keep her in her crib with her soother and mobile until 7:00am
first feed by bottle is between 7:30-8:00
then activity time
first nap is between 9:00 and 9:30 usually goes about an hour
second feed is between 11:30 and 12:00
activity time
second nap is between 1:00 and 1:30 pm
third feed is between3:30 and 4:00
activity time
bedtime is between 6:00 and 6:30 pm
What’s nap routine?
I start to notice her yawning and rubbing her eyes. I then cradle her in my arms. once she has heavy eyes we move upstairs, close her blinds and turn on a noise machine then put her down in her crib. by this time she is usually just asleep. She usually wakes up when I put her down and fusses. I sometimes have to pick her up 1 or 2 more times until she settles in her crib. wait to make sure she is asleep then leave.
How long are naps?
mornings are usually 1 hour
afternoons are anywhere from 1/2 hr to 2 hours
What's bedtime routine? Time?
bedtime starts between 6:00 and 6:30
we go into her room and undress her, change diaper put on pj's and then sit in her chair and read two stories. After that we close her blinds turn on the rain machine and get her bottle and she has her last daytime feed. she usually falls asleep during this feed and wakes up when I burp her. I then give her a soother and snuggle with her for about 5 minutes and then stand up and snuggle for another 2 min. or so, then place her in her crib. She usually wakes up and I then give her, her bottle in the crib until she stops then I give her a soother again. I continue this process until she is asleep. Sometimes I have to pick her up again which then starts the process over again.
Do you bottle or breastfed??
bottle fed
How much? or how long?
I wish she would take more and if you have any suggestions for this I would appreciate it. She usually only takes about 120-130 mls. per feed except her bedtime feed we can sometimes get her to take as much as 225 mls.. her daytime feed usually are about 20 min. once she stops she then refuses to take the bottle again.
How many wakes per night?
2 - 1 at around 10 - 11:00 pm
1 at around 2- 3:00 am
What’s your LO like when waking at night? How long is he/she up?
She fusses initially when she wakes (my husband and I take turns) what I do is go in ( for the 2:00am feed she usually needs a diaper change or she is soaked by morning) and feed her then burp her she wakes up sometimes I then give her a soother then snuggle with her for a few minutes sitting and then standing then put her down in the crib. If she wakes up she is then given the bottle in the crib like with bedtime and the same is continued. Now quite often she will wake up (usually on the 2:00 am feed) and be wide awake and not fall back asleep no matter what we do. She is usually happy and wanting to play. we have tried everything to get her back to sleep but she is usually up for at least an hour. We don't know what to do during these wakes.
She very often takes quite a bit of coaxing to fall back asleep. we are usually up for at least 40-50 min. at a minimum each nighttime fed.
When you go to him/her is she fussing or crying? Or is it a mantra cry?
fussing
What have you tried to settle??
soother, picking her up, rubbing her tummy, talking softly to her, giving her the bottle in the crib(after her feed), probaby other things that I have forgotten now.
What do you do for A time and how long is it?
she usually plays at or on one of her toys, like an activity mat, exersaucer, in her playpen she has toys, then we also play with her as well, along with her big sister:)she can last 20-30 min. depending on the time of day. and go outside when the weather is good.
Are there developmental issues such as teething or milestones?
I wouldn't say they are issues. she is drooling but i don't think teething yet, she can roll from her tummy to her back and can pick up her soother and put it in her mouth expect when she is lying down. she has a very strong neck and can sit quite well with little support.
Have you introduced cereal? Why, how much, and how many times a day? (for LO’s under 6 months)
no, waiting until at least 5 months
Do they have a prop? If so what is it?
soother, rain machine, and bottle in the crib.
Do they have a lovie?
???
