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Parenting

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Original poster

11 week old needs rocking to sleep...should I try to wean him off it??

10 replies

BotBotticelli · 27/10/2015 14:09

Just that really: DS2 is 11 weeks old. He is FF so never falls asleep feeding like many BF babies seem to.

So our bedtimes go like this: he has a bottle in his room (dimly lit), then we read him a story (more for DS1's benefit who comes to sit on the bed with us), and then I have to rock him to sleep in my arms before I can put him down in his cot.

It only takes 2-3 mins to get him to sleep and then he doesn't seem to need it again in the night (he goes back to sleep on his own after his dream feed and night feed later on).

But he does also need this rocking movement to get to sleep during the day.

Instinctively I feel like this is something I should NOT be encouraging....he is a big boy, 91st centile, over 14lb already, it can't be good for my back....BUT he is such an easygoing baby otherwise and demands so little attention during the day whilst I deal with his whirlwind of a big brother. Should I just chill out and enjoy the snuggles??

He is unlikely to want me to rock him to sleep when he is 7, right??

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EllaMenoPea · 27/10/2015 14:16

Personally, I would totally just enjoy the cuddles.

DD used to need this from teeny up to about 6 months, maybe a little longer.

Anyway, she's now 2 and has self settled for ages, well over a year.

Actually I tried to rock her the other day and she shouted "No Mummy"

minipie · 27/10/2015 14:23

Hello BotBot

As he can get himself back to sleep on his own during the night, I think it's not such a big deal.

If he didn't know how to fall asleep on his own then I'd say you might want to work on that, so as to avoid the risk of him waking frequently at night later (common around the 4 month mark if they can't self settle by then).

You could try rocking him in a pram for naps to save your back?

Glad you got a more chilled one second time round DD2 is also a lot more ignored laid back than her big sister - she stopped being a good sleeper at 4.5 months though

Willow123707 · 27/10/2015 14:41

I think that getting himself to sleep in the night no problem is great. It's hard because rocking them to sleep occasionally is so nice, but if he can't sleep in the day any other way it's hard on you. Also as he gets older he may depend on it more.

Have you tried holding him while he drops off but just not rocking him and see if he gets used to that? If he can fall asleep in your arms without rocking then he should be able to sleep in his cot.

What worked with my daughter who also loved to be rocked to sleep in the day, was introducing a 'noo noo' lol. It's this bear with a rag/blanket thing on it that she loved being rubbed on her face. Id put her in her cot and rub this soft little thing on her face, when she turned about 9 weeks she started to grab this noo noo and rub it on her face herself which was
Like a comfort thing for her. Now I don't have to rock her to sleep hardly ever as long as she has that to grab and rub on her face. Nothing like rocking,but it really worked for me and DD!

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minipie · 27/10/2015 15:29

Oh yyy to the comforter. Now is about the right time to introduce one.

ODog · 27/10/2015 18:08

He is tiny. Please don't worry about this. We rocked DS (also 91st centile) for months and months, possibly up to a year. He won't need it forever. Try a sling if it hurts your back.

southlondonbaby · 28/10/2015 13:54

Ours is 14 weeks and has just now stopped needing to be rocked every time to fall asleep. We did it up until this week and hasn't seemed to be a problem.

knittingbee · 30/10/2015 17:50

Eh? He's 11 weeks... It doesn't matter, honestly. BTW my FF PFB always fed to sleep. My BF DC2 will cuddle to sleep. She's 17mo and I don't feel the need to wean her off it. Enjoy the snuggles!

Hero1callylost · 30/10/2015 17:56

Just enjoy it! As long as it's not an issue for you anyway.

First 12 weeks are sometimes referred to as the fourth trimester as the baby is getting used to being in the outside world and still needs you close so I think it's a problem.

And if you have any kind of routine at all it will change so often at this age there's no point stressing about it.

Hero1callylost · 30/10/2015 17:57

*don't think it's a problem

Scattymum101 · 30/10/2015 18:07

Don't worry too much, especially if he can self settle during the night. I think every baby is so different. My dd1 needed fed and cuddled to sleep and still cuddled to sleep til just over a year.
Dd2 needs her own space and has gone down awake in the cot since 8 weeks. However she goes through phases where she needs cuddles to sleep and then comes out the other side so we just go with what she needs.
If he's happy to go down drowsy with a music thing or light show you could try it but if he's not happy and only takes a few minutes to go over with cuddles I would keep going. He's still very young to be self settling.
Xx

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