Comments on: Gentle Baby and Toddler Sleep Tips http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/02/28/gentle-baby-and-toddler-sleep-tips/ ...exploring the art and science of parenting Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:24:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Being a Mama http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/02/28/gentle-baby-and-toddler-sleep-tips/#comment-236452 Being a Mama Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:46:46 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=1280#comment-236452 good post, i recently had a tough stretch with my 28 month old, discussed here- http://being-a-mama.blogspot.com/2012/01/night-night-sleep-tight-see-you-in-hour.html, i just came across your post and it all rang very true. great blog, thanks good post, i recently had a tough stretch with my 28 month old, discussed here- http://being-a-mama.blogspot.com/2012/01/night-night-sleep-tight-see-you-in-hour.html,
i just came across your post and it all rang very true.
great blog, thanks

]]> By: sarah http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/02/28/gentle-baby-and-toddler-sleep-tips/#comment-230609 sarah Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:15:02 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=1280#comment-230609 Hi Molly, Yes, weaned him from the 3am feeding, then he gave up the 10pm on his own. At about 8-9 months, he was feeding at 10 pm 1 am and then up for the day around 5-6 then about 12- 14 months, 10pm, 3am and up for the day 5-6 then after that a few weeks of 10pm and up for the day 5-6 ish it is up to you and what you think your baby needs - I felt he was getting enough in the day - I make sure we have plenty of time to chill, cuddle, read books together as well as have milk - since I have been working he wants to have a breastfeed more on the days I don't work - which is fine - happy to take a break from the day, sit on the couch and give him a feed!!! He's slept in his own room since about 7 months or so, and we never co-slept - though he was in a crib right beside our bed. Happy to answer more questions! xx Hi Molly,
Yes, weaned him from the 3am feeding, then he gave up the 10pm on his own.
At about 8-9 months, he was feeding at 10 pm 1 am and then up for the day around 5-6
then about 12- 14 months, 10pm, 3am and up for the day 5-6
then after that a few weeks of 10pm and up for the day 5-6 ish
it is up to you and what you think your baby needs – I felt he was getting enough in the day – I make sure we have plenty of time to chill, cuddle, read books together as well as have milk – since I have been working he wants to have a breastfeed more on the days I don’t work – which is fine – happy to take a break from the day, sit on the couch and give him a feed!!! He’s slept in his own room since about 7 months or so, and we never co-slept – though he was in a crib right beside our bed. Happy to answer more questions! xx

]]> By: Molly http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/02/28/gentle-baby-and-toddler-sleep-tips/#comment-230012 Molly Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:45:05 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=1280#comment-230012 Sarah: Thanks for your response it is helpful! I have a few clarification questions for you... So you weened him from the 3am feeding first, but didn't have to with the 10pm one, cos he stopped on his own, right? And toward 14 months it sounds like he gradually stopped waking so much to feed...do you recall how often you were feeding him at night up until then? I'm wondering if I should expect to nurse my baby 3-5X a night, or if I should be working now to lessen that number. It seems like a lot to be nursing a baby more than 2x a night if you have to get up and go to another room! Sarah:
Thanks for your response it is helpful! I have a few clarification questions for you…
So you weened him from the 3am feeding first, but didn’t have to with the 10pm one, cos he stopped on his own, right? And toward 14 months it sounds like he gradually stopped waking so much to feed…do you recall how often you were feeding him at night up until then? I’m wondering if I should expect to nurse my baby 3-5X a night, or if I should be working now to lessen that number. It seems like a lot to be nursing a baby more than 2x a night if you have to get up and go to another room!

