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Sleep

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Original poster

Little Ones Sleep Program

18 replies

TinchyBaby · 29/10/2019 12:58

Has anyone used Little Ones Program to help with baby less than 6 months? I used Lucy Wolfe for my son but he was 7 months at the time

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Mybobowler · 29/10/2019 14:11

How old is your baby? My daughter was 5ish months when we started with Little Ones and the change was remarkable - instantly went from having to walk her out in the pram for four 30 minute naps, irregular naps every day, to having decent, regular naps in her cot. We've been derailed a bit by holidays, colds, teething and starting nursery, but it's miles better than it used to be! Our nights are still rubbish, but I lack the willpower to follow the programme at 3am...

Original poster

TinchyBaby · 29/10/2019 14:46

She is 3 months. Maybe it's tiredness but I don't see how it works without loads of crying? Can I ask how did you settle?

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Russell19 · 29/10/2019 14:51

My baby is 5 and a half months, have been following the programme for 2 weeks nearly. My baby was fed to sleep for every nap and bedtime before this. He now falls to sleep with a bit of singing and patting (still a work in progress) but is so much better! Can't crack the 2 hour lunch nap though, I get an hour at most. He also went from walking about 6/7 times a night to 1/2 times.

Original poster

TinchyBaby · 29/10/2019 15:08

Do you think it would have worked earlier or do you think baby needs to be 5m+?

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Original poster

TinchyBaby · 29/10/2019 15:12

Also are you doing the side settling? White noise, swaddle etc?

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Mybobowler · 29/10/2019 15:18

@TinchyBaby I followed the Little Ones guidance for babies that are fed to sleep (there was nothing in there for babies that only slept in a pram or car, and feeding to sleep is how I got her down in her cot at bedtime!) - they have lot of different settling techniques, depending on what you're currently doing to get your baby to sleep.

There is an element of controlled crying, so be prepared for that. I never left her for longer than a couple of minutes, but I know it isn't for everyone. I didn't follow their advice to the letter, but it gave me the confidence to stick with it and be consistent.

Original poster

TinchyBaby · 29/10/2019 15:21

@Mybobowler thanks, what age did you start?

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Mybobowler · 29/10/2019 15:23

Sorry - didn't finish my message! Not sure if it would have worked for a younger baby - I guess it depends on how you feel about controlled crying etc at that age? We didn't swaddle or side-settle, but we did get blackout blinds and we use white noise (an app on an ancient iPad). It took a month or so, but she definitely recognises the sleep cues now - she'll start rubbing her eyes as soon as I draw the blind now!

Mybobowler · 29/10/2019 15:26

Started at 5ish months, and she's 9 months now. She isn't sleeping through the night, but I bought the programme to help give some structure and consistency to her day (and because walking for miles every day was killing me!). It did an amazing job in that respect, and I'm sure we'll get a full night's sleep eventually!

Original poster

TinchyBaby · 29/10/2019 15:27

Do you leave the white noise on for full duration of sleep?

Im following the timings and I do get her to sleep but not without serious rocking and shushing! My back is broke from carrying her during the rocking and I've even found myself rocking without her!

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Firesidetreats1 · 29/10/2019 21:41

I’ve seen this advertised everywhere but sceptical about how it works. My little boy is currently 18 weeks olds- night timeroutine was okay Up until a few weeks ago now he’s wakes at 10pm and won’t settle unless he’s in bed with me -which means he dictates when I go to bed. We have naps during the day but i struggle to get him in his cot and I find he doesn’t sleep as long verses if he was napping on me.

Russell19 · 30/10/2019 03:05

I'm not sure about using it when younger.... I guess it's completely up to you but I wanted to be completely sure he wasn't hungry when I was putting him to sleep and for at least a few hours after and when he was younger he would feed every 2 hours.

Yes you are supposed to leave the white noise on all night, the idea is they end up completely self settling and the white noise is meant to help when they wake between sleep cycles. I use ewan sheep which has a sensor though.

I find the side settling method good but again, not sure I'd use it until they can roll themselves and have good head control. Even if I rolled my baby back onto his back he would go back to his side because that's how he was used to settling.

Have you tried implementing the rocked to sleep strategy that is on there to reduce the need for you to do this? As a PP said, it involves an element of controlled crying but you can tweak it to as long as you find comfortable before going to reassure/comfort.

catgee · 30/10/2019 03:18

I started it when my DS was 5 months old and went from having to walk in pram, rock, pat shush etc to get him to sleep to just popping him down in his cot and walking away without any tears. The first time we did it I think he cried for 6 minutes and stopped and went to sleep just as I was about to go back in to him. We followed it all the way through to about 2 years. Definitely recommend it, especially for getting some structure around daytime napping etc.

PopcornAndWine · 31/10/2019 19:51

I tried their newborn programme and have to say had no luck whatsoever. She's 3 months now and still a bad napper and 9 times out of 10 being fed to sleep. So those who had success with it, what age did you start? All 5 months +?

Russell19 · 31/10/2019 20:29

@PopcornAndWine yes my baby was 5 months.

PutThatDown10 · 01/11/2019 13:46

Please don't try to sleep train a baby that young... Sleep is developmental and it's completely normal. Please also don't do any controlled crying or crying it out at this age. Please research how this can affect them.

PutThatDown10 · 01/11/2019 13:48

Also read about the 4th trimester, it gives an insight into why babies act the way they do... Completely normal for them not to want to sleep in a cot, they just want to be with you.

PopcornAndWine · 01/11/2019 14:21

@PutThatDown10 no wasn't trying controlled crying, I just tried their suggested routine but didn't work at all. They say their routines can work from as young as 2 weeks which having spoken to others since is far too young for anything like that obviously. Made me a bit sceptical of them tbh but interesting to hear others have had success with older babies.

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