"Sleep experts"

[Lulu]

Oh Charly, I do disagree. I used nothing but consistency and persistence and it didn't work for us and it was never going to. Not with DS anyway.

I was the same with my eldest DD, she slept through fairly early due to consistency but that's because it suited her.

One size certainly doesn't fit all, and when your eyeballs are on your cheeks despite your best efforts, it can be really hard to hear - "its as simple as persistence".

[Liz]

No havent heard of her. I'm the only sleep expert I know LMAO And my advice is do whatever works whenever it works LOL.

Don't worry about sleep & development. Baby's that wake are often very alert and take in a lot of what is around them. My babies didn't/don't sleep through, but it's completely normal and nothing to worry about. It certainly has its challenging moments.. but if a person says their babies sleep through all the time... they are most likely lying or stretching the truth - a lot. All babies go through stages, developmental, teething, separation anxiety, growth spurts etc etc etc. I think i'd be more worried if my babies were sleeping through all that! It's reassuring to know that my babies are going through all these normal stages, and that they know I'm here for them.

I'm more frightened of my babies learning that mummy ignores them than I am of having a 6 yr old waking at night. JMO

[Willow]

I gotta agree, I think there's a HUGE part of it that is luck Charlyfrog. My first was like your girls but my second is not. I've used the same methods with both but DD was sleeping 12-13 hours solid at 9 months, DS is still waking a few times at night.

It truly does depend on the child.

[Charlyfrog]

At the end of the day every one is going to do what they feel is the right thing to do. Forums like this are designed for us to share varying opinions and if you try something and its not for you that's fine but hey if it works, even better This is not about trying to win an argument nor making anyone feel bad as I know that if I posted about an issue, baby related or not, I too would get varying opinions but no one is out to 'get' me or attack, merely share their opinions. So RF, I am sorry if you took my post personally as was not the intention. I am as much entitled to share my personal journey and opinion as every one else.

but if a person says their babies sleep through all the time... they are most likely lying or stretching the truth - a lot

- I agree with this Liz - the all the time bit as this is certainly not what I am saying. Just wanted to make sure I clarified that bit When our kids aren't sick nor teething nor going through all the normal developmental stages of a baby, our girls do sleep through from approx 7.30pm to 7.00am......and that is not lying nor stretching the truth (as you put it )

[Liz]

yep, that's why I said 'all the time'. Coz us mums that wake to our babies are always bombarded with people astounded that our babies aren't sleeping through, that their babies slept through from such and such an age. We are constantly made to feel like there is something wrong with us or our babies because people choose to omit the fact that babies DO wake up.

7.30 bedtimes don't work in this house, coz we go out 2 evenings a week, so we've never had early bed times. In fact I quite like that my kids are flexible enough with their sleep that they can do their usual 2/3hr sleep wherever we are (DS doesn't now of course.. he just stays up) and it doesn't limit us to being home every night in order to put the kids to bed.

Barb's article on the normal patterns for breastfed babies is sooo encouraging. I find it interesting how important these night feeds are, and how the denial of these breastfeeds for earlier generations affected their breastfeeding rates. (obviously excludes those breastfed bubs who by nature sleep well at night).

I think it's important for people to know that their baby doesn't HAVE to sleep through, and that you can't necessarily MAKE them sleep through. How much nicer it is to have encouragement for following babies cues and not feeling bad that our babies wake.