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Original poster

Pushchair sleep training!!!!

42 replies

poppyseed · 28/06/2004 00:30

OK, have a great DS (14 months) who sleeps brilliantly at home during the day in a darkened room in his cot and a full 12 hours at night. (What's the problem I hear you shout!!?)
We go to France in 5 weeks and the thought of going back 'home' so that DS can have his 2 hours is a little unrealistic. So - today was day 1 of pushchair training!!! Went to visit a friend this morning, so had an active morning's play grovelling on the floor with Brio stuff.... left at what is normally his 'sleep time' and started to walk home (2 miles!!) He did everything BUT go to sleep. Pulled shoes off, sucked toes, Oooohed at dogs, you name it he did it. Got home absolutely knackered and decided to give him an early lunch and put him to bed. Had to wake him 2 1/2 hours later so that we could go to pick up DD from school!!! I ask myself - and you if this is all worth it or not!!!! Suggestions please!!

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miranda2 · 28/06/2004 00:39

Hope noone flames me for this but this is what I did...ds was a GF baby, needed lunch time nap, and I was often out and about at lectures etc at that time. So I bought some blackout fabric, and, using the pushchair weathershield as a pattern, made a blackout cover for the pushchair. It worked like a dream, but I did get some funny comments!!
Hope this helps,
M.

Original poster
poppyseed · 28/06/2004 00:42

Nice one!! How long did it take before he got he idea and how old was Ds when you tried it!??!!

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deegward · 28/06/2004 00:43

Poppyseed, this could be us. DS2 same age and everything, but will only sleep in cot. Has fallen asleep once in pushchair, (but I think he was sickening for something) will be interested to see if "we" get any suggestions. Going to Cyprus at the end of July - so again about the same time. Oooh spooky

stripey · 28/06/2004 00:46

My ds2 is always put to sleep in his cot in a darkened room and he sleeps fine but if we go out for the day and try to get him to sleep at best he manages around 15-45 minutes and that is with a lot of effort and hours past his nap time. He won't sleep in the car or his pram (he is 21mths). I have learned to live with it and try to fit in around his sleep. Luckily he tends to sleep 10.30-noon so I can go out for the afternoon. He can manage a day max 2 with a really short nap but after that he will become really irratable.

BTW ds1 who had no routine and slept whereever will sleep in a pram, car, sofa or anywhere if he feels tired and he is nearly 4. Funny how GF doesn't mention holidays or day trips and napping in her books!

Original poster
poppyseed · 28/06/2004 00:47

OOOOh!!! Will have to keep in contact over this one Deegward!!! How strange! Good luck with any training you're doing!!!

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miranda2 · 28/06/2004 01:07

Can't remember exactly when I started it, I think about 1? Seemed to work quite quickly - i think i left him crying in the dark for about 10-15 mins the first time, but only 2-3 after that. The pushchair was one that went flat so it was quite simple. When he was 18months we went to Venice and using this method were able to 'do' a museum for 2 hours in the middle of each day while he slept - those days are now past unfortunately (3 next month - dropped lunchtime nap about 6 months ago).

alibo · 28/06/2004 02:07

Hi Poppyseed, sorry to hear first day didn't go too well!! I read a thread somewhere, that one mum had to face pushchair towards a blank wall with no distractions in house to get her ds used to sleeping in pushchair; and pushed it back and fowards till he went to sleep. Might be worth a try to get him used to sleeping in it. Maybe I should start this soon, whilst my ds is still young??

strangerthanfiction · 28/06/2004 12:37

GF doesn't mention naps in prams etc. because she's agoraphobic isn't she?

My dd's always done a combination of both, partly because I was out and about with her a lot when she was really young. But she never sleeps as well in the pram as she does at home so even if you crack getting him off to sleep, it might be worth alternating being out with him some days and letting him sleep where you're staying on others. You may already have thought about this, but do you know if the room he'll sleep in while you're away will be dark? Just asking because we've had the odd problem with dd being away in that respect - she has blackout curtains at home but when somewhere else sometimes finds the room too light to sleep. It may sound an obvious suggestion but do you tell your ds it's 'time to sleep' or whatever other phrase you might use at home, when you're trying to get him off in the pram? I sometimes find if I recreate a bit of the home routine when out, i.e. sit quietly with her for a few minutes and look at a book, give her a little drink, head stroke, tell her it's time to sleep, that helps things along. But she's a bit older, 20 months, not sure a 14 month old responds to verbal requests as well.

foxinsocks · 28/06/2004 12:52

There are covers you can get for pushchairs that I think are designed not to let the sun in (it's like a giant black mesh raincover). Apparently, they make the pushchair very dark and help little ones to get off to sleep. I haven't got it but have seen mums coming to school with them on the pushchair.

foxinsocks · 28/06/2004 12:58

It's something like this black sun shade

Blu · 28/06/2004 13:03

When needing to get DS to sleep in his pushchair - going out for dinner on holiday etc- I put sunglasses on him to 'make it dark', and also put his little cot pillow under his head in his pushchair as an extra sleep hint.

John Lewis stock the 'Shade-a-Babe in foxinsocks' link.

