Hi all,
My LO is not a great sleeper - up frequently at night. My DH and I just ordered Elizabeth Pantley: No Cry Sleep Solutions for some guidance as we are not keen on controlled crying etc. I've read a few posts on this forum that recommend this book so I'm hoping it can help improve the situation.
I'd love to hear any stories on how you went - good or bad.
Cheers,
Fiona
I wish I had this book when DD was a newborn, I read it when she was 12 months and found it so helpful I wish I had it from the start. The main thing we have put into practice is having proper quiet time before bed with the lights dimmed- before DP and DD would be screaming through the house playing.
I just got her book for toddlers I've only just started it and was impressed by the results of other readers! I'll let you know how we go. I have to say I was almost put off by the pic on the back of Elizabeth and her family in matching pale blue cloud pajamas!!! lol :)
I tired it for several months last year when my DS was about the age of your DS...I have to say, it didn't help us any (and it certainly wasn't from lack of trying). Lots of the advice in the book we already did anyway (much of it is common sense), but I suspect it has more to do with the child than the technique. We co-sleep and BF overnight, and even with every trick she had I couldn't get him to sleep on his own.
Not to be the downer, but you did ask for positive and negative....
It worked for us. We were basically the same as Peach - it helped us establish signals to DS that it was sleep time. It still works now but it can be harder when he's overtired.
It's the signals and the routine that NCSS is all about. Works for most kids - so good luck!
I found it really helpful. In the depths of fatigue it's hard to find a way anywhere so I found her straight forward, talk you through it, ideas really good. She helped us realise we had offered no pre-bedtime rythmn for our son and he still has bath and our little wind down time every night now. I was going a bit insane having to rock my son to sleep for every sleep so I adapted her "pull out/put in" method of breaking feeding to sleep to a "put down/pick up" method of teaching him to self settle without crying.
I did the full on checklists and notes about everything for a little bit (less than a month) and THAT was a pain in the neck. I appreciated having something to try and I did it and evaluated what was happening but I couldn't keep it up- way too much work and made the whole thing too stressful IMO.
My one gripe would be that she insists your child HAS to go to sleep the first time in the night the way you want them to sleep all night or else it will NEVER work. A little too strict for my tastes and I discovered she's wrong ;)
My overall rec is to read it and try it if you are struggling but don't feel you have to do away with your Mummy instincts- no book should make you feel that way.
Worked for us to stop b/f DD to sleep when she was around 9 months. I highly recommend this book, lots of practical advice but no preaching - its a "do what works for you - here's some more things to try" kind of book which I really appreciated.
Thanks for this. I do want the positive and the negative so I appreciate the feedback.
Husband is having some time off soon so we are going to put in a concerted effort to help Mitchell with his sleeping. Sometimes I feel so bad for Mitchell, like today. He is a bit sick and clearly wants to sleep but can't go past 40 minutes at one time during the day. So he wakes up miserable and sad.
I'm pretty sure we do some of what is in the book so it will be good to round it out and see if it makes a difference.
And if not, well so be it! I didn't keep the receipt so whether he sleeps or not my little man is staying!
It worked for us to an extent. DD was easier to settle (ie. less screamin at even the hint that it might be bed time) using some of the routines but still requires being rocked until completely asleep and still only cat-naps. That said, I wasn't particularly disciplined about sticking with every detail long term.
What it did do for me is provide the reassurance and resolve i needed to continue with gentle methods and not give in to those who were telling me to 'let her cry'.
subscribing. currently reading through this book
I read the book in one day coz I was desperate to start immediately, but failed to find anything I hadn't tried, so am a bit put off.
I've been doing the "Pantley Pull off' already, and I'm trying to shorten the duration of the 'putting back to sleep' regime (Phase 1??) but this only lasts till 2am where I've already gotten up about 4 times, after that I'm too exhausted, and just let her sleep attached to my boob.
TBH I don't think it will work for us, but I am still trying.
Sorry to hijack but has anyone done the "Introduce a Lovie"?
I always thought that it was bad when kids were attached to some material object, but I;ve never really thought about it..
We tried this when DD was about 4 months, but she found it too distressing at the time so I stopped. We have kept certain constants that we introduced then though, the same routine every night, the darkened room, the music.
We did the introduce a lovie Turtleschell. At the time, she liked it when she was in her pram, but wasn't interested in her cot. It has been a constant since then though.
When I was recently trying to encourage her to start sleeping in her cot more often my accupuncturist suggested squirting her cuddly toy with a little bm - it worked very well!
She's recently added a second toy to the cot, and as part of her nighttime routine she pulls them out and we have to kiss them while she's getting her pj's on. I love her little additions to the routine, find them very cute!
We sort of added a lovie... we turned the muslin wraps my son was wrapped in into comfort blankets for him to hold. They seemed to help his startle relex (which he still had at about 9 months when we did this) and keep his hands busy as he could cuddle those. Then we added a soft doll which he still sleeps with. He cuddled her for a while but now he just likes to tuck her in next to him with her little blanket and then tuck himself him.