It is really very difficult to know what else to do for my daughter. she is a great baby during the day but the night times ( and naptimes) are awful. My family is really starting to suffer quite intensely from the stress and lack of sleep. I believe that I am suffering from a touch of depression now and am afraid of how I will continue to survive if this continues. Also I truly feel this is hindering my daughters well being. for example the most sleep that she gets at night is 8 hours. that just isn't enough for a baby. i wish I could help her but I just don't seem to know how and I am falling into these traps of relying on things that I hate doing. I know that if we continue as we are it will only continue to get worse instead of better. Please, I would appreciate any help that you can give my family and truly look forward and thank you ahead of time for you time.
LauraTH
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i only have a quick minute right now but i want to send some {{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}
i would def give lo a catnap for now..it sounds as if lo is getting overtired before going to bed at night. it looks as though your lo is up for 3 hrs before the second nap and that is a lot of A time for a lo that age. i would cut it down at least by half hr and throw in a catnap to get your lo to bedtime without becoming overtired. keep the catnap about 1/2 hr to 45 min in length and don't offer it too close to bedtime..good luck. hth!
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I agree with Teezee... when my daughter was 4 1/2 months she rarely made it 1 1/2 hour without sleep! I would add that if she only sleeps a half hour in the afternoon (if I understand right this is sometimes the case?) I would try to extend that nap to 1 1/2 - 2 hours. I found with my daughter (I extended her 45 minute naps quite successfully when she was 3 1/2 months) it was only effective if she wasn't hungrey. So I made sure that she hadn't eaten more than 1 1/2 - 2 hours prior to "gong down" (it's like dummm-dum-dum-dum). I would go in as she started to fuss and do PU/PD (very hard the first couple days), but by days three and four just shh-pat. By the fifth day she was taking three 1 1/2 - 2 hour naps a day, plus a catnap, and sleeping 11 hours at night (although she did wake up). I found her nighttime sleep totally improved when her daytime sleep became regulated and predictable.
Also, what popped out to me was that you pretty much always comfort your daughter to sleep and she wakes, with you there, then you put her in the crib. You said you often pick her up and - do I have this right - allow her to fall asleep and then put her back in the crib? And you never leave the room until she is asleep? I'm sure you know how dependant your daughter has become on you to calm her, and it may be why she sleeps so poorly.
After Taylor was able to (1) go in her crib awake and (2) fall asleep in her crib with me standing there (a couple nights of PU/PD), I figured it was time to wean her off the "mommy" prop by leaving the room after kissing her goodnight (awake in her crib), only returning for a little "shhing" if she calls for me). I've been running in and out of the room less every day! But don't get me wrong, Taylor has lots and lots of issues I am struggling with, at 6 mo, so I am by no means an authority on the subject. But Taylor does sleep well during the day with minimal help, goes to sleep with out being held of fed or anything.
Finally, I think sending your daughter to bed with her bottle is a bad idea. I would just give her the paci. If she struggles with this change, try PU/PD. She will eventually get very exhausted and sleep without the bottle, then stop depending on it. I give Taylor her final feeding at 6:30, then start the bedtime routine, and she's in bed by 7:15. I feed her again around 11:00 pm and that has eliminated the need for a 3:30 feeding (however she does wake up often at night - thank God there's no window in her room to throw her out of!!) ;). Good luck!
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Thanks so much for answering back. I appreciate your thoughts and hugs :)
Now I am beginning to realize that she is depending too much on me and have tried to PU/PD but I have some questions. when do you put her down and how long do you let her cry until you pick her up again? I have tried a couple of times but what ends up happening is that she gets herself so worked up that as soon as I even bend to put her down she is beside herself. How long do I let her go with it. When I tried it, it was nap time and she ended up going to 1 hr and then I new it was getting close to her next feed and decided she wouldn't settle until she was fed.
I will try the PU/PD tonight as I have nothing to loose. She has been up for three hours after her feed this week,and I am completely out of ideas.
