Post by gratefulgirl on Dec 2, 2016 9:50:03 GMT -5
Done it x2. Used a modified Ferber method both times at anout 4.5 months at the suggestion of our pediatricians' office. We were told it would be less traumatic than after separation anxiety had set in, plus my older two could be up every 45 minutes or worse. DD1 was obviously overtired from that misery. The sleep deprivation hurt my marriage, my health (I would puke from it), and DH's health. So early training was right for us.
DD1 had to be trained away from being held to sleep. We kept her pacifier. I used shorter intervals than Ferber recommended and would pick her up to calm her down when I did checks. I think this stretched out the crying time but I liked being able to totally relax her.
DD2 was waking for her pacifier so we had to take it away. She got riled up by being picked up or touched so I did not do that at checks. She sleep trained in one night. It was about as easy as it gets (sleep training is not fun whether you do no cry, CIO with checks, attended CIO with you in the room, or straight CIO).
With both my older two I still fed them twice a night at first and later once. DD1 I night weaned using Ferber at 10 mo. DD2 I night weaned using the minute less per feed per night method at 7.5 mo. because she was trying to do her long stretch of not eating in the morning. I would wait 4-10 minutes to see if the girls would settle themselves before checking at any night waking.
I think sleep training as needed is good for the whole family. In the mornings after sleep training my DD1 was so smiley from better sleep. It helped me and DH too.
DD3 is not as bad a sleeper as her sisters, and also not yet cleared to sleep train (I will ask at her 4 mo. well check in case we need it). I need to address her extra MOTN wake ups but am not sure how yet. First she needs to get on an age appropriate schedule, which she is resisting. Then I will evaluate how we are doing and see if we need to do anything.
My daughter is 4.5 months and still eats every 3-4 hours all day and night. She goes to bed at 7, I dream feed at 10 and then she's up again to eat around 1 and 4 and then 7-8a sometime which is when she's up for the day (4-8a seems to be her longest stretch). She's in the arms reach co-sleeper that's attached to the bed and I feed her while in bed half asleep myself. Then I transfer her back to the co-sleeper about 20-30 min later when she's done.
I don't know what to do if I were to sleep train because she's chugging when I feed her, she's not just using me as a paci. I think she's getting a full 4oz or so each feed based on how much I hear her swallowing. She's capable of putting herself to sleep and self soothing without the paci. If I ignore her (don't feed her right away) she will just toss and turn and making little fuss noises and I don't sleep anyway while this is going on. If I feed her we all go back to deep sleep relatively quickly in comparison to waiting it out. She's eating 8 times in 24 hours at the moment and I cannot get her to eat any more at a time than I already am (breast or bottle). Sooo I guess at this point I will hope she will eventually grow out of needing extra feedings at night. I'm not the level of sleep deprivation that grateful described with throwing up so I'm not super desperate (I've been at that level of sleep deprivation before and it's absolutely miserable). I'm prob getting between 6-7.5 hours total between all the various intervals of sleep. I'm tired during the day but functioning fine "enough" if that makes sense (not feeling like I'm going to fall asleep at the wheel, nausea, crankiness, etc.)
If you've sleep trained around 4 months, does it stick? Or did you have to do it again later? I'll probably have to do it with DD at some point but I feel like I have a hard time getting anything to stick with DD.
Today the pediatrician suggested I work on getting E to sleep independently during the day, with the thought that it will help him sleep at night, too.
katelm E is up to eat a lot at night, too, and he sucks down 5 ounces. I think he's really hungry. I need to figure out how to get him to eat more during the day
If you've sleep trained around 4 months, does it stick? Or did you have to do it again later? I'll probably have to do it with DD at some point but I feel like I have a hard time getting anything to stick with DD.
For the most part it did stick. With regressions we had to retrain, but it took less time and less CIO. We started it at 9 months and going in made it worse. And she knew the paci made her sleep so she would throw it out of crib. We had to let her CIO, after a week she went down easier.
Of note: both my kids started to sleep better once I moved them into their own rooms. With DD she had to move at 5 weeks. DS I moved at 10 weeks.
We did Ferber with ds1 at 6 months. It really did work within a few days, but we did have to do it a few more times months later during sleep regressions.
We are unsure whether we will need to with ds2. He was sttn so well, but I think he hit the 4m regression early combined with a horrible cold. The past few nights have been much better, although we do need to go in for pacifier pops once in awhile. If needed though, I'd do Ferber again.
If you've sleep trained around 4 months, does it stick? Or did you have to do it again later? I'll probably have to do it with DD at some point but I feel like I have a hard time getting anything to stick with DD.
DD2: yes, absolutely, no question, no turning back
DD1: sort of. After she could fall asleep on her own I still had to fix her nap schedule. Then she regressed a handful of times. I think we had 3 or 4 nights after illness or vacation where she was re-Ferberized. The last time I had to do anything like that was 18 mo. after a vacation. Still worth it even so. The reminders were short and not nearly so hard.