Original poster
poppyseed · 28/06/2004 14:43

It's really good to hear that I'm not the only one!! I see so many toddlers comatose in their pushchairs that I begin to wonder if I am the only one that has a son who likes to watch the world rather than go to sleep!! Foxinsocks- thanks for the link. I've never seen one of these before and will be purchasing one asap!! Strangerthanfiction - thanks for the tips. I agree that we may have to alternate the days a little so as to avoid him being irritable through lack of sleep, or DH will take him for a drive. He has only once fallen asleep in the car which is largely due to mad DD (5) entertaining him so much!!! We are already big fans of blackout blinds - having had blackout romans made with velcro to attach on the outside of the window - fantastic!! I have bought an extra metre of fabric to take away with us - and intend to sellotape/pin it up at the window!!! I already use a similar 'pat' at bedtime/naptime and it's surprising that he does associate the words with sleep - in his pushchair it seems to be different of course and I basically think that I have a nosey boy!! (Can't think where he gets it from)

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alibo · 29/06/2004 21:56

Poppyseed,-the Shade a Babe sounds like a good idea, am going to get one for my ds's pram trips. Have also found them on a couple of websites with free delivery: www.twoleftfeet.co.uk and www.kiddicare.com. Let us know how you are getting on!

Original poster
poppyseed · 30/06/2004 16:28

Thanks for that Alibo. I have had things from Kiddicare before as they're based near Peterborough and not too far from us. Can recommend them, and their prices as they will undercut others. For the time being have stopped the training and will have an other go with the shade a babe. I can feel holiday just being a 'fly by the seat of your pants' job and will probably concentrate on getting him back into his routine when we return!!

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strangerthanfiction · 12/07/2004 00:26

poppyseed, did you buy one of those 'shade a baby' things in the end? Just wondered because I've ordered one today!

Original poster
poppyseed · 12/07/2004 00:30

Thanks for reminding me - we go in a couple of weeks and am busy writing lists for everything at the moment!!
Where have you ordered yours from? Have you got it for the sun-protection angle or like me are you wanting it to instantly induce sleep whilst out and about??!!

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Original poster
poppyseed · 12/07/2004 01:57

Have just ordered from Kiddicare - £27.99 and free delivery - DH has just asked if it is sound proof too?!! Does he expect DS to scream himself to sleep I wonder

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samwifewithkid · 12/07/2004 02:38

I used to drape a big blanket over the top of the pram and lay my dd down flat and straped tight. I used to get some strange looks too. But lets face it, would you go to sleep with the sun in your eyes? I certainly wouldn't! My mum used to always moan at me for doing it, but it worked so that was my goal.

Original poster
poppyseed · 13/07/2004 16:13

Just got our shade-a-babe this morning!! Looks very good if a little hearse-like..All we need now is some sun for me to try it out!!

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bunnyrabbit · 14/07/2004 17:13

Hey I have this problem too. DS is the nosiest 10 month old in the world... Went to a pub for lunch with friends and he would not go to sleep in the pushchair even with DH and myself wheeling him round for 30 minutes. Usually sleeps at 12.30 and wouldn't go to sleep until 3.30 when we got home.

Has anyone tried the shade-a-babe yet??

BR

Original poster
poppyseed · 14/07/2004 17:23

No sun to see if it works! Will be trying it on holiday in a fortnight so watch this space!!!!

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Original poster
poppyseed · 11/08/2004 21:56

Tried it!!! Only once though - and he did go to sleep after a bit of a cry but we were walking round a cobbled street and so he woke up!! TYPICAL!! All other days he fell asleep in the car, where it was bright sunlight...

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strangerthanfiction · 11/08/2004 22:48

I got one bunnyrabbit and have tried it twice. It's ok I guess, keeps the sun and wind off but I find it terribly bulky to fit onto the pram and fold up afterwards and dd didn't really sleep that much more in the buggy than she normally does. I do find in the winter that the plastic rain shield is great for encouraging her to sleep, I think it's much more cosy.

Ghosty · 11/08/2004 23:23

I have a shade-a-babe and it is fantastic .... very very necessary in NZ and everyone has one ... Not only does it keep the sun off them, but it also stop nosey old ladies and snotty children from sticking their faces into the buggy and prodding the sleeping babe!!

Just a cautionary tale re. blackouts : My DS was a GF baby and I followed GF like a slave ... took blackouts with me everywhere ...
When he turned 4 he became scared of the dark (normal part of young children's development apparently) but can't go to sleep with any light around him .... so we have had a bit of a nightmare in the last few months I can tell you!!
DD (who doesn't rigidly follow the GF routine) is a much more relaxed baby, I am not obsessed about blackouts and naps in cots and she (6 months old) will sleep anywhere - yesterday she dozed off on my friend's sofa while we were gassing ....

strangerthanfiction · 12/08/2004 14:42

Ghosty, dd used to sleep everywhere too, it was SO easy. But at 7 mnths it suddenly got harder. She was too excited to sleep in the pram, wouldn't sleep if anyone was up and about in the same room etc. so we ended up putting her in the cot as it was the only dark, quiet space we had available. Now she'll sleep in the pram for brief periods if she's very tired but never as well as in the pram. We have blackouts but there's still always a bit of light and she's so far slept ok at someone else's house if it's mostly dark rather than pitch black.