Author Topic: Ssh pat 7 weeks, extending naps  (Read 1111 times)

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Offline shawyer

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Ssh pat 7 weeks, extending naps
« on: June 18, 2015, 14:04:18 pm »
Hello! I used PUPD with my first child with great success and have now had another baby who I'm falling into same bad habits with (putting in basket asleep or cuddling for naps). She is only 7 weeks old but want to tackle this now as makes days with toddler very hard going when baby will only sleep in my arms or when mobile.
So I've been trying sshh pat with her for last few days as my husband has been off work and able to watch older child. It takes 30 mins or so of her fighting sleep but it does work eventually. However she only stays in deep sleep for 30-45 mins. I try and stay with her to help her transition back to sleep but not working. She's still tired though as when pick her up she gets sleepy again but due to previous nap has lots more energy to fight going back in basket. Not succeed yet! Today I picked her up after another short nap and she conked out on me, I fell asleep cuddling her and she's now been asleep for 2 hours!! Feel bad for giving her mixed messages! What should I be doing to help her sleep more independently? I put her in basket drowsy and swaddled. Any advice much appreciated!!

Offline newkidontheblock

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Re: Ssh pat 7 weeks, extending naps
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2015, 14:53:30 pm »
I completely understand wanting to start with healthy habits to avoid unnecessary issues later - more so with a toddler in the mix but these are early days and I do think it is fine to be a little lax right now. As long as you follow the basics - separating Eating and sleeping with some A time like changing her diaper or looking out of the window, keep A times short( we did only 1 hour at that point but Tracy advises 1.5) and avoiding overstimulation, you should be fine. Do you follow the 4 S wind down? With my DD, I would hold till drowsy and then PD and leave the room. Shushing in the crib just agitated her as she wanted to be in my arms. Same thing if she saw me in the room.

Short naps are also part & parcel of these first few months. Have you tried being in the room *before* she wakes up and patting her back to sleep before she fully wakes? White noise also works wonders to lengthen naps







Offline lily_layne

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Re: Ssh pat 7 weeks, extending naps
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2015, 02:08:17 am »
I agree that white noise can really help. Is she swaddled? I'm a firm believer in tight wrapping - it helps most babies make the transition through sleep cycles.

I wouldn't worry too much about creating bad habits at this age. Put her down drowsy but awake when you can and if not, don't worry about it. I stressed way less about creating habits with LO2 than with LO1 and it hasn't caused a problem.

Have you heard of Dr. Karp's 5s's? They are a good compliment to BW and they helped immensely with both of my LOs. There's lot of videos on YouTube. One of the s's is swinging and both of my LOs took a lot of naps in the swing in the first months and neither became dependent on it. I also did lots of naps in the sling (another form of swinging/gentle motion) with DS so I could look after DD - he did full naps in there and I would also pop him in to lull him back to sleep after a short nap.
DD - August 2012
DS - November 2014

Offline shawyer

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Re: Ssh pat 7 weeks, extending naps
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2015, 10:09:43 am »
Brilliant advice as always, thank you very much for taking the time to reply! Will have a look at you tube too :)