One other question, when I put her down do you suggest leaving her room and letting her cry on her own for a little while? The reason I stay in her room is because I thought you weren't supposed to leave them.....maybe I misunderstood...I've read so many different things I have probably confused myself :)
Cathy, Good luck with Taylor. It sounds like you have made great progress so far in her sleeping. You will be able to make it through the next set of troubles I'm sure :) Maybe these kids will make it to there first birthdays :)
thanks again!
LauraTH
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Hey there,
Sleep is so important so you can feel more like yourself again. I went though the same thing. try reading the Sleep interview with Tracey. I think it's under the "Naps" heading. It really helped me. It made me more confident in the PU/PD method, you've got to be 100% confident or your baby picks up on it. I had to adjust the activity in our day so my lo wasn't overstimulated. I was able to get my lo napping in the crib (we had been using the swing) and move to the 4 hour easy at the same time. It was a good week and half struggle, but it worked. In the beginning I would go in at 35 minutes and sit with him for 20 minutes as he moved from one sleep cycle to the next at 45 minutes. I also re-started swaddling again, I had stopped at 3 months. But for some reason at 4 months his little hands and arms became a bother again. I thought he was trying to self soothe, but when I held his arms down at his sides he was able to calm down easier. I also really used these message baords, some of the moms are absolute pros and they really helped me. Some of moderators sent me other links to read that were so helpful. It helps to get support from people that are using the same method as you. I had read other books and methods but just decided to stick to this one and not read any more books. My lo didn't need any more confusion! Hang in there.
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Thanks for tip on the sleep interview with Tracey i will read that. I agree on the confidence with the PU/PD I have to admit with how it went previously I am nervous to try and am building my confidence ( thanks to all of the replys:) ) I have to say last night emotionally was easier even though she was up quite a bit because I didn't feel as defeated. So again, thank you.
I was thinking about the swaddling and will watch her with that. She is VERY sensitive to things touching her when she is asleep so I don't know if that would be worse or better, but thanks for the idea!
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thank you so much for recommending the sleep interview with Tracey! It is excellent!!! I am going to get my husband to read it tonight and see what we can do about the crazy sleeping habits we have instilled in our poor daughter:)
One question I do have is how long to you do the pat/ shhhh until you begin the PU/PD method? and then once you put her down do you do the pat/shhh again or just continue with the PU/PD.
Thanks again!
Laura
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I'm not sure what is truly right but this is what I do.....
Naps:
30 min before nap time remove from toys, either lay on carpet and play with mom or sit and play (we usually make faces)
20 min before nap carry him around and clean up or walk outside to look at the garden or just around, look out window or at paintings (he likes that)
10 min before sit still in rocking chair until he fusses or 5 minutes
5 min before listen to lullaby (3 min long) We've been listening to the exact same song for 2 months!!!
Then I close the curtains, swaddle with left arm out and lay him down in his crib, he has a little blankie he uses to rub on his face too. When he cries (hard) I pick him up and start the Pu/pd, sometimes he just settles on his own. When I first started pu/pd at 15 weeks I used it in combo with the pat/shh. So I would do the pat/shh when I picked him up til he calmed a bit and then put him down. I never really did it in the crib, I had to pick him up and hold in vertical position. I would hold him for no more than 4-5 minutes(I keep a clock in his room) after that even if he is still crying I would put him down for a bit.
I don't do the pat/shh really anymore. I think it bugs him. It seems he likes my calm voice (though at times when he is crying hard, I'm not sure he can hear me). I say things like: calm down, hey, hey hey, let me pick you up, let me put you down, its time for a nap in the crib, mommy's right here. Say it with a soft soothing voice and not scolding. Its hard b/c sometimes I feel like crying too, but I just keep going.
