Yes, another questions about sleep!

[RhiChiChi]

DD is 16 weeks old.
I didn't wake her at 5pm, she woke herself. I was scared about leaving her to sleep for so long during the day but as you have said again, just leave her, so I will from now on.
Last night was a nightmare. She woke herself up from a 1hr 20 min sleep at about 4.20pm, I tried to get her back to sleep, re-wrapped her, cuddled her etc....to no avail so I got her up and let her play under her playgym - she was due for a feed at about 5.30pm but she seemed to be unsettled, so I offered her a bottle at about 5pm and she drank it all. DH then had a shower with her and offered her some more bottle but she didn't take it. She was tired by about 6.20pm so DH cuddled her, then wrapped her and put her to bed. She woke about 7pm and we persisted for about 30mins to get her back to sleep - again re-wrapping her, patting her, cuddling her, sitting in the rocking chair. In the end we bought her out to the lounge where she sat on our knee in darkness - just the t.v on but she showed tired signs, so we tried cuddling her but I think she was overtired and grizzled until I gave her a bottle at about 8.30pm, she only took 90 mls but then I wrapped her and put her straight to bed, again she woke and we tried re-settling her. In the end we put her in bed with us until she fell asleep, which was about 9.30pm and then put her in her cot in her own room and I didn't hear from her until 1.30am, which I then gave her a bottle. She then slept through until about 6am, but was just chatting in her cot, so I left her there. She yelled out at about 6.30am, so I got up but when I got to her room she was alseep (or her eyes were closed) so I left her until 7.30am, which is when she woke again. So far she has slept for 40 mins this morning and I have just put her down again, wrapped and awake and she seems to have drifted off. She protested for a little while but I just come in her room and popped her dummy in and left without saying too much, maybe the odd shhhh or it's ok, night night.
Maybe our re-settling techniques are too overstimulating? Could this be the case? It seems that if we go in and pat her or stroke her head she gets worse.

[Jodie259]

Maybe our re-settling techniques are too overstimulating? Could this be the case? It seems that if we go in and pat her or stroke her head she gets worse.

One of the things that sleep school taught me... once you've put your child to sleep in their cot - don't take them out until their "sleep time" is over. ie: don't take them out for a cuddle or settling outside of the cot - unless they are REALLY upset.
"comfort parents" won't agree with that... but I discovered that you are able to stay with your child... soothe them, pat them, calm them, talk softly... and they resettle. And they will get used to falling asleep in their cot - and will be able to do that themselves in a short time.

You don't have to do any 'controlled crying' techniques. You can stay with your child until they sleep. Just try to resist picking the baby up. I used to sit beside my DS and hold his hand, and pat his back with my other hand.

I have found that my 17mo child is going through a 'habit' at the moment of going to bed... then screaming - not cryng. If we go in too soon - he just wants to play... and that is at 9-10pm... when his usual bedtime is 8pm. But, if we let him hollar for 10 minutes... he wears himself out... and we go in and he scoots onto his bed, and either myself or DH lie down with him, and he goes to sleep within mintues.


There are soooo many different ideas & techniques that can be suggested... and some techniques work for some, not for others. Some mums need to rock/hold their babies to sleep. Some mums can get so sleep deprived that they will do anything to get their baby to sleep.

A child will learn 'habits' very quickly. Even a little bitty baby will know if it cries... mummy will come in and pick me up and give me cuddles.... even if they are 'meant' to be asleep. By crying, and being picked up... they are being stimulated... and will often find it dificult to relax enough to sleep.

good luck. I hope you find something that works. Sleep school is not for everyone... but it was the best thing I ever did. You can ask you maternal nurse or GP if you want to consider going to one.