Creating bad habits? What’s your opinion?

[SS1987]

So nearly 8 month old DD is currently going through sleep regression/leap 6/ being a shit sleeper. Sleeps until around 3am then is awake, I’ve resorted to rocking to sleep then getting her in with me. Afternoon nap has also gone tits up, sleeps for half an hour wakes still exhausted so I do the same. I’m all for doing what you can to get through the hard times but I’m wondering if all these bad habits are likely to stick once regression is over? Anyone been through it?

It depends on the baby, their personality and what specific bits of their routine they get attached to.

It depends on you and how firm you are when changing routine/habits. Some people are able to go cold turkey, or reduce over a few days. Other go back and forth, can't stick with it, um and ahh... and have a five year old who sleeps in their bed and wakes every hour though the night.

I doubt that she will magically one day say 'ok regression over I'll sleep through the night now'! There will always be another regression or teething or illness or upset because of starting nursery or something. But, you can change the routine when you like, it's not true that you're doomed to rock her to sleep forever. It will likely have to be you that initiates the change though.

We found with regressions that you just need to do whatever it is to get you through. If co-sleeping for a few weeks means you get 3 hours sleep a night compared to 1 hour then it's the only option. We can usually get back on track after the worst is over!

Hi, my son was an awfull sleeper and regressions were so tough to get through. I resorted to having him in bed with me most nights from midnight, sometimes earlier as he’d wake after 30,45,60 minutes and I was exhausted (he was breastfed). My dp kept telling me I was too soft and was making a rod for my own back but guess what when I finally decided it was time to give up the nightfeeds at 15 months, my son was amazing and soon learned to sleep through. I honestly never thought it would happen, I assumed he’d always be a crap sleeper but how wrong I was! So just do what you need to do to get through it, when your little one is ready you will know😊

We kept him in bed with us. We all slept like logs.

He's now 7 years old and we barely remember the baby year, don't remember how old he was when he slept through, alone.

You're in the thick of it now, but just do what you can you get through this stage and a different one will start and throw you off kilter in a different direction

We coslept from 6 to 20 months and then DD happily went into a big girl bed in her own room. Cosleeping is a biological norm and is cultural norm in many countries. Honesty is feels great to snuggle into your sleeping toddler and you all get a lot more sleep.

Thanks for all the advice/opinions! I’m not against co sleeping, she ends up in our bed from about 4 onwards anyway, I do like the snuggles.... just not the rocking her for half an hour to get her back asleep. Just going to ride it out whatever way we can!

For rocking try spooning her and rocking yourself back and forth. It’s much easier.

Durring the night when she wakes and you bring her in I would just make sure the room is child proof and go to sleep yourself.