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Offline dd822

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I need a strategy
« on: January 12, 2009, 19:17:07 pm »
Hi, I am not sure what to do...hope someone can help

I have been sleep training my 14 week old son since new years eve, at night only. for naps we were rocking to sleep. He's always been a 45-1hr napper and takes 3-5 naps a day. Night training was going well until he hit the 3 mo growth spurt about 5 days into it. Now it's sort of a mess but that's another topic.

On top of it all he started day care, well they don't rock to sleep there. THey swaddle and put him down and lo, he sleeps. If he's having a rough time they put him in the bouncy seat and bounce him to sleep.

Since all of this I've noticed he is going down better for his naps, meaning I don't have to rock for 10 min past when he drifts off to make sure he's sound asleep before I put him down. now I just rock a few minutes, he closes his eyes, I put him down and he settles in and stays down (for the most part). Well the other day he opened his eyes when I put him down and looked at me but still looked sleepy so I let him be. I watched from across the room and he put himself to sleep!! Just stared at the crib bumper, started the slow blink and eyes eventually closed.

Well now....I know he can do it so I don't want to take that away from him. So I've been putting him down after less and less rocking. Generally he will open his eyes a few times and I will shush and use hand pressure or a little patting and he will drift off. But sometimes he opens his eyes and starts to get stimulated, smiles at me etc. No shush patting will work then. These times I try to leave him alone in the crib thinking he will settle himself. He will coo at the light fixture for about 15 minutes but so far has not fallen asleep. Then I have to start over with the rocking and it cuts into the nap time and I am worried he will get OT and be even worse at night.

So my question is, do I give him time in the crib awake at each nap after wind down? Or continue to put him down semi-asleep?
What is the best way to encourage the independant napping?

Thank you...
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Offline ~Alexa~

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Re: I need a strategy
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2009, 20:40:02 pm »
Hello and welcome to BW!! I think you are doing a fabulous job!!

Have you tried to darken the room? Or may be try to block his view by placing your hand there so he can't get distracted. The goal is to teach your lo independent sleep, so if you place him in his crib awake and he drifts off, that's great.  After our wd routine, I usually sit with my lo for around 5 min before placing him in his crib.  When I see that he has this "seven-mile stare" then, I place him in his crib and by shpatting, he goes to sleep.  

Begin shpatting while you hold him, then try to place him in his crib drowsy, but awake. Continue the shpatting while you put him down and keep doing it until he falls asleep.  At the beginning, this takes around 20-30 min.  Then, you have to do it less, until your lo won't need you to shpat.  

Here's a link that talks about shpat and how to do it.  
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=26671.0

Good luck!! And let me know how this works for you!!

xxx,
Alexa
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Offline ~Alexa~

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Re: I need a strategy
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2009, 20:43:43 pm »
One more thing....Swaddling is great, so keep doing it for all his naps!!

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Offline momtonb&ab

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Re: I need a strategy
« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2009, 20:44:34 pm »
we often just put our los down awake and they would coo and talk for sometimes as much as 15-20 minutes and would put them to sleep.  no shush-patting was required.  they didnt' cry or fuss, so we left them to sort it out and they always fell asleep.  soon we were getting a better idea of how much A time they needed to reduce the awake time in crib without risking OT.

good luck, keep it up - you are doing great!
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Offline dd822

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Re: I need a strategy
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2009, 18:26:19 pm »
Thanks for the suggestions, it does help to clarify things. So what I've done today is build in awake crib time to the WD. Today I've been starting WD 15 minutes earlier then after a short rock place him in the crib awake. He has been coo/talk/moan/mantra-ing for the whole time and I go in when either he starts to get upset. SO far has not gone to sleep but I think he will do it. I just can't let him be for too long without sleeping because I don't want him OT as we are sleep training at night as well.


« Last Edit: January 14, 2009, 18:28:42 pm by dd822 »
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Offline ~Alexa~

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Re: I need a strategy
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2009, 18:58:20 pm »
You are doing a good job!! It is all a matter of trial and error.  You are getting to know your LO, and what you are doing is great because you are paying attention to his needs.  All babies are different, some need longer wind down routines, and some like to be placed in the cot right away.  You will know if this new strategy works for you after you try it for several days. 
And yes, it is very important to avoid overtiredness.  You are really following your LO's cues!! Well done!

Keep us posted on how this new way works for you
Alexa
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