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please help me find a gentle way to help my children sleep

3 replies

Gambia · 22/09/2013 12:45

Hello, I'm hoping you may be able to give me some good advice on how to improve bedtimes in our house. My dh is keen to try cc (or supernanny type put back to bed thing), but I am not and have managed to avoid cc it for 2.5 years! I have no problem with others using it, but feel strongly that it's not right for us.

Our situation is we have a 2.5 year old toddler who sleeps in his own room then cosleeps when he wakes. But the issue is it takes so long to get him to sleep. We do 2 books, milk and then lie/cuddle him til he's asleep before creeping out. This can take an hour at times. He will not go to sleep without us there. If he does not nap in the day it is much easier, but often it gets to late afternoon and he just collapses he's so tired and then he will not sleep until at least 9pm, if not later!

We also have a 6mth old who is bf to sleep and only I can settle her. My dh is worried that the same sleep problems are being created with her as well. She is bf to sleep in our bed and cosleeps. She sleeps pretty well, its just wanting to help her get to sleep easily and without me which is needed

.I return to work soon and as I nearly always put the kids to sleep and this takes a very long time I am worried about how I will cope at that point. It would also be lovely to help them both sleep more easily and I am desperate to find a gentler solution so I don't have to make it anymore stressful for us all than it needs to be. I honestly don't know how people manage to just pop their kids in bed and they go to sleep, so please help as I'm feeling a bit like I've done it all wrong in others eyes, despite loving the cuddly bedtime I have with them both!

Sorry this is very long, but I really appreciate your help! Thank you!

OP posts:
Mikeysmummy506 · 22/09/2013 19:15

I don't have experience with toddlers but with my 21wkold ds I have started doing the gentle withdrawal method from the No cry Sleep Solution. Basically when your baby's sucking gets lighter and she's clearly holding on for comfort rather than food you gently unlatch her. If she roots for the nipple gently hold her mouth shut by putting your finger under her chin, if that doesn't cut it let her latch on again and repeat the whole thing! Takes patience but it does work, this is only the third night I've been doing it and he is already settling faster and I feel we're moving towards him being able to self-settle in a really nice gentle way.
I would really recommend the no cry sleep solution, it offers advice for babies and toddlers and so far the ideas are working for us. Good luck.

AidanTheRevengeNinja · 22/09/2013 20:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BananaPie · 23/09/2013 03:30

My toddler is like this. We've now moved to sitting outside her room out of sight making reassuring noises while she goes to sleep rather than being in with her. Hoping it'll teach her to self settle. Think it's working.,,

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