hi mums
I started sleep training with my three month old baby. However it's not working. I paid for someone too and it's been over a week and he is still cat napping, over tired, crying all the time and won't sleep more then 40 mins alone.
I'm starting to resent this whole thing, he hates being put down and always wants to be held. He doesn't have any wind problems or reflux, I've checked it out with doctors and he's been to chiropractor and this is my second child so I thought I had a better idea but clearly not.
I've started a rough routine but he starts his day so differently each day. I don't like hearing him cry it out so I refuse to do that but he does protest cry and I try let him cry for a few minutes then pat him as I want him to learn how to self settle.
He cries in the car and in the pram!
Help me get him sleeping!'
10 Replies
I'm not sure if your using a swaddle or a dummy but my baby loved being swaddled only bad thing is getting her out of one now and the dummy really sooths her and I only use it before she sleeps. I'm not sure where you live but in Townsville they have a free service with nurses that teach you to pick up on signs and help to teach you how to get your bub to sleep.
sorry....but my 10 month old is STILL not sleeping!! ive tried everything!!!
call trecillian if your concerned, however its completly normal!
I have twins. One would sleep. One wouldn't. They are now 3 and nothing has changed....except my sanity...I think I've lost it along the way hehe
I've heard you shouldn't sleep train until they are at least 6 months old so I would hold off. Call ngala and book in for a day stay.
They helped heaps with my bubs sleeping but she was 7 months old when we went and after a week there was a massive change.
Oh my...sounds like the story of my life. I had a very similar issue with my little boy. He is now 6 months and is on to his next sleeping issues :(
However, i do have some advice for you as far as your 3 month old. We went to Tresillian residential not once but TWICE and stayed there and didn't leave until we had it sorted out and i knew all my plans of attack.
First advice i was given at Tresillian is, some babies are on their own routine so its best not to try and fit them into one because all you'll end up doing is having an even more crankier baby and you will feel like a total failure (i know coz iv tried and failed miserably). So it doesn't matter when and how he starts his day, just go with it. It may mean u can't make definite plans with friends or sometimes not b able to make it to appointments but eventually, with perseverance things will settle down for you and him.
Secondly, crying it out is never a good method because then babies learn that mum doesn't come to rescue them and end up developing a bad attachment with you. I was told by Tresillian to listen for his cries. As a mum you would know when he is protest crying or just whinging or emotionally crying. If you can hear that he really needs you, its ok to go in and try and calm him for as long as you can without having to pick him up. So things like shushing, patting, stroking his hair or sometimes, even pat the cot mattress near his head, babies like the soft thudding sounds. If all else fails pick him up and rock him or walk him around etc.
I was told the best information ever at Tresillian and that is...once your baby can self settle, their chances of re-settling without intervention is so much higher which means, even if he wakes after one sleep cycle, he will be able to put himself back to sleep without too much fuss.
Also, if you aren't wrapping him, trying wrapping him tight. That really helped my son self settle. Now the problem is getting him out of it.
Hope this helps :)
no advice but lots of love and hugs. My first baby slept amazing from 9 weeks but bub number 2 (who is now 14 months) still doesn't sleep through. I hope you find something that helps soon for both you and bub.
Very familiar story to my first. Had to co-sleep with her until she was 2 just so we could all get some sleep. After her 2nd birthday she responded better to us keeping her in her own bed. She'd wake up and call out for us and we'd go in and reassure her and after a couple of weeks of that she was sleeping though. It was a very long 2 years but it DID get better xo
Having a baby that doesn't sleep is hard. Been there done that and survived, twice. My eldest was an easy baby compared to her 2 sisters, they hated to sleep! Number 1 tip, start baby wearing, your baby can get the closeness and comfort they need and you can still get things done and interact with your eldest. Also don't stress about the routine. Some babies dislike structured routine, what worked for your eldest night be the opposite of what your 2nd needs (and your 3rd will be different again!) In the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter if your baby sleeps at 6pm or 9pm as long as your baby does sleep. He will develop his own routine naturally.
Having a baby that doesn't sleep is hard. Been there done that and survived, twice. My eldest was an easy baby compared to her 2 sisters, they hated to sleep! Number 1 tip, start baby wearing, your baby can get the closeness and comfort they need and you can still get things done and interact with your eldest. Also don't stress about the routine. Some babies dislike structured routine, what worked for your eldest night be the opposite of what your 2nd needs (and your 3rd will be different again!) In the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter if your baby sleeps at 6pm or 9pm as long as your baby does sleep. He will develop his own routine naturally.
Different babies need diff things.. I could never get my little ones to settle in crib/cot.. they just wanted to be held/next to someone.. My sling saved my sanity ! I gave up on idea of strict routines etc.. just put baby in sling and got on with what I needed to do- great esp for 2nd children as even if I could settle baby older child would wake them up (just by being a noisy 2 yr old..) Once they settled in sling, noise didn't matter... slept for much longer and didn't have to get everyone to tiptoe around.. Both also hated car for first 4-5 months... hated having to drive when I knew it would be nonstop screaming, until I got them out then all smiles ! ahhhh I know it doesn't help you right now..but things will change quickly- I have had friends whose babies self settles /slept through... until 6 months then everything changed and no more sleep... and the other way around too... Maybe try sling for a few weeks.. Good luck !