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Original poster

Help am I doing it right?

15 replies

MillyStar · 11/07/2013 19:29

Dd is 14 months and has fallen asleep on my lap all of her life then out in her cot

Last night I put her down awake and lay on the floor next to her and she screamed for an hour then fell asleep and I snuck off! She's currently in the cot screaming again and I'm on the floor, I still talk to her and ask her where her teddy is and stuff so she can cuddle him

Does this sound right to you? Am I ok in talking to her a little bit?

I didn't think she would scream when I'm right next to her it's so hard :(

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Original poster
MillyStar · 11/07/2013 19:30

That first sentence should say put in her cot

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lolalotta · 11/07/2013 19:34

When I went to a sleep clinic with my 11 month old they advised to stay by cot/ stick hand through bars/ rub tummy and repeat same sentence quietly and calmly "there, there it's sleepy time now" / make no eye contact until they quiet and then leave the room. If they cry go back in and start the process again...

lolalotta · 11/07/2013 19:35

You don't want to open up a conversation with them that stimulates them/ requires a response!

Fairylea · 11/07/2013 19:39

I wouldn't talk to her at all. If anything, pretend to go to sleep yourself. Close your eyes and ssssh gently if you absolutely have to. Gradually move yourself further and further away until you are by the door and creep out.

Original poster
MillyStar · 11/07/2013 19:40

She seems to cry harder if I say there there or bed time or anything like that and she's standing up so it's hard to rub her tum! Ill rub her left instead. It's so hard week g them like this :(

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Original poster
MillyStar · 11/07/2013 19:40

Omg sorry about spelling lol !

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nethunsreject · 11/07/2013 19:43

Sounds tough Sad. Why not carry on with the lap thing? She is still wee.

Original poster
MillyStar · 11/07/2013 19:50

I pretended to be asleep and she's fallen asleep now! It was half 8 last night! Thanks for the help looks like I'm getting somewhere :)

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lazzaroo · 11/07/2013 21:31

Just wanted to say after months of rocking dd1 to sleep we also decided she needed to settle herself. It coincided with us being exhausted & I'll, can't remember how kid she was. Anyway, I remember it took 3 nights. First night was awful. Second night it only took about 20 mins, with much less crying (her & me!) and on the third night she went to sleep in about 10 mins with no tears. It was amazing! Hope same happens for you! Good luck.

lazzaroo · 11/07/2013 21:31

That should say ill not I'll! (currently sleep deprived from dd2!)

okthen · 12/07/2013 14:07

At that age with dd we did a modified version of the Baby Whisperer 'Pick Up Put Down' technique (loads of info if you google), which worked really well.

Each time she stood up we laid her down saying 'lie down, sleepy time, night night'. Then stood by her cot saying nothing and not making eye contact. When she stood up again we just laid her down and said the same.

First night or two took ages. Then she started self settling and sleeping through. It really was that effective, and also worked again when she had sleep regressions after this.

It does feel quite ridiculous, as they stagger to their feet like a mini drunkard over and over, but the sense of satisfaction when they finally lie down and don't pop up again is great!

okthen · 12/07/2013 14:08

Ps when I say a 'modified version' of the technique, I mean it's the version designed for older babies (with younger babies you actually pick them up and put them down)

Original poster
MillyStar · 12/07/2013 20:18

Thanks for all the input everyone

I put her down tonight and lay down next to her again and didn't speak and she only cried for 6 minutes! Fantastic when it was 90 on weds and it wasn't even proper crying tonight more winging! She just lay down then and took another ten minutes to nod off

Think I will sit a bit further away tomorrow night and see how we go

Really appreciate all the help thank you

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moonprayer · 12/07/2013 20:51

DS is nearly 7mo and I am doing roughly the same training to my DS. Normally he is not too bad for the night sleep as after I bf him he usually has been quite sleepy (but not sleep yet). But for naps it has been really difficult. I've been doing this for one week, two to three naps a day. He seems to improve a little bit, but still needs 20min to 30min of playing and crying plus white noise to settle himself. Which makes it worse is, he now only takes 1hr's nap, and then gets fussy later on, because he is still tired.
So how do you apply the technique to naps? What if he just doesn't sleep? What if he wakes up just after one hour?

Original poster
MillyStar · 12/07/2013 21:00

To be honest with regards to nap time I've always fed mine to sleep with a bottle of milk or waited until she is so tired that she falls asleep on the floor/ in her high chair etc!

I'm hoping that now she's starting to associate going in her cot to getting herself to sleep that nap time might be a bit easier and I can just put her down with no tears!

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