Does pick up put down work?

[kayjayel]

Can anyone tell me a bit more about pickup put down? 20 week old ds is very difficult to get to sleep on his own (i.e. not in my bed/arms), and wakes between 2 and 5 times a night for very brief feeds. I'm desperate to get him to sleep in his own cot, as he wakes less frequently, but this currently can take hours (I generally give up after about 2 hours).

Does PUPD make the baby cry a lot? Do you have to settle them back each time you pick them up? How long can it take to work? Any tips on how to do this will help!

Hi I remember PU/PD well! Yes, sometimes they do cry a lot so you do need to calm them before putting down each time and just be consistent. It is really hard but IMHO once you've cracked it, you'll never look back! Have you tried cluster feeding before bedtime? This should (!)stop the need for a feed during the night.
Check out the techniques on www.thebabywhisperer.com.

Hi Kayjayel

I have used it with reasonable success with DD who is 14 weeks- although we tend to put a hand on her chest and gently 'sush' her rather than pick her up - this seems to work best for her.

Does your lo go down ok for naps? If not, then it might be useful to try PUPD then - a lot less tiring than in the middle of the night! Once he is used to it you could have a go in the night. It works best with DD if she is not over tired - can go to pot a bit if she is - must admit i end up popping her in the sling at nap times sometimes. The other thing that can be a bit difficult is that she tends to have a noisy moan as she is going off - if i don't disturb her it doesn't last more than a couple of minutes and she will drop off. Its fine during nap time - i've learn't to hang back and not run in if she has a little whimper (never leave her when she is clearly distressed though), but as she is still in with us at night it can be a bit disturbing and i have to fight the urge to pick her up and rock her back to sleep. The other thing that i think has helped is that she sucks her thumb - not sure how she would go about settling herself if she didn't do this. Presume a dummy would work the same if thats an option.

HTH
Marytee

Sorry, didn't really answer your questions! I found it worked without picking her up the first time - just went in and sushed a few times. We have had a few occasions where we have picked her up and put her down about 5 times. And the occasions where it hasn't worked have been because i couldn't be bothered to be honest (do feel a bit mixed about her going to sleep alone - she is still so wee). I have only been doing it about 4 days - but she does nap a lot! She doesn't cry a lot with it really - before we started she was getting very overtired and crying much more. I couldn't do it if it involved lots of crying.

One of the reasons i am doing it now is that i know i couldn't face controlled crying later on.

Hi, my ds is now 19 weeks and used to be a terrible sleeper. He had really really bad colic so the first few months of his life we had to rock him to sleep for every sleep time. At night this could take up to three hours toget him down. Once the colic had passed he began to be a much happier baby but hadno idea how to fall aslepp on his own and screamed if we out himin his cot. Totally desperate me and dh tried the pupd method asper the baby whisperer.

You can start it from 3 months.
If they are young you are to swaddle them quite tight with one arm out put them in their cot and tell them its "ok time for sleepand ill see you soon"when they startto cry oick them up and put them straight back down again repeating this phrase. Do not wait for them to settle. The first night we done this with ds it took aroung 40 pupd's and took about an hour. He fell asleep from exhaustion. The next time we done it it was less about 10 pick up put downs and half an hour. after 2 solid days it took about 1 pupd and 5 mins to settle. if theysettle in their cot you can shhh them for comfort. also move away from the cot gradualy. you aresupposed to pupd for every nap and sleep. also boys usually have aset back at the 5or 6 day mark but sick with it as it works

Now he goes in his cot for every day for two naps and we dont have to pupd anymore. occasionaly he willcry for his dummy but settles within about 10mins. at night he goes in his cot and falls asleep on his own without a peep.

Hth. Also it says you really have to stick to it. If the firsttime it is taking a while and baby iscrying do not give upand rock them cuddle them etc.

Thanks for tips and encouragement. Good to hear it can work in under a week. His naps are pretty good - timing is a bit random (but we're out and about lots), but if we're home he'll usually go in his carrycot for at least an hour.

I was wondering if the success of PUPD or length of time it takes varies with different babies (different personalities) or with the age of the baby?

Mmm, think I might have had a bit of an easy time with DD. Its probably better to be a bit more consistent than i have been.

Yes, I was thinking the same. DD is still quite young - maybe not got too used to being rocked to sleep. She does have quite a sunny temperament and doesn't cry much unless she is tired. The trick with her really is to put her down before she gets overtired.

Getting her to stay asleep, however, is whole different scenario!