I've found lately he does not calm down in my arms. He burrows his head in my neck, scratches me and pushes his legs down. Then I put him in the crib immediately. Actually I often put him in the crib when he is still crying. He stops after he's down for a bit.Don't be afraid to lay them down still crying, sometimes I think he cries cuz he wants to be in the crib. I will rub his blankie on his face or hold his hand. Or keep one hand beneath him and one hand on top of his chest. Sometimes I just softly brush his forehead above his eyebrows or the side of his head. If he wakes up at night or 45 min into his nap I try these things before I pick him up. Especially at 45 min into the nap I'm often able to settle him in the crib. Often I try not to say anything at those times just give physically comforting, especially at night.During naps I often have to sit there for quite a long time after he settles to make sure the jerks don't wake him up. I hold his one arm down by his side.
I hope this helps. I know it's really hard, but you sound committed. I was pretty committed and things definitely got better. I keep a journal and I kept my eye on the clock, so I knew how long I'd been in there. I stop doing pu/pd after 40 minutes, b/c I've had it and have usually reached my breaking point. Then we come out of the room. If it is during the day we have quiet time until til the feed. I haven't had to go more than 30-40 minutes at night yet. Just remember they they aren't mad at you just confused or frustrated. Often after a terrible nap was over I would check to make sure he wasn't still mad at me. But it seems as soon as I open the curtains and undo the swaddle he smiles and I know its OK. Do you need some ideas for bedtime as well? Let me know and I'll type you out what I do.
Oh also, just to give myself some sanity for every cat nap at the end of the day I go outside. I still do. Every day. I put him in the stroller and I walk for an hour. Sometimes my friends without kids (or with) join me. He often has a 30-45 minute nap. I don't know if that is OK. But it helped me. After a long day you just need a break and some fresh air. Sometimes dad will take him and I could start on supper or have a little nap, watch Oprah in peace or something.
Take care! (i hope this all makes sense, I had to type fast!!)
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Here are those links I told you about that I found helpful.
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=26671.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=57333.0
There was one more link about waking up 45 minutes into a nap that I found helpful, but I can't seem to open it, to send it to you. I'll try later.
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Hi Wonderma!
Thank you for that great reply! that was so great of you to give the step by step version. I really appreciate it and it gave me some great tips!
What time does your lo go to bed in the evening and what time do you have him have his catnap? I would like to try that but am afraid it will effect her going to sleep as she is usually in bed between 6:30 - 7:00
I am still holding her for nap time until she is almost out which I know is bad but I can only fight so many battles at one time:) but I really like your ideas prior to nap time. The one thing I found really helps Sara is that she is sleeping better on her side. My husband discovered that on the weekend and she actually settles quite well with the patting which I didn't think would work... Lesson learned to always try new things:)
Night time has changed quite a bit and she no longer is up for hours at a time after feeding, but she is waking much more often. She for example was up 6 times last night but settled quite quickly with the patting. Do you stay in for the full twenty min. and when do you start the clock? as soon as they are settled or asleep?
Anyway, thanks you again for the great information, I truly appreciate your reply:)
Laura
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I can't believe you lo is up 6 times at night. My goodness, I would be out of my mind. I hope you have enlisted some other help...grandma, friend, anyone!!
Are you sure there is nothing else going on? When Cam was really little we found he liked to sleep on his side too, at the same time we figured he had reflux. The doc put him on losec and he got better within a month. Maybe have your doc do a check too. The signs of reflux I found were: painful burps (crying after burping), painful spit ups, jerking his head all around after night time feedings. I don't know, it was just a thought. He is off the med now and sleeps on his back.
To answer your questions....
What time does your lo go to bed in the evening and what time do you have him have his catnap? I would like to try that but am afraid it will effect her going to sleep as she is usually in bed between 6:30 - 7:00
here is our routine:
7am feed (I breast feed)
9-11 nap
11 feed
1-3 nap
3 feed
5-6 catnap in stroller (usually sleeps 30-45 min at some point either beginning or end)
640 bath
700 feed, usually asleep by 730
I haven't found the cat nap affects his bedtime. But if he is overtired for whatever reason he has trouble settling down. If he misses any of his naps or the cat nap I just put him to bed early.
