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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Self-settling

7 replies

Lorentzia · 15/02/2012 21:24

I have this evening started a bedtime routine with my 8 week DD. The only thing I am concerned about is self-settling, she normally feeds to sleep (I am breast feeding) Should I cut the feed short so she's sleepy to go to bed and settle herself at such a young age or just keep to feeding to sleep?

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Iggly · 15/02/2012 21:27

Keep feeding.

Please don't worry about this. Some babies get it before but it comes naturally usually around 5-6 months if you give your baby a chance and if they're happy enough to do so (boob might be nicer though!)

DS is 2.4 and I wasted time trying to teach him. Honestly, he's fine! He'll self settle when he's happy and if not, he'll want us to stay with him for ten mins or so but he's not rocked to sleep! Or fed.

4madboys · 15/02/2012 21:27

at this age feeding to sleep is normal, but if you want to try feeding her till sleepy and then putting her down and seeing if she will settle you can give it a go, she may suprise you. also you could try just patting her to see if that helps her settle, or a quick cuddle, but i wouldnt be suprised if you end up feeding her to sleep!

4madboys · 15/02/2012 21:29

mine were all fed/cuddled to sleep btw and they all grew out of it eventually! :) they are only tiny for a such a little amount of time!

Truffkin · 15/02/2012 21:31

Of course there is no right or wrong with this, so in the end you will need to go with what suits you and your DD best, but to share my experience...

My DS is now almost 12 weeks old and for the last few weeks we've been putting him down at around 8pm in his moses basket upstairs and if he is not quite asleep but tired, he will go off once he is in there.

I started by putting him in there in the morning when he is sleepy but still in a good mood and he nodded off by himself. I then did it a few more times for other naps and he has got used to being put down whilst still awake. We now do it every night and fingers crossed, it has become our routine. I still will feed him to sleep if he's niggly, as that's the failsafe option!! But it's nice that we can pop him in there and leave him to nod off quietly by himself. Of course, this only works if he is sleepy and not overtired!

Good luck

Original poster

Lorentzia · 15/02/2012 21:43

So far she's had a bath at 7.00 then a cuddle with her dad 'til 7.30 then up to our room for a story and final feed, which she finished by 7.45 and has been down in her crib with just the night light on ever since. I shall retire to bed at 10.00 for the first time since she was born tonight and see if she wakes up through the night. I usually get 8-9 hours out of her at night but she's been awake 'til midnight up to this evening. I shall let you all know tomorrow how she does :) Thanks for the advice and support.

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zambooloo · 16/02/2012 09:37

I have 7 week old dd, interested to know how you got on.

Original poster

Lorentzia · 16/02/2012 11:28

Well, she woke at 3:00 for a 10 minute feed then again at 6:00 for a 5 minute feed, but wasn't fully awake until 8:00 this morning. I'm sure as we continue with the routine and she gets older she'll start missing out the 3:00 feed, but she is still little and EBF so digests food quicker then formula so I shall be patient with that. So far so good and I am lovely and rested :)

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