PUPD: Starting Sleep Training with 5 month old

[Erilicia]

Hello everyone,

If you're in the same boat as me, sleep has been difficult when it comes to my 5 month old son. I usually have to hold, rock, sing and shush him to sleep and I'll either put him down in his moses basket (which results in very short naps most of the time) or on our bed as he likes it there and will sleep for ages (but remove quilt and pillows). We co-sleep safely (so no lecturing please!) But as he's approaching 6 months I'm on a mission to get him to sleep in his own cot. We've just moved his into our room and I've literally just started the pupd method with his naps. I rocked him in my arms until drowsy and put him down, knowing it would eventually result on crying (and it did) and repeated the process 5 or 6 times or more. About half an hour in total. Each time he was drowsy (eyes closing and looking shattered) I wanted him to know that he was going into the cot, even if he woke up crying because I knew he was tired and would eventually sleep. He definitely isn't used to being put down when being put to sleep so it's a challenge. Anyone else out there going through sleep training or pupd and can offer any advice or support?

[RebeccaNoodles]

Hi
I'm not sure how helpful this will be but I taught my DD to fall asleep without being held when she was about 4.5 months. I used a sleepyhead and dummy which both helped us but might not be for you. But my main suggestion if naps are slow progress would be to try the new routine starting at bedtime as the sleep drive is much higher then so it's easier to introduce changes. Then once he's got the hang of bedtime naps should be easier. Hope that helps?

[canarypotato]

I’m in a similar situation so watching with interest. My ds does not like his crib. Or his cot. He likes our bed though!

I have a sleepyhead but it hasn’t been too successful either! @rebeccanoodle , what did you do to get your dd to sleep in the sleepyhead?

[Erilicia]

@RebeccaNoodle I've been thinking of trying his sleepyhead again. It's been ages since he last used it to hopefully it'll work with him again.

@canarypotato My boy is all about the bed. After our success getting him in the cot drowsy this afternoon he woke up with the saddest cry I've ever heard him do, bless him. I managed to get him down for a little bit again with some shushing and my hand on his chest but he doesn't like the idea of being in his own bed.. Good luck to both of us!

[AssumethePerpendicular]

Watching with interest as well!
My 5,5 month old will only go to sleep in cot if rocked, but can fall asleep in car seat or pram (even if not moving). I’ve managed to get to rocking from feeding to sleep over the last month so slow progress.
I’m trying to put him down before he falls asleep but end up picking up/putting down a lot then he ends up falling asleep the second I pick him up!
Good luck everyone

[Erilicia]

Mine will rarely feed to sleep (thankfully) but loves a good rocking. Even though he doesn't respond well to bring put down drowsy , when he's visibly tired ie. Rubbing eyes and yawning, I'll wait for his eyes to close while in my arms and put him down knowing full well he will wake up when I do. Then I pick him up and repeat and shush and hope for the best and repeat again. It's tedious and long but persistence is the only way we'll get there.


@canarynoodle how was your night and your day with naps?

[RebeccaNoodles]

@canarypotato hi! I did it in stages. First off I did all the things like darkened room, white noise (ocean waves!) and dummy. Put the Sleepyhead on our bed so I could lie beside her. Cuddled and rocked her and then lay down so my arms were around her in the sleepyhead, and did slow breathing over her head. She was a bit confused but fell asleep easily enough. Then next time the same except I just lay beside her with one arm around her in the Sleepyhead. (At this point I did have some doubts thinking 'but I'm just co sleeping!' but I knew it was only a step). Then same but sitting up beside her with one hand just stroking her face/chest. Then finally straight into sleepy head and a few strokes. It worked really well with almost no tears but to be fair she was extremely used to her sleepyhead by then having slept in it from day one (I used to rock/feed her then transfer). I did it for nighttime first then went onto the first nap of the day as that's when she is sleepiest.

Disclaimer though: we had to ditch the dummy (long story) and now naps are not as easy .. she'll generally do the morning naps in the cot but not the afternoon ones, I have to walk her for those :( . Work in progress ... Good luck everyone.

[canarypotato]

We had a bit of a rubbish night! Fell asleep in our bed and then I transferred to the cot when I went to bed (but there were three wake ups in between). I fell asleep, ds in his cot but then DH came crashing up the stairs and into the bedroom and woke everyone up. Argh. Co slept all night from then as was P

Today naps been good time wise but not so good location wise , 1h15 this morning in car seat, 30 mins after lunch in sling and 1.5 hours afternoon in pram.

I have just got a sleepy head (in desperation!) but will try these methods rebecca. I do not want a repeat of my dd who was waking up around 7 times a night until she was 1.

Good luck everyone!

[canarypotato]

*Was tired! Not sure where the P came from.

[AshGirl]

Watching with interest. DS also loves our bed and is not keen on the cot.

We have just embraced co-sleeping for the time being but would love him to sleep in his cot if possible.