sleep training..where to begin??!

Question

As I sit here with my 8 month old son rocking him to sleep (please tell me I'm not the only one who still does) I have realized I need to start sleep training him. I just have no idea where to begin. We bought him a baby Einstein sleep soother and of course he has a crib but I just don't know how to start this process. We have a bedtime routine almost every night that consists of having dinner/bottle, bath time around 8pm, read a book then being rocked to sleep. Any ladies in the same boat? Advice? Thanks!

Answer

We did the CIO method, and honestly, it was not as dramatic as people think. My daughter was used to sleeping in the auto Rock n' Play. I was so scared she would never sleep in her crib! We started rocking her & putting her in the crib for naps around 5 months old. Then began rocking her at bedtime & putting her in the crib. Then we started to skip the rocking. She would cry a little, and we would let her go for a couple minutes, go in and give her the wubanub, comfort her a bit, and leave again. We would just continue this a few times. She would either fall asleep after just a little while, or we would eventually rock her to sleep if needed. Over time, she stopped needing to be rocked. She just got used to being in the crib and became comfortable with it. Now, at 8 months, when she's tired, we just lay her down with her blanket & wubanub and she's out.

She never screamed bloody murder or whatever some people make it out to be. If it ever got to that point, we would obviously comfort her and rock her, or just try again later for naps. It's just about being comfortable with their surroundings & accepting change. 😊

Hope this helps!

Answer

Here's what I'll tel you. Sleep training changed our lives. We got our bedroom
Back. We were able to talk above a whisper at night. We stopped having to spend 30 minutes night rocking him and going in there at all hours of the night trying to rock him to sleep. It made it easier for him to give up his pacifier. We started following recommended wake times for his age and that was a real game changer. He is SUCH a happy baby. I'm not joking. Everyone comments on his personality and how happy he is. He now naps in his crib which gives me a minute to breathe during the day. I'm happier. He's happier. Daddy is happier. He loves going to sleep in his crib now. Some nights he wakes up (I assume a bad dream) and I go in there to hug him and calm him and put him back to bed. But it's manageable.

There are studies that show both sides of the argument about sleep training. I chose to believe what his pediatrician said rather than what the Internet said and I don't regret it. The first few nights were hard but I just kept reminding myself that he wasn't crying bc something was wrong. He was crying bc he was pissed off! And if his cry indicated something was wrong, i would run in there in a second. It's not what people say it is. It's a game changer and no one I've met who has done it regrets it. Good luck!!!

Answer

I'd be happy to share my successful sleep training story with you! 😊

So, when my son hit 5 months old, my husband and I decided to start a modified version of Ferber sleep training. We bought dr. Ferbers book but what helped me more was joining a group on Facebook called "respectful sleep training." It's over 50,000 members. All parents who have done one version of sleep training. There are several ways to sleep training. I found the group helpful bc  I could ask questions, read people's posts about their experiences etc. Everyone there is very respectful and kind. No one judges you for whatever method of sleep training you use. We're all just there to support each other. And trust me, it's great to have the support.

So the first night we tried Ferber. That's when you go in to check on them, each time increasing the amount of time in between checks. I noticed the checks made him more agitated so we switched to extinction (no checks). The first night he cried for about 65 minutes and woke up twice. Both times he put himself back to sleep within 5-10 minutes. The second night he cried for 45 minutes and woke once. The 3rd was 15 minutes and he slept through the night. It honesty wasn't as traumatic as everyone pretends. We used our judgement. I can tell when he's crying so hard that he needs soothing or if there's something wrong. I check on him if need be. But usually he would wake up, cry and whine a little and put himself back to sleep.

Answer

We still rock to sleep. We don't believe in CIO. You should read some of the recent research done on CIO and extinction and how it negatively affects babies in the long term.

Answer

For me I am waiting to rid of this pacifier bc my little guy wakes numerous times during the night for it. He doesn't mind his crib I just want to teach him to self soothe without the paci

Answer

We did cio method. We would lay her down and leave for 1 minute then go in for 30 seconds, and pat her back. No talking or shushing noises to baby. After a few rounds we went to 2 minutes, then 3, then 4, and finally 5. Each time going back in for 30sec. We also made sure she had her pacifier each time. Finally she fell asleep after about 30 minutes. It was tough, and she woke up a few hours later and we had to do it again. It was worth it because now she sleeps from 8-6 each night. I wake her up at 6 to nurse before I leave for work. Weekends she'll go 8-7. Hope that helps.

Answer

Why do you need to sleep train? Is he waking up multiple times a night?

Answer

We were stuck in the nursing to sleep, didn't have this issue with my first as he was bottle fed. We are now sleep training using the cry it out method, she sure can be stubborn with it but it is starting to work getting into a routine and sleeping longer.

Answer

Hmmm after his last bottle, I rock and pat my son to sleep. He has his paci  and I put him in his bed he out for the rest of the night.

So I'm not sure, what you are facing?  Baby wakes up?

sleep training..where to begin??!

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