]]> By: sarah http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/02/28/gentle-baby-and-toddler-sleep-tips/#comment-229993 sarah Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:07:47 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=1280#comment-229993 when my litttle one was about 14 months old, we decided to night wean him - it took a couple of weeks of my husband going in to settle him when he woke, but he now sleeps peacefully through. soon after he stopped feeding at 3am, he stopped waking at 10pm for milk as well. other feeds through the night gradually stopped for us - I felt he was ready at 14 mo to stop completely. he slept in his own room from about 8 months. let me know if you have any further questions - I'm not an expert at all, first time mommy finding my own way. when my litttle one was about 14 months old, we decided to night wean him – it took a couple of weeks of my husband going in to settle him when he woke, but he now sleeps peacefully through. soon after he stopped feeding at 3am, he stopped waking at 10pm for milk as well. other feeds through the night gradually stopped for us – I felt he was ready at 14 mo to stop completely.
he slept in his own room from about 8 months. let me know if you have any further questions – I’m not an expert at all, first time mommy finding my own way.

]]> By: Molly http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/02/28/gentle-baby-and-toddler-sleep-tips/#comment-229920 Molly Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:18:29 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=1280#comment-229920 I'm really happy to have found this blog. Whether or not I envision a similar story for my family it's been so supportive & helpful to encounter an honest depiction of the reality of one family's experience with alternative choices to the now traditional, baby in crib in a separate room from day one scenario. My daughter just turned 6 mos. and we have been experience our own difficulties with her sleeping. We've been trying to get back on track after a bad cold and visitors for over 2 weeks. I really appreciate the idea of shifting your perspective. As I've been looking for help online (I'm in Colombia and don't have access to books!) I keep coming across things like "is your baby waking 2,3, or even 5 times a night?" My answer is always, yes...and then is that bad, is that abnormal? Truth is, we weren't that tired in the day because since she's right next to us we could usually pu/pd and go back to sleep quickly ourselves. The problem for me was a worry that we might be doing the wrong thing for her, or perhaps entering a slippery slope into really bad sleep habits by picking her up every time. Now that I've found this blog and other helpful information that offers me options that don't involve cio or make me feel like her waking is abnormal, I'm really working to shift my perspective and expectations. The difficulty is that I feel that I have so few examples of the kind of night parenting that I want to implement. Which is why I'm grateful for your blog and so glad that it's a presence online. But I also have a few questions about breastfeeding and co-sleeping that I'm trying to come to terms with, perhaps you could share your experience with me. Did you offer the breast literally every time your babies woke, even if you knew they weren't hungry (because they didn't eat much, or they had recently eaten) and no matter how many times they woke in a night? Up until what age, more or less did you offer them breastfeeding at night and how was the weening process for you and them? I feel worried that breastfeeding whenever through the night is just postponing inevitable difficulty, even though it seems the easier option right now. At this point my husband and I would like to see our child transitioning to her own room to sleep on her own starting around 1 or 1.5 years and also weening night feedings around that age. Thanks for sharing your experience and your views! I’m really happy to have found this blog. Whether or not I envision a similar story for my family it’s been so supportive & helpful to encounter an honest depiction of the reality of one family’s experience with alternative choices to the now traditional, baby in crib in a separate room from day one scenario.

My daughter just turned 6 mos. and we have been experience our own difficulties with her sleeping. We’ve been trying to get back on track after a bad cold and visitors for over 2 weeks. I really appreciate the idea of shifting your perspective. As I’ve been looking for help online (I’m in Colombia and don’t have access to books!) I keep coming across things like “is your baby waking 2,3, or even 5 times a night?” My answer is always, yes…and then is that bad, is that abnormal? Truth is, we weren’t that tired in the day because since she’s right next to us we could usually pu/pd and go back to sleep quickly ourselves. The problem for me was a worry that we might be doing the wrong thing for her, or perhaps entering a slippery slope into really bad sleep habits by picking her up every time.

Now that I’ve found this blog and other helpful information that offers me options that don’t involve cio or make me feel like her waking is abnormal, I’m really working to shift my perspective and expectations. The difficulty is that I feel that I have so few examples of the kind of night parenting that I want to implement. Which is why I’m grateful for your blog and so glad that it’s a presence online. But I also have a few questions about breastfeeding and co-sleeping that I’m trying to come to terms with, perhaps you could share your experience with me.

