Anyone still do shh/pat after 6 months?

[judypdx]

Hiya!

In Tracy's book, she mentioned that we shouldn't do shh/pat after 6 months as it keeps the baby awake.  Are there any parents still doing it after 6 months?

When LO has a hard time settling to sleep, I do shh/pat - sometimes she'll go to sleep, sometimes not - she'll skip the nap together by rolling around, smiling, looking around in bed instead of sleeping (no crying, so PU/PD does nothing). So I'm not sure if shh/pat is helping her or keeping her more awake.

Thanks!

[anna*]

I think as long as it works, stick with it! However, in my opinion I'm not sure that it's a good idea to shh-pat unless she actually needs calming. It seems to me that's a pretty good way to turn yourself, and shh-pat, into a prop. I'd leave her in her cot if she's calm and happy, only go in and shh-pat if she is actually crying.

anna
x

[Evgenia]

Hi judypdx, I agree with anna. I still use shh/pat with my DD but only when she's upset and needs comfort.
I also found with DD that at times even if she's sleepy once I put her into her cot she would roll around messin and playin, as if it was a new play pen. A sleping bag though restricts her movement and she settles for naps a lot quicker

Hope this helps

[judypdx]

Thank you for the prompt replies!  My LO can roll around and play in her crib for a very long time (sometimes for the whole nap even and it frustrates the heck out of me) and I feel like I have to intervene w/ shh/pat to get her to sleep.  Should I just let her be?

[Evgenia]

My dd was/is the same she would play in her crib for the whole nap. But in my personal oppinion she does need to nap so I would intervine, though shh/pat would do nothing as she thinks I'm playing with her and gets even more excited and trys to grab my hand. So I keep her room very dark (2 layers of black out linning on the curtans) and I put her in a sleeping bag, she cant roll as much in it. I also found that once I inroduced a lovey she falls asleep faster, she kinda plays with her lovey for a bit then sticks it to her face and drifts off to sleep.

[TDR'smom]

DD is just over 6 months and I still do shh/pat on occassion either to get her to settle or to extend her naps.