Magical tent cure for 14 week old!

[holytoast]

Ok, so DD is 14 weeks, lovely, smiley happy baby, but still wakes lots at night, very random times, and very unpredictable with naps and getting her to sleep - really fights sleep all the time, has to be walked, rocked, worn in sling, pushed in buggy etc to get her to sleep. we were trying to get her to self settle with some success at 8 weeks, then it all went tits up so we just let it go a few weeks ago, kept her up with us, and let her sleep in our arms, befre taking her up to bed with us and sleeping in with me. downside is, she never sleeps for very long like this, always slept better when she had fallen asleep herself. Plus she is very wriggly, so I am getting more and more unhappy with co-sleeping - she has a sidecar cot at home.

So we went camping this weekend, first trip, was worried she would be awake at all hours.

However, both nights, fell asleep in our arms at about 7 ish, let us put her down to sleep in her carrycot in the tent, and stayed asleep (unheard of!) slept for 4 hours, then a quick feed, slept another 4 hours, then another quick feed, another 4 hours, and woke up for the day about 8! Amazing!

Sunday night, asleep and let us put her down in her cot and stayed asleep all evening from about 7, and woke up at half past midnight! woo hoo, I say!

however, awake again at 3:30 and again at 5:30 - smiling and laughing. Can't have everything I suppose.

Question is, anyone any ideas about why she would sleep so well? she was wrapped up very warm, which I normally wouldn't do so much at home, as house very warm. Fresh air all day? madly enough, was light when we put her down, which at home it wouldn't be, have black out blinds.

Thinking of putting the tent up in the garden and living in it...

Ha, ha, you'll try anything at all to get them to sleep eh? From reading your post, my first feeling would be that the whole camping thing was a departure from her usual routine, in which she is reliant on you to get to sleep. The camping was such a departure from what she's used to, she just went with it and slept!!

To me, it looks like great news - your baby is clearly capable of good sleep, but at home, maybe she's not doing it, as she's come to expect to use you as a crutch/prop. But, whilst distracted on holiday, she's proved she's capable of doing it alone. In a way, you;ve caught her out! Little tinker!

Now she's proved she can do it, and she's that bit older, I'd be tempted to try and get her to go down alone. Might be a bit of a struggle for a week or two, but she'll get the gist of it soon enough.

How you do that - I don't know! You know your baby best and know what you feel comfortable with. I used to just put mine down nice and calm but awake, then leave her. She's cry on for a bit, then I'd go in every 4-5 mins. Some people leave them longer, but I'm way too soft! If she was hysterical or clearly distressed, I'd sit with her. I might be in five or six times, but she went off in the end. This went on for a week ish, then she just did it alone with no fuss. It's a bit of a wrench, but I found it was worth it. They learn faster when they're that age, at 6 or 7 months I guess it might take longer.

Anyway, that's what did it for us, but like I say, you kind of find a way that fits with you and your baby. Good luck - it's tent weather if all else fails!!hehe x

Thanks - we now are back to random sleeping ans waking, she only napped for a ttal of 2hrs during the day yesterday! Slept ok in the evening, but needed rocking etc to get to sleep, then woke up several tines during the night.

Tried keeping it light all day yesterday, being outside a lot, none of it seemed to help!

Have been reading no cry sleep solution, o going to start trying a few suggestions in there this week, although she is nearing 4 months, and I know things can get hairy around then. Thanks for your suggestions though, I know what you mean about catching her out, but somehow that makes it worse, to know that she is able to sleep well!

Just off to measure the garden to see if the tent will fit....

Haha. A few weeks ago when mine kept wriggling out of her swaddle and waking herself up, I was seriously considering wrapping duct tape round her at 3am! Babies are the most bloody frustrating things. Just when you think you've got it cracked...

Not tried the 'no cry' thingy, but have heard good things on here. Both my older dd and my little one are in Gina Ford's routine, and it works well for them. But then, they just kind of do it - I think it's their natural setting - loads of mums I know can't get it to agree with them or their kids. Trail and error till you find something that works. AHHHHHHHH. Good luck, let me know how you get on hun.