Did you offer the breast literally every time your babies woke, even if you knew they weren’t hungry (because they didn’t eat much, or they had recently eaten) and no matter how many times they woke in a night? Up until what age, more or less did you offer them breastfeeding at night and how was the weening process for you and them? I feel worried that breastfeeding whenever through the night is just postponing inevitable difficulty, even though it seems the easier option right now.

At this point my husband and I would like to see our child transitioning to her own room to sleep on her own starting around 1 or 1.5 years and also weening night feedings around that age.

Thanks for sharing your experience and your views!

]]> By: Melissa http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/02/28/gentle-baby-and-toddler-sleep-tips/#comment-181661 Melissa Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:29:07 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=1280#comment-181661 Thanks for getting back to me! When she is in her bed, she wakes up so many times I lose count. She isn't up for long...as soon as I pick her up, she flops back asleep in my arms...there was a time where I was putting a musical lovey next to her and that calmed her too, but either way, she wakes up again. The longest stretch that we have gotten out of her in her bed in the past 3 weeks has been 4 hours. Normally she wakes up every 1.5-2 hours, although the other night she was up 5x within a half an hour. Since I posted the 1st time, I have been putting her in our bed more often just because neither one of us could take the lack of sleep (we are in a 1 bdrm condo so there really isn't any where else either of us can go unfortunately) and that does seem to be helping. As much as I love having her, I feel like I'm setting myself up for another battle with her. I should note that b/c of our living situation (we are trying to sell!!) she is in a co-sleeper that we converted to a pack and play once she started sitting up. I don't know if she just isn't comfortable in it...she keeps me guessing! Thanks for getting back to me! When she is in her bed, she wakes up so many times I lose count. She isn’t up for long…as soon as I pick her up, she flops back asleep in my arms…there was a time where I was putting a musical lovey next to her and that calmed her too, but either way, she wakes up again. The longest stretch that we have gotten out of her in her bed in the past 3 weeks has been 4 hours. Normally she wakes up every 1.5-2 hours, although the other night she was up 5x within a half an hour. Since I posted the 1st time, I have been putting her in our bed more often just because neither one of us could take the lack of sleep (we are in a 1 bdrm condo so there really isn’t any where else either of us can go unfortunately) and that does seem to be helping. As much as I love having her, I feel like I’m setting myself up for another battle with her. I should note that b/c of our living situation (we are trying to sell!!) she is in a co-sleeper that we converted to a pack and play once she started sitting up. I don’t know if she just isn’t comfortable in it…she keeps me guessing!

]]> By: phdinparenting http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/02/28/gentle-baby-and-toddler-sleep-tips/#comment-181652 phdinparenting Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:06:49 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=1280#comment-181652 Melissa: You said "she can not stay asleep and I don’t know how to fix it." Can you provide more details? How often is she waking and how long is she awake for? In worst case scenario, I have seen families where the mom and dad each take a shift during the night and let the other one sleep, so that each of them gets at least 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. It can be a temporary measure to help get through a rough period without letting the baby CIO. However, there may be other things you can do too if you can give more details on the waking patterns. Melissa:

You said “she can not stay asleep and I don’t know how to fix it.” Can you provide more details? How often is she waking and how long is she awake for?

In worst case scenario, I have seen families where the mom and dad each take a shift during the night and let the other one sleep, so that each of them gets at least 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. It can be a temporary measure to help get through a rough period without letting the baby CIO.

However, there may be other things you can do too if you can give more details on the waking patterns.