I never sleep trained for naps, FWIW. I just kept using sleep props at nap only and once my kids were sleeping independently at night for about a month they started doing the same for naps on their own. This didn't fix short naps but it made long naps possible once they were ready for them after 6 mo.
Today the pediatrician suggested I work on getting E to sleep independently during the day, with the thought that it will help him sleep at night, too.
katelm E is up to eat a lot at night, too, and he sucks down 5 ounces. I think he's really hungry. I need to figure out how to get him to eat more during the day
Maybe look into the ounce less a night method? It is perfect for moving calories from night to day without tears.
Post by spicysalmonroll on Dec 2, 2016 15:14:27 GMT -5
We just started this week actually. He is 4.5 months, and he has always waken to eat every 3.5-4 hours. Breast milk is thin so I accept this and am totally fine with his schedule of eating at bedtime (7:30), 10:30, 2, up for the day at 6.
But then a few weeks ago he randomly started waking in between, like every hour and a half and I was like ok this is not going to work for any of us!! So I implemented where I'd get up and feed him at his normal feeding times and let him cry it out the in between times. First time, he cried for 11 minutes and fell asleep. Second time 7 minutes. He did this Monday, Tues, Wed of this week and was down to 5 minutes. Then Thursday & Friday he was back to his original schedule without the extra waking or cryings. So to me, it's a win. I'm realistic and not in any way expecting him to drop those night feeds for another 3-6 months.
Also, we do not give the pacifier at night so that won't be an issue for us. Good luck everyone, I'm sure we'll all have regressions, may they be short lived!
We started last night. We are doing checks and also soothing with a sleep mantra and gentle patting. I'm not night weaning him yet, he still seems hungry! But I am going to feed only if it's been 3 hours. Hopefully we can move some calories to the daytime! The first time was pretty terrible, but he was already better after the first feeding. And he just fell asleep independently for a nap. I have a good feeling about this!!
We started last night. We are doing checks and also soothing with a sleep mantra and gentle patting. I'm not night weaning him yet, he still seems hungry! But I am going to feed only if it's been 3 hours. Hopefully we can move some calories to the daytime! The first time was pretty terrible, but he was already better after the first feeding. And he just fell asleep independently for a nap. I have a good feeling about this!!
I hope all the good progress continues for you! I'm too much of a weakling to do any training yet, but I'm jealous of your progress!
Maybe look into the ounce less a night method? It is perfect for moving calories from night to day without tears.
Thank you for mentioning this method!
My baby eats twice at night (12am, 4am) - she's clearly hungry as she chugs down her bottle and then goes back to sleep with relative ease. But, I'd like to start moving more calories to day and less at night. I'm going to do it slowly as she is only three months. I backed off from 3.5 oz to 3 oz at night and increased from 3.5 oz to 4 oz during the day. I want to gently transition her because her sleep is so great otherwise.
Maybe look into the ounce less a night method? It is perfect for moving calories from night to day without tears.
Thank you for mentioning this method!
My baby eats twice at night (12am, 4am) - she's clearly hungry as she chugs down her bottle and then goes back to sleep with relative ease. But, I'd like to start moving more calories to day and less at night. I'm going to do it slowly as she is only three months. I backed off from 3.5 oz to 3 oz at night and increased from 3.5 oz to 4 oz during the day. I want to gently transition her because her sleep is so great otherwise.
Ugh so tired, lately my baby has been waking every 2-2.5 hours to eat all night. She's chugging too so it's not for comfort. She is drinking 4oz during the day every 3 hours too so I have no idea! Now I wish I didn't complain about 3-4 hour stretches 😭
Post by spicysalmonroll on Dec 8, 2016 12:48:57 GMT -5
katelm we had a sick baby this week with a fever so clearly I abandoned any crying it out while he's sick. He's screamed every single hour on the hour for 3 days straight, including nights. I'm absolutely dying of exhaustion, it's worse than newborn status. He feels cool today so I'm praying for even 2 hour stretches tonight.
Ugh so tired, lately my baby has been waking every 2-2.5 hours to eat all night. She's chugging too so it's not for comfort. She is drinking 4oz during the day every 3 hours too so I have no idea! Now I wish I didn't complain about 3-4 hour stretches 😭
Ugh so tired, lately my baby has been waking every 2-2.5 hours to eat all night. She's chugging too so it's not for comfort. She is drinking 4oz during the day every 3 hours too so I have no idea! Now I wish I didn't complain about 3-4 hour stretches 😭
Maybe up the ounces during the day?
We are giving her the max she will take, it's a struggle for daycare to even get a full 4oz in her per feed for her 2 daily bottles there..I think she prefers breast. I think she's getting 4-6oz from breastfeeding each time (based on what I see with weighted feeds)
We are giving her the max she will take, it's a struggle for daycare to even get a full 4oz in her per feed for her 2 daily bottles there..I think she prefers breast. I think she's getting 4-6oz from breastfeeding each time (based on what I see with weighted feeds)
Yeah DS prefers breast too. He sucks down 4 oz and no matter how late last bottle at daycare is when we get home he nurses for 25 minutes. Stinks your DD won't cluster during day time hours.
