Please come and hold my hand while I try sleep training...

[Trazzletoes]

Well, DD is 8 months old. She first slept through around 15 weeks. She goes through a month or so of sleeping through and then gets in the habit of waking up through the night, anything up to about 3 times per night. She is on bottles in the day but bf at night still and first thing in the morning.

I have spoken to my HV today about still getting up in the night and she has suggested that DD doesn't need a feed in the night anymore and I should try sleep training. I'm happy to give it a go but am nervous (especially as DH is not being terribly supportive) so please come and hold my hand and tell me good things.

I am a big advocate of sleep training because it saved my sanity and saved my DC's sanity by ensuring they were properly rested. I felt no guilt as I actually believe that a good nights sleep us viral for children and a rested, non irritable, mother is a bigger gift to a baby than needless attention during the hours that they need to be asleep.

It is hard though and you need your DH on board as consistency is totally vital. If he might cave them do not do it, the crying will gave been for nothing and then that is cruel. Explain to him that you need to know he is behind you.

Good luck!

Oops, for "us viral" read "is vital"

Thanks RT. no fear that DH will cave: he'll be asleep. I'm still on mat leave so do all the night wakings and DD is at the opposite end of the house to our room so unlikely that DH will wake up. I texted him earlier to tell him the HV suggestion and he just said that DD doesn't sleep because I let her sleep too much during the day (10-11.45 and then 2.30-3.00). I disagree as there is no chance she can go all afternoon without a nap, that's all I meant by him not being supportive.

1 question though: when she wakes up screaming, can I pick her up to calm her down? If I just leave her in the cot she will continue screaming blue murder... Not entirely sure what I'm doing!

I used to go in, keeping the room v dark, then whisper "mummy is here but it's sleepy time, let's all go back to sleep" then go out even if screaming continued (it will def continue fir fuest couple of nights and it will be blue murder). I dis this after 3 mins, then 5 mins later, then 7 mins later etc. For both my DCs it took 3 nights then they slept through. I never picked up or offered a drink etc.

There are really good articles on this site,

www.sleepstore.co.nz

Check out the verbal reassurance method, it is laid out really clearly, good luck x

Hi trazzletoes
Good luck with the training. And good on you for keeping up the bf. I found when I stopped bf night feeds at 4mths my lo slept better at night after a week or so of restlessness .
I tend to either pick up and rock or rub back to get her to settle with night wakings. They still happen and sometimes the bottle is the quickest easiest solution.

Your naps seem fine. My lo still takes 3 cat naps during the day.

Thank you all. It's greatly appreciated. Think she is stirring now so will see how we go

Ok, she woke up at 1am. It took half an hour with a combination of cuddles to calm her down and then leaving the room. DH predictably stayed asleep! Breathing is slow now and she's been quiet for a good 10 minutes so I'm assuming she's asleep now. Phew! Really hope I don't have to do that again tonight/ever. This isn't any fun!!!