]]> By: Melissa http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/02/28/gentle-baby-and-toddler-sleep-tips/#comment-175834 Melissa Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:07:29 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=1280#comment-175834 I just came across this article, and I really agree with everything you have to say. However, I feel like I have run the gammet (sp?) of these tips and am getting nowhere. My daughter is 8 months old (she is our first) and has not had an easy go so far. She was diagnosed w/reflux at 4 weeks and I breastfed exclusively for the 1st 9 weeks of her life, but once I went back to work I had to supplement w/formula. Long story short, I was using the gentle formula and it wasn't gentle enough. She would wake up screaming from gas pains and grunting from reflux. She also started teething early (bottom teeth popped up right before the 5 month marker). After taking her to a gastroenterologist and getting the dosage right on her meds (zantac) and switching to soy formula (which she is now on exclusively...I stopped bf'ing at 6 months) she is still waking up constantly. She is totally ready to go to bed. She knows when the time comes and she looks forward to her bottle and doesn't fight me to go to sleep, but she can not stay asleep and I don't know how to fix it. I've picked her up, soothed her, and put her back in her bed. I've put her in bed with us, I've comforted her in her own bed...I've let her whine for brief periods and she has gotten herself back down, only to wake up 10 minutes later. She never ever napped well, and that pretty much holds true to this day. I just don't know what else to do for her. I know sleep begets sleep...I feel like the only thing I haven't tried is to let her CIO, but I'm so against it. I feel like such a failure as a mother b/c she is not getting the sleep she desperately needs. I know this time is short, but my husband and I both have to work full time and all of us are on the edge. Any other suggestions? :) I just came across this article, and I really agree with everything you have to say. However, I feel like I have run the gammet (sp?) of these tips and am getting nowhere. My daughter is 8 months old (she is our first) and has not had an easy go so far. She was diagnosed w/reflux at 4 weeks and I breastfed exclusively for the 1st 9 weeks of her life, but once I went back to work I had to supplement w/formula. Long story short, I was using the gentle formula and it wasn’t gentle enough. She would wake up screaming from gas pains and grunting from reflux. She also started teething early (bottom teeth popped up right before the 5 month marker). After taking her to a gastroenterologist and getting the dosage right on her meds (zantac) and switching to soy formula (which she is now on exclusively…I stopped bf’ing at 6 months) she is still waking up constantly. She is totally ready to go to bed. She knows when the time comes and she looks forward to her bottle and doesn’t fight me to go to sleep, but she can not stay asleep and I don’t know how to fix it. I’ve picked her up, soothed her, and put her back in her bed. I’ve put her in bed with us, I’ve comforted her in her own bed…I’ve let her whine for brief periods and she has gotten herself back down, only to wake up 10 minutes later. She never ever napped well, and that pretty much holds true to this day. I just don’t know what else to do for her. I know sleep begets sleep…I feel like the only thing I haven’t tried is to let her CIO, but I’m so against it. I feel like such a failure as a mother b/c she is not getting the sleep she desperately needs. I know this time is short, but my husband and I both have to work full time and all of us are on the edge. Any other suggestions? :)

]]> By: Jacqui @ The Breastfeeding Blog http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/02/28/gentle-baby-and-toddler-sleep-tips/#comment-160484 Jacqui @ The Breastfeeding Blog Sat, 17 Sep 2011 14:05:51 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=1280#comment-160484 Thank you for this article! I will definitely recommend it to moms who are too exhausted to think of reading "The No Cry Sleep Solution". Although a great book, you have summed up the points very nicely! Thanks again! Thank you for this article! I will definitely recommend it to moms who are too exhausted to think of reading “The No Cry Sleep Solution”. Although a great book, you have summed up the points very nicely! Thanks again!

]]> By: Toddler Fighting Sleep? Here’s Help! « Little Hearts/Gentle Parenting Resources http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/02/28/gentle-baby-and-toddler-sleep-tips/#comment-153122 Toddler Fighting Sleep? Here’s Help! « Little Hearts/Gentle Parenting Resources Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:47:15 +0000 http://www.phdinparenting.com/?p=1280#comment-153122 [...]  Gentle Baby and Toddler Sleep Tips via PhD in Parenting [...] [...]  Gentle Baby and Toddler Sleep Tips via PhD in Parenting [...]

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