I am still holding her for nap time until she is almost out which I know is bad but I can only fight so many battles at one time:) but I really like your ideas prior to nap time. The one thing I found really helps Sara is that she is sleeping better on her side. My husband discovered that on the weekend and she actually settles quite well with the patting which I didn't think would work... Lesson learned to always try new things:)
I was holding Cam til he feel asleep at first too, but then I got better at knowing when to put him down and how to soothe him in the crib.Or he got used to the method. Last night he woke for the first time that night at 540am and I was sure there would be no way I could use pu/pd to put him down that close to morning and the 7am feed. Previously I would either feed him and put him back to bed or put him in the swing. Well, I tried it. It took 8 minutes and he was still asleep at 720. Miracle. Yes, it is very important to try new things
Night time has changed quite a bit and she no longer is up for hours at a time after feeding, but she is waking much more often. She for example was up 6 times last night but settled quite quickly with the patting. Do you stay in for the full twenty min. and when do you start the clock? as soon as they are settled or asleep?
as far as staying in the full twenty minutes....I'm not sure what to say. At night after pu/pd I can usually tell when his breathing has slowed and his eye lids are still, then I can leave. If you keep a journal you might be able to tell what works for her. At nap time, I sit for at least ten minutes. I often have to do it a few times (like I leave the room and then have to come back). Make sure your room is really dark. I think that is what helps at night. During the day, there is a bit of light so when his eye lids flutter open he sees things and wakes up. As far as clock watching, I just note the time when I go into the room and how long the pu/pd takes and how long I decide to stay in after wards. Just so I can set limits for myself or see if it gets faster over time. I'll say to myself... OK, I'll sit here for the next 10 minutes then I'll leave. Or I've been doing pu/pd for 30 min I've almost had it and I'm going to either quit or have someone else try. So I guess I note all the times, how long did I hold for (no more than 5 min), how long from start to end did it take him to settle, when is he actually asleep, when did I leave the room. I don't write all of it down, but just pay attention to it in my head. I hope that makes sense.
This is my night time routine after the bath. Walk around, look out the windows and close all of the curtains in the house saying good night good night. (in the morning we open them all and say good morning good morning). Then we go to his room and turn on the soft light. We might read a book, depending on fussiness. Then we close his curtains and the heavy blind. Then I lay him down to swaddle (we are phasing this out at night), then I turn off the soft light and feed him in the dark. When he is done I lay him down..sometimes awake, sometimes asleep.He has his little blankets and rubs them on his face. He is usually able to settle to sleep on his own, so I just leave the room immediately after I lay him down. I do a dream feed at 1030pm
Also, do you sleep with a monitor? We turned ours off at 2 months and miraculously the baby slept (as did I) a lot better. I think it was b/c I wasn't hearing every little noise thinking he was awake or going to wake up. Although his door is right by ours (his is shut, ours is open) so I can definitely tell when he really wakes up. But I'm so glad we don't sleep with that darn thing anymore.
I hope you have read the Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems and not just her first book. The "solves all your problems" book is WAY better and more complete. It is the bible at our house.
I'm glad this is helping you. It's weird, but it also helps me to help you. One day, you'll be able to pass on your successes to someone else as well. Us moms, we've got to stick together. Good luck, keep me posted. I think you are doing great and trying really hard. Sounds like your hubby is very supportive too.
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Hello!
Thanks again for your great email! It's funny that you say that, because lately I have been thinking that she might suffer from a bit of reflux. Not severely, but that would explain (before, when she was up for hours) why at nap time she was easier to put down then at night wakes after her bottle. She also coughs quite a bit and I was thinking today (I don't know why it has taken my almost 5 months!) to have her have her bottle laying in my arms in more of an incline to see if she might then take a little more. reading and talking this through sparks ideas:)
Thank you for your schedule. mine is fairly similar. Do you stick fairly well to that or do you sometimes feed earlier or later?
