Sleep training method for a baby who increases tension when crying?

[RaisingMrC]

Hi

Have been posting a bit on here recently as I'm getting to the point where I need to do something about my DS's rubbish sleep! Basically he is hard to get to sleep, wakes 2 hourly and naps erratically. He pretty much only feeds to sleep. He is almost 7 months.

However, I've read a few things on here and other sites about babies who increase tension as they cry - this is definitely my DS who can work himself up into a frenzy when crying.

I'm wondering if anyone knows of a sleep training method that would suit a baby who gets stressed by crying? I wondered if the baby whisperer technique may be better than controlled crying.

Anyway - any suggestions and experiences welcome. I do have the No Cry Sleep Solution book, but I just can't seem to make any of the techniques work for my DS - I am too sleep deprived to be consistent I think, hence starting to look for something that may work a bit more quickly. I really don't want it to be too traumatic for him though.

My baby is younger 4.5 months but much like yours when it comes to crying, I've just tried the shush pat (Baby Whisperer) over the last few days and it appears to be working. On day 3 I had my best night ever with her, I think she is learning to properly self settle. Not sure if 7 months is a bit to old for this technique but there is the pickup-put down (Baby Whisperer) for older babies. My SIL has just used this on her 14 month old who has woken hourly forever to great effect. I also have the NCSS book and think it is brilliant but again not working quite as I had hoped. I think my baby needs a slightly firmer approach, whilst limiting any crying.

My ds used to be like this when he was younger, and I just used to hold him tightly and he'd scream and fight for 5-10 minutes until he suddenly fell asleep in my arms - then I'd put him down in his cot. I couldn't leave him alone in his cot to cry as he'd just escalate and escalate.

After a while of this, and once we'd got into a bit of a routine of naps in the cot, I moved onto ssh-patting him to sleep. Now he will grizzle a bit before sleep, but grizzling down if you know what I mean, rather than increasing screaming.

I think I have a tension increaser as well (8mo), and tried PUPD. Well, ok, only once, but what we got was a hysterical baby. I didn't get it, he didn't get it - it just didn't work. But maybe someone else has had success with it.

Like moonunit I often do the tightly holding thing as well, and sometimes do this after feeding to sleep hasn't worked. I put DS in the cot for a while, sit there and let him wriggle or practice crawling, until he starts to really grizzle. Then I pick him up and walk him doing the tight hold. If he's ready to go to sleep he will fight a bit and then conk out. If not I put him back in the cot for a further bit then try again. This works OK for us because he can moan a bit, which seems essential for him realising that he wants to sleep, but then I help him for the last bit IYSWIM?

Our sleep is still not great, but we at least have some routines now. What has helped is establishing the timing of naps and encouraging longer ones. I used ideas from the NCSS for this - spent about a week walking round and round the park! Now DS will predictably go for a sleep at times following the 2,3,4 pattern (i.e. first nap 2 hours after waking, second nap 3 hours after waking, bedtime 4 hours after etc.) So you could try focusing on the naps and then work on nighttime?

The other thing that helped was putting him to sleep on his side. And sometimes white noise helps him stay asleep through a few cycles until we come to bed.