How do you get your little one to sleep?

Question

Just curious as to how others are getting their babies to sleep. I personally still nurse mine to sleep most nights as it's most effective. I know that might not go well later on but it works and he sleeps through the night. I almost feel shamed by other moms who insist on the "right way" to do it.

Answer

Tell those mom shamers to focus on their own kids and let you mother your babe without their negativity. If you follow your name instinct, then you're doing it the right way.

Answer

My little one wants to be held to sleep during the day and nursing for the night usually. Sometimes she wants to "nurse" to sleep during the day too but that's mostly about imitating some sucking motions with her lips only against something that smells familiar.
It's so weird because my first always wanted to nurse to sleep! I knew they were gonna be different but the actual differences can still surprise me.
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My research so far suggests that the "right way" to do it initially is to offer any and all kinds of comfort you can. A newborn is so fresh, they don't even know how to fall asleep! Or rather, they lack the physiological requirements. Initially they are so weak that they can usually easily go between awake and asleep, but soon they will need help.
The right physiological setup is developed by around four months of age. Until then, most babies can't learn how to sleep properly. And even after that, developmental leaps will keep interfering with their sleep, so it's frequent that moms will say "my baby was sleeping in her own for months and suddenly she needs to be rocked and held".
Many sleep training methods train babies to sleep very deeply which can help with sleeping through the nights very early and sleeping for longer stretches in general. However, it seems to me that this deep sleep is not the way to go - after all, they sleep lighter when they can hear you being around, and that lighter sleep is recommended to avoid SIDS (if you want I can dig up the research articles I base this on).
So without any judgement I know I'll stick to "whatever helps baby" for now and I'll see about any gentle techniques after four months, but I won't be doing any actual training or get upset if it doesn't work out.
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By the way, other parents do the mom shaming sometimes without realizing it and with the best intentions. I try not getting upset about it. It helps that I know that they don't have it any better!
There's this family I know, their daughter was sleeping through the night from very early on. They were telling everyone about it and offered useless advice to every other parent they knew. And then all of a sudden it all went out the window and she was waking up every few hours, needing help going back to sleep, well into kindergarten.
Another baby was doing so so well with her solids! Everyone should listen to this mom's advice! Only, that little girl is now seeing specialists to try and find why she can't stop eating at the age of six.
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Try doing your best: do some research, weigh different opinions against each other, try to find the merit in everything and then decide which way to go.
It's your decision. Of course don't do it blindly, make *informed* decisions - but if you read up on things and then put your heart into it, you will do it right. You will make the right choices for your family, for your babies. ♥

Answer

Any and all comfort. Sometimes that's boob, others it's a cuddle, sometimes he wants dad, some nights he puts him self to sleep! We just follow his lead☺

Answer

Personally I think the right way is the way that works for you and your baby. 
People freak when I tell them my lo doesn't usually go to bed until 1030pm. But she's sleeping until 6am, gets a bottle and back to bed till 8 or 9am. It's her body clock and it's fine for our lifestyle so why fight it. She's getting a good solid 11 hours usually. 
I rock her to sleep and she snuggles and that's fine too, I know one day she won't want to snuggle or rock and I'll miss it so I'm gonna soak this up now.

Answer

I nurse to sleep...my midwife told me to do so....she "guilted" me into thinking about how my bubs doesn't know anything else except my heartbeat and my warmth. I agree with her...it comforts babe and may be a bad idea for later, but it works for us for now.

Answer

There no right or wrong way.. you do what’s best for you and your little one. I feed my 4 month old before we put her to bed then I usually rock her for a little bit and put her down drowsy and she sleeps through the night. It’s what works for us. You are doing great mama!

Answer

Heck if I know. 😂. If we can somehow get 11-12h of sleep in a 24h period, I consider that a mild success. It’s an improvement over 9h and on the way to the goal of 14-16h. Still in survival mode and working on tummy issues. She’s a little koala baby, only naps on/right against me. Thank goodness she’s an only child and I have a flexible work from home job at the moment. My heart goes out to all of you with a similar baby and more difficult circumstances. 💕

Answer

Combination! I miss them then when they are done and if they are still awake I rock them to sleep

Answer

I hold/rock/cuddle my baby girl until she is solidly sleeping every night. I completely understand the “mom shaming” I get told I need to put her down, teach her to put herself to sleep, etc. But I look at that time as it’s special, my son is in bed by 8-8:30, my husband goes to bed usually around the same time as my son, and I get to have quiet time with my baby girl that I get so much less of now that I am working full time again. We should remind ourselves they will only be this little for such a short time. I look at my amazingly wonderful smart sweet independent 6 year old son now and wonder how time flew by so incredibly fast. So I’ll continue to cherish that quite time I get to cuddle my little girl to sleep while I can because before I know it she will be a beautiful sweet sassy 6 year old sleeping in her own bed in her own room putting herself to sleep without help from me.

Answer

No shame - the “right” way is whatever works for you! I nurse right before bedtime, then diaper change and read for a couple minutes, but she goes to bed awake, usually sucks on a pacifier for a few minutes before spitting it out and falling asleep.

How do you get your little one to sleep?

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