We are giving her the max she will take, it's a struggle for daycare to even get a full 4oz in her per feed for her 2 daily bottles there..I think she prefers breast. I think she's getting 4-6oz from breastfeeding each time (based on what I see with weighted feeds)
Yeah DS prefers breast too. He sucks down 4 oz and no matter how late last bottle at daycare is when we get home he nurses for 25 minutes. Stinks your DD won't cluster during day time hours.
I was going to suggest trying a daytime cluster. DD3 has to nurse twice to get in what is a full feed for her. She is just distractible.
Last night was a HUGE success!! E was sleeping by 6:30, first wake up at 1:30 (that's his record!), second wake up at 3:45, up for the day at 6:30. Oh my gosh!!!
He had long naps at daycare yesterday, so I wonder if he was overtired previously. Going to focus on appropriate waketimes and try to help facilitate naps today.
We've also been reducing the first night feeding by half an ounce per day. He hasn't noticed yet and it seems to be working! Hoping that at some point we can eliminate that first wake up.
He eats a crazy amount for such a peanut. With the MOTN feedings, he sometime gets above 40 ounces in a day 😱
Last night was a HUGE success!! E was sleeping by 6:30, first wake up at 1:30 (that's his record!), second wake up at 3:45, up for the day at 6:30. Oh my gosh!!!
He had long naps at daycare yesterday, so I wonder if he was overtired previously. Going to focus on appropriate waketimes and try to help facilitate naps today.
We've also been reducing the first night feeding by half an ounce per day. He hasn't noticed yet and it seems to be working! Hoping that at some point we can eliminate that first wake up.
He eats a crazy amount for such a peanut. With the MOTN feedings, he sometime gets above 40 ounces in a day 😱
Woah!! What did you do different? My LO has been sleeping sooo terrible because of teething. Now up every 1.5 hours at night (despite Tylenol) and nap strike at daycare.
Post by hannahbear on Dec 10, 2016 10:12:06 GMT -5
katelm I think I was keeping him up for too long. I also realized he naps better/longer in the Merlin suit, and it seems like longer naps mean he isn't overtired and sleeps better at night.
The am wake up is still out challenge. He often wakes up closer to 5 than 6 - he seems to be a morning pooper! And he can't fall back asleep after I change him.
katelm I think I was keeping him up for too long. I also realized he naps better/longer in the Merlin suit, and it seems like longer naps mean he isn't overtired and sleeps better at night.
The am wake up is still out challenge. He often wakes up closer to 5 than 6 - he seems to be a morning pooper! And he can't fall back asleep after I change him.
I think the early bedtimes help nighttime. Or at least that's been my experience. As hard as a bedtime routine that starts at 6:15 is, it means better nighttime sleep. Hope your good sleeper continues.
Post by hummingbird125 on Dec 13, 2016 11:41:55 GMT -5
I've been MIA, but just wanted to pop in to share this in case it can help anyone!
My DS hadn't slept more than 2 hours at a time since he was 8 weeks old. I think reflux was partly to blame. We developed a perfect bedtime routine, separated nursing from bedtime by at least 30 min, got him started on reflux meds, etc - but NOTHING helped. I've been back at work FT since he was 12 weeks, so I've been exhausted and miserable.
Last Friday, with the go-ahead from our pediatrician, we started sleep training. Cry-it-out "extinction" - aka no "checks".
On night 1, we put him in his crib without his Merlin Sleep suit, without his paci. Kissed him goodnight and walked out and closed the door. He cried for 32 min then started sucking his thumb and fell asleep. Every night since then he has fallen asleep with zero to one minute of crying. Last night (night 4) he slept from 8:20pm-2am with only one wakeup (cried/fussed for about 5 min, then fell back asleep). We aren't totally night-weaning yet, so I did feed him at 2am and again when he woke up at 5am - after both of those feedings though, he fell right back asleep on his own.
I know "sleep training" isn't right for everyone, and it is semi-controversial, but it has absolutely been the right choice for us. It's like a switch has been flipped and now DS knows that he call fall asleep on his own, and just because he wakes up doesn't mean he needs the boob. He has also seemed so much happier the past couple of days, probably because he is finally getting more deep sleep.
If anyone wants more info - I followed the guides on the precious little sleep blog and also got help on their FB group, also fee free to PM me. I NEVER thought I would do CIO, but I also never thought that I would still be getting less than 4 hours of sleep a night 4 months after bringing home the baby!
I'm curious how much your son is drinking during the day per feeding? I'm not sure what to do because it seems like she still really needs all the calories from the night feeds every 3 hours and I can't get her to drink more during the day
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