Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

Original poster

Why did I not do this before?

26 replies

debka · 09/04/2011 07:10

Was getting in a proper tizz with DD2 (8weeks). She'd only nap in her sling, with me walking up and down, and occasionally with a dummy. I was getting bad backache and poor DD1 was severely neglected! Finally decided enough was enough and put her in her moses basket in her room. 5 minutes of half hearted crying- and asleep! Properly! For ages! Now all I do is watch for a few yawns, stick her in the cot and that's it. PLEASE TRY IT!!!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
DrSeuss · 09/04/2011 11:05

Works every time, just requires you to be a bit brutal.

Original poster
debka · 09/04/2011 13:06

I can do brutal [brutal mother look] Grin

OP posts:
Bensmum76 · 09/04/2011 17:52

Hey Debka! Just put little one down for nap, put him on his side, held his thumb in his mouth and asleep within a minute. He startled himself and cried just as I was reading this thread, so I ignored him and he's gone to sleep!

Original poster
debka · 09/04/2011 20:43

bensmum!

Great news!!

You can do brutal too!

OP posts:
Bensmum76 · 10/04/2011 13:44

Update Debka! Put Noah in cot at 12.15, helped him suck his hand then left him awake. Heard him crying and ignored it and he's been asleep since! Hallejuia! Thanx so much Debka!

Original poster
debka · 10/04/2011 17:08

Woo hoo!!!

OP posts:
suzym1984 · 10/04/2011 19:50

oooh i want to try this! how long would you leave them crying for?

Bensmum76 · 10/04/2011 20:30

My little one has had two naps, yes two, in his basket today. Both tines he cried but not full on crying, for about a minute then settled himself. I don't know if it helps that he's starting to find his hands to suck for comfort.
I sure hope it continues!

suzym1984 · 10/04/2011 20:34

So do you just watch for sleepy cues and put him in his basket? I think I need to give this a go too.

Well done you!

Original poster
debka · 10/04/2011 20:35

S sucks her thumb too, I think that helps. I don't see why it shouldn't continue- they obviously understand what their cot is for and can settle themselves. Well done us!!!

suzy I actually leave her until she goes to sleep, which has been anything between no crying at all to on and off for 15 minutes.

OP posts:
Original poster
debka · 10/04/2011 20:35

x post suzy- yes, I just wait for about 3 yawns then dump and run!

OP posts:
suzym1984 · 10/04/2011 20:38

Excellent, will give this a go tomorrow! DS had no naps today and tonight has been HIDEOUS!

ExBanker · 10/04/2011 21:54

Glad this works for you but I've been trying this pretty much every day for about 2 and a half months and it has never ever worked. She just gets more and more wound up. It might work for some babies for not for all.

NinkyNonker · 10/04/2011 22:10

Yep, my 8 month old would just work herself up to absolute hysteria, always would have done. I'm not prepared to let that happen, so still rock or feed to sleep. All babies are different.

ExBanker · 10/04/2011 22:16

Thanks for the backup, Ninkynonker. It is comments like the OPs that drive people with non-sleeping babies absolutely mental. As if we hadn't tried putting them down in their cot!

ladyintheradiator · 10/04/2011 22:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
debka · 11/04/2011 06:11

Sorry- didn't mean to upset anyone- also didn't mean to suggest that it was a failsafe. Just I HADN'T tried it, and it worked, thought it might for others too.

OP posts:
seeker · 11/04/2011 06:25

who would leave an 8 week old baby to cry for 15 minutes? Nobody"s suggesting that are they?

Original poster
debka · 11/04/2011 06:29

O boy I've really set the cat amongst the pigeons now...

I said I've left her to cry on and off for 15 minutes.

OP posts:
seeker · 11/04/2011 07:49

so that's all right then Hmm

Bensmum76 · 11/04/2011 08:21

Oh dear Debka, can't please everyone can we? I really appreciate your tips, you gave me the confidence to try putting my little one in his basket for naps and I would have rushed in at every moan if you hadn't given me the confidence to wait it out for a while. It's a shame it doesn't work for everyone and I know you were not advocating leaving baby to cry for ages.

onadietcokebreak · 11/04/2011 08:25

Another tip which work for me was to hoover upstairs whilst he was trying to drop off. He found the white noise calming and settled himself.

Carpet had never been cleaner!

Original poster
debka · 11/04/2011 09:06

Thanks bensmum, you're right!

OP posts:
ExBanker · 11/04/2011 10:00

Sorry for bad tempered posts last night. Of course its good to share when something has worked for you. I think the relentlessly optimistic tone of the posts was getting to me because nothing to me because nothing is working in our house.

Original poster
debka · 11/04/2011 20:09

Don't worry exbanker, and thanks for coming back. :)

I am annoyingly optimistic and cheerful in RL, this balances out my DH who is the grumpiest miserabliest sod imaginable.

Really hope something clicks for you soon, and I'm sorry I was insensitive :(

OP posts: