Getting baby to sleep at night...

[AnnaBanana]

A few night-time questions...

1) Anyone have any tips on getting a new baby to sleep at night? At what age should i expect my baby (she's 6 weeks now) to start sleeping longer stretches overnight, and how can i encourage it?

2) When do people recommend putting the baby into their own room?

3) How do people feel about "letting the baby cry themselves to sleep"?? I know that some people swear that it is horrible for two days but by the third night the baby is fine...??

4) How can i ensure that my baby isn't completely awake following a night-time feeding? I find that i feed her, and then she is wide awake and it is often difficult to get her back to sleep even though it's 4am...

[mrcantrell]

I can only offer you what we read recently for your number 4. Most nurses/hospitals suggest that you strip the kid to the diaper for feeding, what we read said not to do that at night so the child stays warm and is more likely to fall asleep.

That being said ours won't sleep unless she's on my wife or I

[fireguy9]

A few night-time questions...

1) Anyone have any tips on getting a new baby to sleep at night? At what age should i expect my baby (she's 6 weeks now) to start sleeping longer stretches overnight, and how can i encourage it?

2) When do people recommend putting the baby into their own room?

3) How do people feel about "letting the baby cry themselves to sleep"?? I know that some people swear that it is horrible for two days but by the third night the baby is fine...??

4) How can i ensure that my baby isn't completely awake following a night-time feeding? I find that i feed her, and then she is wide awake and it is often difficult to get her back to sleep even though it's 4am...

My daughter slept right thruogh the night from 6wks on
my son was about 10wks

Were in there own rooms from day 1 at home

[yyz2hkg]

My daughter slept right thruogh the night from 6wks on
my son was about 10wks

Were in there own rooms from day 1 at home

+1 Best method... is what fireguy9 stated. I did the same in keeping my child inher own room from day 2.

[sdm242]

I don't think there are definitive answers for any of your questions. A lot depends on your personal parenting style. For our family, we used a lot of attachment parenting principles. It's what we were comfortable with and worked for us, but everyone must do what's best for their own family.

1. My girls (now 6 and 4 years old) both slept for 6+ hour stretches around 10 weeks or so.

2. We coslept with them for quite awhile. I breastfed both of them and cosleeping just made everything easier for us. They never slept in their own rooms until around age 2.5 years but for awhile before that they would sleep on a mattress beside our bed. And for anyone that's wondering, both my girls sleep great at nighttime now and go to bed with no problems at all. In fact, if they're feeling extra tired, they'll even ask to go to bed.

3. I don't believe in crying-it-out, especially for infants. A baby cries for a reason, whether it's physical discomfort, hunger or just a need to be held. I feel that it's my responsibility as a parent to respond to that cry. I might consider it for an older child though.

4. We always did nighttime feeds in bed with the lights off and never had any troubles with them waking up too much.

[3weddings]

1) Anyone have any tips on getting a new baby to sleep at night? At what age should i expect my baby (she's 6 weeks now) to start sleeping longer stretches overnight, and how can i encourage it?
What time are you settling her in? and how? Mine all slept from 8pm until about 3am nursed for about 20 minutes in a rocking chair, and then slept again until about 7am

2) When do people recommend putting the baby into their own room? We made the mistake for us to chose to co-sleep with #1. Big mistake on our part, but I had an emergency C and wasn't totally mobile at night. The other two were in their rooms from the day they came home

3) How do people feel about "letting the baby cry themselves to sleep"?? I know that some people swear that it is horrible for two days but by the third night the baby is fine...?? Many will claim that CYO (cry it out) is cruel. For us it worked, by night #2 the babies no longer did it, but consistency is key. This can become a very heated discussion for many parent, as will breastfeeding versus formula. You have to choose what works for you. Presently my stepsister has a baby, and my mother refers to her as a BRAT....she will NOT sleep unless it's on her parents. If that is what you choose and works with your lifestyle then go for it, however don't expect a night alone for a LONG time!!!

4) How can i ensure that my baby isn't completely awake following a night-time feeding? I find that i feed her, and then she is wide awake and it is often difficult to get her back to sleep even though it's 4am... How are you feeding her? I nursed mine in a glider for no more then 10 minutes per breast gently replaced them in their crib and left the room. They have to learn to put themselves to sleep.


Also,don't be afraid of the pacifier, it's not as difficult as we think to get rid of.

[nalababe]

Don't like the idea of putting them in their own room from day 1....sorry, just not the way nature intended.

Son was in a cosleeper (armsreach.com) from the day we brought him home until he was ready for a crib. Stayed in the crib, in our room until he could actually step out on to the rad and then run around the room.

Then moved him to his own room...and kept a baby monitor which we could use to trigger music or projection of stars.

We have never had a problem with him sleeping. Addtionally, I believe that due to the cosleeper, human contact could quickly settle him down, even in the worst of nights. When very little, if he would cry, we could simply put a hand out and he would stop very quickly...and we did not have to really "wake up"...better sleep for us...

Now, what did this do for him...what is in the genes, what is in the environment, but his is one of the most loving, social and empethetic 3 year olds that I know

[fireguy9]

not having them sleep in your room is probably what helped get both my kids to sleep through the night (8hrs min) at a very early age. Other thing is to not respond to every little sound they make. They will sleep

Baby monitors help too

[skanji]

Guys - thanks for the posts. I think we are going to have a lot of different opinions and it's cool that everyone has different ideas.

For a first time parent to be, it's really good to read up on the options we have and how it works for you all.

Thanks guys!!

[AnnaBanana]

Thanks so far for the responses...!

Here is part of the problem. The baby wakes up for a feed, i feed her (in the room, it's dark, i don't strip her down and keep movements to a minimum...) - but then i burp her and put her back in the bassinet and she either wakes up RIGHT AWAY or sleeps for 5 minutes, then wakes up completely... And if i let her cry it just gets more and more intense... So then i pick her up, rock her for a while, and try it all over again...

Any tips??

[poedua]

A few night-time questions...

1) Anyone have any tips on getting a new baby to sleep at night? At what age should i expect my baby (she's 6 weeks now) to start sleeping longer stretches overnight, and how can i encourage it?

2) When do people recommend putting the baby into their own room?

3) How do people feel about "letting the baby cry themselves to sleep"?? I know that some people swear that it is horrible for two days but by the third night the baby is fine...??

4) How can i ensure that my baby isn't completely awake following a night-time feeding? I find that i feed her, and then she is wide awake and it is often difficult to get her back to sleep even though it's 4am...

All these questions are answered in Ferbers' " classic " book....

" Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems " , by Richard Ferber, M.D.

Bookcloseouts ( ships out of St. Catherines Ont. ) has it to order on-line for $5.99 U.S....much cheaper than $16 CDN for Indigo's on-line price ( $21 in store ) for the same book.

http://www.bookcloseouts.com/default...8B&Rt=2&Nty1=1

I highly recommend it, as did our pediatrician and mid-wives years back....you may also want to check out the reviews other parents gave this book ( over 300 of them ) on Amazon.com to get an idea of what a good book it really is and how it wil solve virtually any kids' sleep problems.

[shoppingmama]

Another attachment parent here. My kids co-slept until they were 2-3 years old and went to sleep in their own beds. Since I breasfed and never gave formula my kids never slept in really long stretchs but that was fine for me. I would highly advise against "BabyWise" and I'm not a fan of Ferber. I never allowed my kids to "cry it out"...I meet their needs every time. I would highly recommend Dr. Sears books, he has many and they are all wonderful!

The most important thing is to relax and listen to your gut...enjoy these snuggling moments...you are not spoiling her by picking her up and meeting her needs

[sixer]

People! Infants don't start learning bad habits until they're 5 and 6 months old. You CANNOT spoil an infant until that time. As result, do NOT let them cry!
If they want to be comforted, held in your arms, sleep with you, do it, because you shouldn't let them be crying.

The WHO (World Health Organization) actually changed there recommendation for infants to state "they should be kept with you in your bedroom until around 6 months."

That said, we're planning at 2-3 months to have our daughter in her own room, but prior to that our daughter will be in our bedroom either in our bed or her bassinet, whatever it takes for her to sleep.

Past 6 months, you should not sleep with your kids!

In terms of getting a baby to sleep, after feeding them, wrap them up tighly making sure their warm, then hold them until they fall asleep and then lay them in their bassinet or crib. Ovol drops work well if they have digestive problems.

Also, most people do see sleeping improvements around 6 week mark or so because the child's digestive system is now fully developed and functioning. That's why you see them crying more earlier on and having more gas.
If you had a preemie on your hands, compensate for the difference. For example, if 3 weeks early, you'll be looking at the 9 week mark.

[Bullseye]

As you've noticed, there are two very distinct camps, the Sears people, and the Ferber people. Both swear their method works, and that the other will ruin your child.

We had our son in a bassinet in our room for the first three months, then moved him to his own room. He started sleeping through the night (6+ hours) at 4 weeks. When he woke at night, my wife brought him into bed, put him on the breast, and then she fell back asleep. He would usually feed until he dozed off, and at some point, she would put him back in the bassinet. This worked well for us.

I also believe that you don't let infants cry it out before 3 months minimum. After that, I believe you should just use your judgement. Is the cry a needy cry, or a fussy cry? You will learn before too long to differentiate.

[kellya]

Another attachment parenting person here...and I completely agree with sdm242 and shoppingmamma

Kelly

edited to add - Bullseye is right - there is the Sears camp and the Feber camp - I'm in the Sears camp (highly recommend his books to everyone) and well about Feber.....let's just say, I'm not a fan.