How to you achieve drowsy but awake?

[Robynjm]

I'm working on my LO wake times but when he's tired I'm struggling to get to drowsy but awake without accidental parenting sneaking in, we have to rock or pace to get him to be drowsy. If I'm doing PUPD should I just start PD with him fully awake? I'm afraid to do this as the crying etc makes him more awake and very frustrated and we end up giving up after 30mins on our naps and having to try later, I'm also worried that is teaching him if he cries enough we'll give in.

[Claudiamummy]

Hi there!

I am VERY new but I can give you our perspective

DD is 17 weeks...to start with we did do rocking etc, but gradually slowed it down...eg...a bit of a walk around, to a slow dance to a standing rock, to a standing still at the side of the cot....as soon as I saw the eyes dropping she was in...HOWEVER, you are right, it DID end up bringing lots of AP...I knew it was happening, so when we got back from hols, I wanted to tackle it.....so I started a really nice wind down....i THINK I start on the early morning nap (usually a success with us)...I started off laying her in my breastfeeding cushion with a a muslin cloth that had my sent (I want these to be her lovie)....I pottered around her bedroom, putting things in draws and chatting...gradually getting it darker...whenver she started fussing, I starterd talking about something else, but i didnt actually make eye contact.....THEN we got into the rocking chair and looked at the same book once...then...when she seemed REALLY relaxed, in she went....I only started this last week, but I noticed she fussed more at the rocking chair bit, so I have cut that bit out...so you want to get LO in a semi relaxed state....maybe walk downstairs before you go up t bed, but doing something...like "Mummys going in the kitchen now are you coming along" that sort of thing...then head into bedroom and set the stage...(make nice nad dark and maybe some white noise?) and start a routine that will work for you....

honestly, we used to spend AGES with DD, but its down to about 15mins now....

not sure how old LO is, but tracy gives some great tips in BWSAYP

ALso...trust me the first few times LO WILL kick off...DD went bonkers to start with.....after all, its a bit change, but be consistent, I kept thinking of my poor back AND the fact aht if we put DD into nursery no-one will rock her to sleep there!!!...I picked her up did shhh pat on my shoulder (again like in the book) and as soon as she was calm, in she went, and then continued the shhhhh pat in the cot, reading her cues...sometimes she wants more SHHHH that Pat :-)))...again plenty of crying , but we are a few days in and its getting less and less everytime ...i send her BIG love vibes...and mentally repeat to myself that I love her and I am HELPING her to sleep..


oooh another thing I find helps is doing Tick tock in my head when patting...mad I knnow but it helps me keep up a rythym...AND if the cot is low, put a pillow on the side....my tummy is killing me from leaning over LOL....and final bit.....when LO calms down...keep going...but adjust...getting softer etc....I sometimes leave hands on if its been VERY tircky in case she jolts and wakes so I am ready for her...

as I say, I am VERY new, so I am sure the other BW will have some more advice for you...

Good Luck...its tough but worth it

XX

[elmarie]

How old is your LO?

It is usually very important to have a good and predictable winding down that your LO associates with sleepy time.  It is important that you follow the same routine for naps and night time especially if your LO is still very young 

[Robynjm]

DS is 8 months, we have been ST for a month, things were going great but AP has been creeping back in, we went away for a wknd and I feel like we've taken several steps back. I need to stop all this pacing and rocking as LO weighs 23lb and my back is killing me!

Thanks for the suggestions, we make the nursery dark, put on white noise etc but normally do a little rocking, this isn't working so well now as LO gets fidgety. Is 8months too old for shush pat? Maybe reading a book before blinds are down might help, just wondered what other people do.
Thanks for your help

[elmarie]

Your winding down sounds good    The rocking might have become a prop which is making settling down on his own difficult and now need mummy to go to sleep.  Yes shh/pat can be used at 8 months ...