I find that I can't get to that morning feed any earlier then 7:30 - 8:00 because of my 2-1/2 year old. So I find that she is usually hungry again by 11:30. I feed her again around 3:00 or 3:30 and then at 6:30 -6:45 so it isn't ever 4 hours stretches through out the whole day.
She didn't wake up as much last night and I am HOPING that she is just getting used to not being awake for 2 hour stretches and that she will settle into it and sleep more.
When did you give your little guy a blanket? what kind of blanket is it? I was afraid of doing that because of SIDS but I do think that she would like that.
I was wondering how old Cam is and how long you have been using this method? He sounds like he has really taken to things and I gives me HOPE:)
I appreciate your explanation on timing things. That helps me put into perspective how I have been doing things. We haven't had to use the PU/PD method....YET:) I'm also glad to hear that you held him as well until you understood him better. i am thinking when I have a stronger hold on the bedtime routine that I will tackle naps. but right now I KNOW that she will sleep if I do that so I will continue a little longer:)
Yes, we do sleep with the monitor. Her room is across the hall and we are both pretty sound sleepers ( or maybe just so exhausted that we go into unconscious state when asleep:) ) When do you know, when to go in?? I tend to go in pretty quickly because she sometimes takes the soother and goes right back to sleep. She does do this complain cry at first but I don't leave her to that for very long.
I will have to check which book I have to be honest. I thought that there was only the one but if it is the other one I will have to pick up the one you mentioned. Thanks:)
again, thanks for the listening hear. I really appreciate this time to talk things through and ask the little questions you can't get out of a book. Hopefully i too will be able to have a successful story to share in the later months. We can celebrate our achievements with a chocolate bar or something :)
thanks again, for everything,
Laura
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Check this out re: monitors.....just an idea https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=61454.0
To answer your questions...
Thank you for your schedule. mine is fairly similar. Do you stick fairly well to that or do you sometimes feed earlier or later?
I stick to that pretty tight. although I don't have any other kids, so I can understand how things would be different with a toddler around. I'm sure it's not big deal.
She didn't wake up as much last night and I am HOPING that she is just getting used to not being awake for 2 hour stretches and that she will settle into it and sleep more.
I'm sooo glad you had a better night.
When did you give your little guy a blanket? what kind of blanket is it? I was afraid of doing that because of SIDS but I do think that she would like that.
I'm not sure when that started, maybe 8 weeks ago. When he was born, my mom had made Cam this big blanket out of really soft blue fleece. It is too big and heavy for him to use now. But a while back she had also made me these little burpie/spit up cloths out of the same material. They are about 10x20 inches. So really small. The spit up just rolled off the fleece, but I found he kinda liked to cuddle with it and rub his face with it. So now I give him one under each arm at night and he rubs them in his face and has one on each side of his face so when he turns his head there is one always there. I call them his "mini-me blankies". I wasn't too worried about the SIDS thing b/c they are so small and light. But I could be wrong. You should know (from one neurotic mom to another) that side sleeping is a risk for SIDS as well. We thought it was OK til we mentioned it to our Doctor at the time he was started on losec. I guess back sleeping is the only way to go as far as SIDS prevention, it has to do with the ability to turn their heads to clear their airway I guess. So we slowly got him back on his back after we started the losec. We also used a crib wedge (from toys r us) to elevate the head of his crib when he had reflux
I was wondering how old Cam is and how long you have been using this method? He sounds like he has really taken to things and I gives me HOPE:)
Cam will be 20 weeks old tomorrow. I started using pu/pd gently in combo with patt/sshh around 15 weeks to get him to nap in his crib (he had been in the swing). After 16 weeks I did pu/pd a little more aggressively, trying to get him into the crib before he fell asleep in my arms for naps. At about 18 weeks, I stopped feeding him in the night and using pu/pd to get him back down. That was hard and I caved a few times and fed him. Things are better now but we still have a hard time with naps and sometimes a night waking or two.
