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Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Sleep

Wake to sleep method, did it work for you?

18 replies

hmmSleep · 18/07/2011 13:09

I've tried doing a search as I know this has been discussed before but can't find what I'm looking for.

Dd2 has started waking at 4:45 for the day, up until 2 weeks ago she was happily going 7:30pm - 6:30am. I don't think she's hungry, I think it's just become habitual but once she's awake at that time there's no settling her back to sleep. When this happened with Dd1 I adjusted her nap times which seemed to help, but not quite so easy with 3rd child, she pretty much has to fit in with school run, after school activities etc. which unfortunately means she tends to fall asleep on the way to school at 8:30am, guess she has been awake nearly 4 hrs by then!

I have read about the wake to sleep method on here before but am reluctant to try it in case it just makes things worse. Have any of you tried it, did it work or not and how long did you do it for?

Thank you!!

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hmmSleep · 18/07/2011 15:37

Bumping in the hope I get some responses prior to trying it tonight!

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wolfhound · 18/07/2011 15:46

not tried sorry but interested in answers...

StartAllOver · 18/07/2011 15:47

i cant help you but i'm lurking in the hope someone will come along and share the magic!!

Chucklecheeks · 18/07/2011 16:19

I have done it twice, the first time was successful until an illness. The second tie it has not worked at all so I am looking for other ideas:(

hmmSleep · 18/07/2011 16:19

I'm imagining us all gathered in a small room, silent, eyes wandering awaiting an epiphany

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StartAllOver · 18/07/2011 16:30

i'm starting to think ebay is a very credible option!!

hmmSleep · 18/07/2011 16:52

x-posted chucklecheeks, so 50% success rate so far, hmm. I'm guessing you've tried the usual suggestions? No napping before 10am or after 4pm, black out blinds, not interacting at night, just offering water etc. (I haven't yet by the way, was hoping this would work first!

StartAllOver, but will you give an honest description or when the buyer complains will you say the non-sleeping must be down to damage in the post?

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StartAllOver · 18/07/2011 17:36

No i was thinking i'd state 'sold as seen, no returns' He is a cutie so could try and get some money as compensation for lack of sleep...

On the other hand I have got black out blinds and i've left water in his cot in the hopes i could ignore him in the mornings, but i havnt got the stomach for controlled crying and most mornings he's wide awake singing to himself and kicking the wall with his heels so i have to interviene plus i suppose controlled crying only works if he's actually crying??

Lindy123 · 18/07/2011 17:44

What exactly is the method? I know it's not always liked but I never let mine sleep in or nap too long and it seemed to do the trick. Black outs are essential for mine. In the summer even a crack of light wakes them up early. 4.45 is a killer start though....How old is Dd2?

StartAllOver · 18/07/2011 17:59

I havnt studied the method..its along the lines of waking them up before they would naturally be waking and because the sleep has been disturbed it makes them tired therefore going back to sleep..for longer than what they would be had u not woken them...

at least that was what i made of the little i did read of it(i'm wanting to know if it actually works before going into details)

hmmSleep · 18/07/2011 19:33

Yes, from what I understand you're breaking the sleep cycle, we naturally have different states of sleep that go in 45minute cycles (I think), at the moment Dd2's sleep cycle means she is waking at 4.45, the end of a cycle. Supposedly if I go in an hour earlier and gently wake her but then settle her again straight away it will reset the cycle and in theory she won't wake at the normal time . I have not explained that well at all!

Dd2 is only 9 months, so I can't complain too much. I've fed her up today and tried to limit naps so I'm going to see how it goes tomorrow morning and if she still wakes early will give it a go tomorrow night and let you all know what happens.

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stansmomma · 19/07/2011 15:11

just read how to do the wake to sleep method in my baby whisperer book and think im going to give it a whirl in the morning,it does make sense although i'll have to set my alarm for 4 am in the morning! not really sure how many times i'm supposed to do it though, what happens if i wake him at 4 and he doesn't go back to sleep??? i'll let you all know tomorrow......if i'm still alive!!!!

hmmSleep · 19/07/2011 15:49

Well, I decided to bite the bullet and went for it last night. set my alarm for 3:30 am, went in and woke her enough to give a couple of sips of water and thankfully she went straight back down. Then . . . wait for it . . . she didn't wake until 7am ! So, don't know if it was a fluke but seems to have worked. I'm going to do the same for a couple more nights and if the success continues see how she goes without being woken. Wish me luck!

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StartAllOver · 19/07/2011 19:24

I had a bash at it, however my little dirtbag was probably knackered from the night before so was probably a coincidence but I actually had to stay up late last night(whole other story) and woke him before i went to bed instead of setting a alarm, and i woke up at 8am as he was just stiring......I'm not convinced tho as he was up from 3 the night before so i think he was catching up.

I will do it properly tonight with you two aswell and we shall see!!

Well done hmmSleep for braving it and not squirming out of it like i did I'm keeping my fingers crossed for us all....

stansmomma if he doesnt go back to sleep at 4am and my ds decides to be a git too then we can come on here and cry to each other at 4 in the morning!!

Lindy123 · 20/07/2011 14:17

Sleep, it's a weird old thing. My Dd was the most amazing sleeper, I was quite smug actually ( not a nice quality) After a stint in hospital, where she was given morphine, she now has awful dreams and can't get to sleep. She just changed over night.

hmmSleep · 20/07/2011 14:31

Your poor Dd Lindy, it is horrid to think of them having bad dreams. My ds (3yrs) told me the other day he has to lie in bed with his eyes open so the dreams won't come , and my Dd1 sometimes won't tell me her bad dreams because she says they will upset me! Makes me want to gather them up and keep them in bed with me.

Having said all that I did di the waking to sleep again with Dd2 last night and it seemed to work again. Hope others are enjoying success too?

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stansmomma · 20/07/2011 16:14

well the little darling beat me to it!! i set my alarm for 4am (nice) and he woke at 3am!! he was crying though which is very unusual for him, so he slept between mama and papa last nite and he slept till 6:15. going to try again tonight. and according to the baby whisperer it can sometimes only take one nite's waking them to correct the habitual waking!!! yeah right!!

hmmSleep · 20/07/2011 17:10

Oh no stansmomma! Hopefully you'll have better luck tonight. They're always one step ahead of us aren't they the sneaky little things!

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