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Original poster

Sleep Training - Any Tips

10 replies

Nottodaythankyou123 · 08/02/2025 04:07

Hi everyone

I’d be grateful for any help or advice.

I’m at my wits end with my 15 month old’s sleep - she either wakes 5/6 times a night, or wakes for 2-3 hours in the middle of the night. I’ve always been anti-sleep training on the basis kids sleep through when they’re ready, and I can’t stomach leaving her to cry for prolonged periods of time, but frankly I’m on my knees with exhaustion, and getting depressed and unwell from surviving on 2-3 hours broken sleep a night.

I held out in case it was just a phase but there doesn’t seem to be any ended in sight.

If anyone has any sleep training tips, I’d really appreciate it!

Thank you ☺️

OP posts:
comfyshoes2022 · 08/02/2025 05:14

That sounds so difficult! We did sleep training with our child (albeit younger than yours), and it was one of the best decisions of my life. My advice is whatever you do to pick a plan and commit to sticking with it for three days before giving up or changing course.

Eenameenadeeka · 08/02/2025 05:21

I've got 4 children and I've never sleep trained because I also just can't leave them to cry. I'd say keep holding on because it does get better soon, I'd say between 18months-2 for all of mine where they understand more, it definitely gets better. A regular routine is really helpful as well.

Jesusisking23 · 08/02/2025 05:23

I could have written this! My dc has woken 8 times tonight and it’s a joke! ( hence why I’m up now!)

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Yourethebeerthief · 08/02/2025 07:50

My child did this because they were breastfeeding and were waking more and more frequently for milk so I night weaned.

Because he didn't have the language yet to talk about it, I took in a sippy cup of water at each waking and pretended to console favourite teddy bear. Gave teddy a big cuddle, shushed teddy, let teddy sip at the water and tuck teddy in saying "it's ok, you can have milk in the morning". My child then wanted the same and would copy what had happened with teddy. There were tears of course for a couple of nights but this roleplaying at each wake up with lots of compassion and cuddles is what worked for me. After 2 or 3 nights it was all smooth sailing.

Yourethebeerthief · 08/02/2025 07:55

Yourethebeerthief · 08/02/2025 07:50

My child did this because they were breastfeeding and were waking more and more frequently for milk so I night weaned.

Because he didn't have the language yet to talk about it, I took in a sippy cup of water at each waking and pretended to console favourite teddy bear. Gave teddy a big cuddle, shushed teddy, let teddy sip at the water and tuck teddy in saying "it's ok, you can have milk in the morning". My child then wanted the same and would copy what had happened with teddy. There were tears of course for a couple of nights but this roleplaying at each wake up with lots of compassion and cuddles is what worked for me. After 2 or 3 nights it was all smooth sailing.

I'll just add that this approach is why I always roll my eyes when you get the usual responses of "oh I could never just leave them to cry"

Sleep training doesn't have to mean leaving them to cry. Whether or not the waking is linked to milk, roleplaying with a teddy helped us. It allowed my child to understand what was happening. I found the key was to give all attention to teddy first and be quite exaggerated about it.

Original poster
Nottodaythankyou123 · 08/02/2025 08:02

Yourethebeerthief · 08/02/2025 07:55

I'll just add that this approach is why I always roll my eyes when you get the usual responses of "oh I could never just leave them to cry"

Sleep training doesn't have to mean leaving them to cry. Whether or not the waking is linked to milk, roleplaying with a teddy helped us. It allowed my child to understand what was happening. I found the key was to give all attention to teddy first and be quite exaggerated about it.

Show quote history

I suspect our waking is much the same - her sister night weaned by herself when I was pregnant with this one and her sleep improved drastically, but frankly that seems a bit extreme so the Teddy idea is much better. I suppose I wouldn’t associate it with sleep training but you’re absolutely right, that’s what it is!

OP posts:
Original poster
Nottodaythankyou123 · 08/02/2025 08:03

Jesusisking23 · 08/02/2025 05:23

I could have written this! My dc has woken 8 times tonight and it’s a joke! ( hence why I’m up now!)

Sending sympathy! She was awake 2-4.30 and still up at normal time, many coffees will be needed today 😅

OP posts:
Original poster
Nottodaythankyou123 · 08/02/2025 08:04

Eenameenadeeka · 08/02/2025 05:21

I've got 4 children and I've never sleep trained because I also just can't leave them to cry. I'd say keep holding on because it does get better soon, I'd say between 18months-2 for all of mine where they understand more, it definitely gets better. A regular routine is really helpful as well.

Yeah I found my eldest starting sleeping better around then when she night weaned but honestly I don’t know if I have 3 more months of this in me! I’m usually pretty stoic “babies don’t sleep, it’s only a short time in the grand scheme of things” but it’s been so awful lately I can’t actually function properly anymore.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nottodaythankyou123 · 08/02/2025 08:04

comfyshoes2022 · 08/02/2025 05:14

That sounds so difficult! We did sleep training with our child (albeit younger than yours), and it was one of the best decisions of my life. My advice is whatever you do to pick a plan and commit to sticking with it for three days before giving up or changing course.

Thank you!

OP posts:
TheLurpackYears · 08/02/2025 08:05

Night weaning didn't really help with reducing wakings, it just changed the demands on my body. It does get better, but maybe not for a while yet unfortunately.

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