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Sleep

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Original poster

Stopping feeding to sleep ...

11 replies

sheeplikessleep · 01/02/2011 12:59

... anyone care to join me to share tips?

DS2 is 11 months next week. We've managed, in last couple of months, to get him sleeping through until 4.30am and we've stopped night feeds. Now, I'm trying to put him down for his naps awake in the day. He starts at CMs in 4 weeks and desperate for him to self settle for his naps before he starts there.

He's just been crying for 15 minutes, with me checking twice and I think he's finally gone off to sleep. I really hate going down this route, but the NCSS didn't work for us. I'd rather he cried here, in an environment he knows, than with his new CM in a months time. Putting him down for his naps at 9am (cos he's been up since 5!) and straight after lunch. When he tends to be the most tired. Still feeding before putting him down, so I can gradually put him down more and more awake.

Ramble over. Good luck to anyone else trying to break this 'naughty but nice' sleep association!

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mrsdisorganised · 01/02/2011 19:04

Bumping and watching!
I am trying to break night feeding/comfort with our 16month ds, I am exhausted and as he is dc5 it's not fair on the others to have a tired mummy most of the time. So looking for tips etc too!!

Good luck Sheeplikessleep, hopefully it'll get easier soon.

cheerypip · 01/02/2011 22:17

Can I join the party too? - my DD just turned 10 months and still fed to sleep for naps (except when in car) and bed at night.

I am quite happy to keep feeding to sleep at bedtime for as long as needed as she sleeps well through the night (when not ill/teething etc.) and I'm not ready to quit BFing yet, but she'll be starting at nursery 3 days/week in a few weeks time, so I think I really do need to tackle naptime.

Do you think I'd be better tackling for all sleeps or can I get away with treating naps differently to nighttime?

Oh and will be looking with interest on any other tips too....

Good luck sheeplike and mrsd!

EightiesChick · 01/02/2011 22:23

When I gave up feeding to sleep, I moved to reading to sleep. A few stories and DS was nodding off.
My DS is in nursery and they have theie own routines for managing naps for the little ones, and of course peer pressure helps. I would ask your CM how she manages this - she must have strategies, and if there is more than one child then peer example will come into it too.

JimmyTarbuck · 01/02/2011 22:29

I played the same piece of music to DD each time I fed her to sleep before bed time. Once she got used to that we just had the music and cuddles. It did work ... mind you, she still has that same piece of music to go to sleep now and she's just turned 3.

Original poster

sheeplikessleep · 02/02/2011 10:14

cheerypip - i'm the same, don't want to give up bf'ing, but keen to make sure ds2 will sleep at the cms! we dealt with night time first (but he was waking 3ish times a night), as i couldn't face doing all sleeps at once. i think as long as there are consistencies (e.g. similar routine), this should help. tackling each 'thing' at once seemed easier for us. good luck!

eightieschick - good point, i need to incorporate reading to sleep at night, that's a good idea.

jimmy - good idea too. i'm singing 'twinkle twinkle' before i put him down. hoping this will eventually be enough in itself, hopefully!!

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tiredpooky · 02/02/2011 14:59

at my nursery DD from 11m crawled into a 'low chair' and fell asleep. thats how she does it there, she would not tolerate the cot there
your CM will develop their own routine

beachavendrea · 02/02/2011 15:21

we feed to sleep every single time, I hated it and to be honest he didn't sleep very well either, lots of reflux, wind issues. Not sure if you want to do this but we replaced my boob with a dummy. it was a life saver.

Original poster

sheeplikessleep · 02/02/2011 16:06

today has been good - he's been awake (but drowsy) when i've put him down for both of his naps. feels like we are making small steps ...

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EightiesChick · 02/02/2011 20:31

Good stuff sheep.

Look at it this way - I can see why you want to address this before he starts with the new CM, but on the other hand he will begin a new routine then anyway, so it doesn't really matter about getting a routine in place for that reason. The real thing is to move to a routine you are happy with anyway in the home and let the CM do her thing when she has him.

Original poster

sheeplikessleep · 02/02/2011 21:13

eightieschick - thanks, you're right. i do like your idea about the reading thing though. ds1 was read to from 6 months, but i still haven't started incorporating into ds2's bedtime routine (although he is at the stage where turning the pages is more fun than actually listening to the story. can't remember when books become less stimulating and more relaxing).

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fifitot · 02/02/2011 21:50

Your CM will be used to dealing with this stuff so don't worry. it is suprising what the little devils will do for a CM or nursery staff that they won't do at home. (Such as nap to order, eat or use a bottle!)

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