45 minute naps, w2s method questions

[kmejayden]

Hello thanks for taking the time to read my question!

I have a 5 month old son, and I just recently started to put him to sleep in his own crib. I put him in his crib on his tummy and use the sh/pat method. He's doing pretty good with this. The only problem I have, is my unconsistency when we're out and about, and at night. Almost every night that I've been using this method,(about a week), he wakes at night often. I try to soothe him in his crib, but Im half asleep and am very tired I'm sure you can understand, and take him in bed/nurse him to sleep for the rest of the night. His naps usually only last for about 45 minutes. And when he sleeps on his own at night in the crib it's most of the time similar to that time.

Before this he usually needed to be bounced, rocked, nursed, or be sung to to even sleep, and it would be im my arms the entire nap, and the entire time he slept at night. So him even sleeping out of my arms is a great relief.

But I have some questions on how to help me keep him asleep longer for both of his naps and when he sleeps at night, especially when he sleeps at night! How long do I need to use the w2s method before results should show and what exactly is w2s doing. I've read about it but I wanted some info from some of you guys. Do any of you have success stories as well? And what's your suggestion on what I do about his often nw's?

[Lola's Mum]

Hi, I'm sure someone will come along with much more experience of w2s and sleep issues but I remember when my LO was a similar age she stirred/woke at 45 minutes. I played white noise and went into the room at about the 40 minute mark for naps. I didn't do W2S but I gently turned the white noise up before the 45 minute point when LO was going to transition to a new sleep cycle. She would often move around at about 45 minutes and then go back to sleep. I think that if a LO is OT and they stir at the 45 minute mark it's hard to get through to the next sleep cycle. Are you sure your LO isn't OT. I'm not sure that w2s will help if a LO is OT. I think LOs also can have a developmental phase of 45 minute naps. DD did that and it lasted a week. Couldn't extend these naps and had to just do more naps each day. Was a nightmare at the time but it didn't last.

I know the feeling of wanting your sleep and feeling like having your baby in with you is the best option when you're sooo tired. I certainly did it when my LO was older than 5 months, so I'm not a fine one to speak. But you'll get more sleep in the long run if you are able to sleep train your bub. For the night sleep, what kind of stretch does your LO do at night and do you do a dream feed. Could he be waking for genuine hunger?

I think there is a thread about W2S. I should have posted a link here but if you have a look in the sleep or naps section, I think it is there. I've just read what you said about struggling when you're out and about. I'm afraid DD would never sleep well when I was out. She's spirited and needs a dark room and at that age white noise. You might have to live with not being able to get good naps out of the home. HTH and I hope someone with more experience will be able to come and help you.

[Shiv52]

I'm going to link this to your other post so you can keep all your advice in one place.

Anyone wanting to help please post here:

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=187794.msg2154324#msg2154324