Out of curiosity, do you have consistent sleep times and pre-bed routines? I've just been reading 'no cry sleep solutions' and it seems that a fairly key message is consistency of routine.
I really want to try to gently guide Euan to self-settling (presently he is either fed or rocked in a pram to sleep, he will occasionally self settle at night if he wakes but not often), and to adopting an earlier bedtime (currently it is 11:00pm at the earliest, he has always been a nightowl).
The only problem that I have is that it is almost impossible for us to have a proper night routine because my partner works until 6:30 three nights of the week, and until 8:30 the other two nights. Because he doesn't drive I am taxi driver, and so we are not home until after 7:00 or 9:00, making a consistent early bedtime tricky.
Must be hard trying to organise everything and be the taxi too! Hats off to you suse.
Yes we have a bedtime routine. Food, nappy off, bath, quiet play, books, cuddle, bed.
If we are in a hurry, it is food, bath, books and cuddle, bed. i try and do this even if it is late. We have skipped the bath a few times and she was ok.
I think it is important to do those wind down things, even if you get home late, maybe you could just have a book, cuddle, bed routine. We all do the best we can with what we've got. If all you can do is a quiet story in his room with the lights dimmed, then that is great. As long as he associated the activities with sleep then it should help in the long run.
When Lu woke in the night, for a long time she needed a reassuring pat to go back to sleep, slowly she started to wake and self settle without crying out, they do get there, slowly but surely! Its great if DH can help with this, i found if i went in she wanted a feed but she settled much better for him. He was a great help during this time.
Just had a massive day at the expo, a bit tired! hope i am being coherrent!
Wow I'm feeeling a bit inspired.... I might have to give that book another look. i flicked through once and thought it seemed like too much hard work (I think it was the sleep diary that put me off).
I love stories like this! It shows it can be done!
I too never let Charlie cry, and I do the bedtime routine religiously, even now. And Charlie learned to self-settle on his own at 11 months, and learned sleep all night too, without us ever having to 'let him cry it out'.
A no-crying sleep solution works. More and more mothers are finding that out every day.
Wow this thread is renewing my energy and hope levels I think it is me that is a bit inconsistent with approach because 50% of the time I adore helping DS off to sleep and 50% of the time I find it impractical - and in thinking about a #2, I don't know how I'd do both! It's been a good gift while we've had it though, but as he gets older, I'd like him to do it on his own.
So this is hopeful! Thanks.
I don't feed him to sleep, but he is obsessed with having one arm around my neck, playing with my hair. Tonight I gave it a go (withdrawing myself) and even though his eyes were shut and he was pretty much asleep he started waving his hands, searching all over the place to find me. I was so annoyed that it WOKE him up. Is this what to expect? A realllyyy long drawn out going to sleep process until it changes?
*sigh*
I need to prepare myself to be more patient at that rate.
Thanks Ange! I really must come to terms with the fact that a routine is inevitable, and it will take a couple of weeks to get there. He's not too good with baths at night, they just hype him up (he thinks it's splashy time). As for books, well, he just wants to eat them or pull them to bits or climb on them . Perhaps if I try reading them to him in the cage... I mean cot. He's a hyperactive little bugger, not too good at quiet time in general, which is why the pram is so successful at getting him to sleep, it provides constant motion with the inability to escape.
He often has a nap after dinner (at about 7:30-8:00), and wakes up full of beans. I might try to keep him as quiet as possible after the nap and try to get him to bed soon after.
Sorry to hijack hon - thanks for your advice and inspiration, hopefully I'll have my own success story to add soon(ish).
Suse- Hijack away lady! I'm not protective of threads! Lu sounds a bit the same as E. Used to eat the books and throw them. But over time she began to get interested in the pictures. She is a bit of a whirlwind, never sits still, even when i am reading to her, but i think she gets the idea that it is wind down time when do the sme things each night. Sometimes if she is not into a book, i give her a cuddle and sing her a song. Seems to slow her down a little! I guess you just need to find the cues that work for you guys. You'll be back here soon enough telling me all about your success story.
Rahjah- Yep, unfortunately the no cry technique is a little long and drawn out. If he stirs, let him cuddle you again and then try again. You might have to do it a few times each night but it will improve slowly. I was thinking, could you give him something else to cuddle? Even a top that smells like you?
Lorirae- Yeah the sleep diary was a bit much for me too. I pretty much took points from the book. I didn't do a sleep diary, i more took inspiration and ideas. You don't need to follow it to the letter, but it is a great guide.
Thanks for replying and sharing your journeys ladies and don't forget to post when you have some success!
I have just read the book, and am starting to try out the methods on DS and I love to know that it can work!!!! I am in a bad feed to sleep habit, and I know DS is young, so I wanted to break it now. So many thanks for sharing your success.
Ange what an inspiration you are! I have no-cry sleep solution but haven't really had much of a chance to read it yet. I am going to try and do things when I get back from our holiday! Light at the end of the tunnel....there is one!
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(I think it was the sleep diary that put me off).
I think it is me that is a bit inconsistent with approach because 50% of the time I adore helping DS off to sleep and 50% of the time I find it impractical - and in thinking about a #2, I don't know how I'd do both! It's been a good gift while we've had it though, but as he gets older, I'd like him to do it on his own. 
. Perhaps if I try reading them to him in the cage... I mean cot. 
Lu sounds a bit the same as E. Used to eat the books and throw them. 
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