Yes, we do sleep with the monitor. Her room is across the hall and we are both pretty sound sleepers ( or maybe just so exhausted that we go into unconscious state when asleep:) ) When do you know, when to go in?? I tend to go in pretty quickly because she sometimes takes the soother and goes right back to sleep. She does do this complain cry at first but I don't leave her to that for very long.
I try not to go in for just fussing, I'm always surprised when he gets himself back to sleep when he is lightly fussing. I think I give it a 10 minute time frame and then I go in and try and crib soothe. Sometimes I wake him up more when I go in, sometimes it helps when I just touch his forehead and give his cheek a rub with the blankie. At night I only hear when he really starts crying, so that is when I go in. I'm sure he must wake up lightly at times through the night but I don't hear it. There have been a few times when we have been away from home that Cam has slept in the same room as us in his playpen. Those nights are always horrible. Every little sound he makes wakes me up and I think I respond too quickly to him and end up waking him up. A few times when travelling I have brought him into my bed b/c I thought he was having such a bad night. Yet, when we get home and I can't hear him he sleeps through. Weird. I guess he could dislike the play pen too??!! I know the BW book really promotes not going in too early, but I NEVER let him cry it out.
We'll definitely have to celebrate with a chocolate bar when your lo gets better in the night. Keep me posted. Maybe we'll have to have chocolate anyways, while we are waiting for her to sleep through!!! Just because.
Take care.
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Hello!
I hope that you are having a good time! I just wanted to update and when you get a chance maybe run some things by you :) or anyone else who might have an idea :)
It has been a rollercoaster ride the last couple of weeks! Sara went from really making great strides at sleeping, to going right back to insanity. At one point she was waking up 15 times a night! It was killing us because we really thought we had made some head way. Now, in the mean time we had stopped feeding her at night. First her 10:00 feed went then her 1:00 feed went. As soon as we got rid of that 1:00 feed she started waking up almost every half hour. So we decided to try the dreamfeed between 10:30 - 11:00 last night. I had to go in once before then and put her back to sleep because she is waking so early again, but I waited until she was asleep and went in. I picked her up and she woke up with a startle and wouldn't take the bottle so I decided to lay her back in the crib and feed her there. She took 100ml and slept until 2:00am then she was up every hour until 6:00 but it was fairly easy to put her back to sleep. I am going to try this for a week and then reassess things.
This weekend I am going to work on getting her to fall asleep on her own for nap times. I will try the pu/pd for the first time and am a little nervous but I picked up the "solve all your problems" book and it is really helping (thank you for the suggestion:) ) Her EASY schedule is all messed up because her naps are all over the place. So I am hoping that by getting the naps figured out that she will be more on a schedule again and sleeping at night will follow!
I can't believe how much of a process this is and how different each child can be! My first daughter was and still is an amazing sleeper and i didn't do anything different with her. I guess I was just really lucky with her!
Anyway, I have questions about the pu/pd and here they are:
1) when she is arching her back the book suggests putting her down and then picking her up again, do I keep doing that if she continues to arch? I think it would be a constant up and down because she does that now.
2)Am I not to wait at all once she starts crying, I am to pick her up as soon as she starts correct? and only once she is calmed down in the crib do I use the shh/pat? Just wanted to make sure I understood that.
I did attempt this stupidly yesterday because she had only slept for 1/2 hour and new she was still tired, but I was alone and my older daughter wasn't napping (and my nerves were shot) so I stopped with no success after an hour. I realize now that I think I was letting her cry in the crib too long before picking her up again and the entire time she was arching her back so I just held her until she settled.
I am going to the pediatrician next week to ask him about reflux and about this cough that she has had almost since birth. She coughs all the time and it almost always wakes her in her naps and at night. It is very frustrating and a little worrisome.
ANYWAY, any suggestions and clarification would be great :)
oh and I am considering the monitor as well..... maybe just turning it down for now :) I know I am a big chicken :)
thanks again!
Laura