Rocking/bouncing to sleep

[Tubbytele]

What age was your lo when you stopped rocking or bouncing to sleep? My 6 month old DS is extremely heavy and is starting to kill my arms. He only goes to sleep with me bouncing him on the exercise ball. I wish I could put him in the bouncer and get him to sleep that way but he finds it too stimulating. Would like to hear how others handled it. Massively appreciate the help

My Dd was like this - we gradually downgraded input at this age, so gradually moved from rocking to walking and patting bottom, then sitting and patting bottom, then patting bottom in cot, then just a hand on. Unfortunately I got stuck then and the next step of taking my hand away resulted in crying. But fingers crossed it might not for you! I also introduced a comforter at that age that she was hooked on for years. Good luck!

@Orangeinmybluelightcup thank you so much for this! You've given me hope. Can I ask what kind of comforter you gave? I can't give one atm as he's still swaddled as hasn't fully rolled yet, and swaddling gets him to sleep easier but good to know for future.

She had a rabbit one with a square of velvet material.

Its a tough one to crack but you'll get there.

Could you get a rocking nursing chair? I used to rack up 5k steps overnight rocking my boy but once I bought that chair I could sit and just rock back and forward with him. Total game changer!

I won't tell you how old he is now and how often I still have to do it though...

I could have written this when DD was small. She would only ever be rocked to sleep in front of the tumble dryer and only nap on you.
In the end, like you, my back was breaking and I physically couldn't do it.
We went cold turkey and plopped her in her buggy in front of the tumble dryer and rocked the buggy at first. Took a few goes but she eventually got the memo
Currently 33 pregnant with twins and determined not to fall into this trap again 🤣

@Orangeinmybluelightcup thank you

@GagaBinks good idea! Thank you

@rosegoldivy thanks for the idea. I have tried the buggy but he's so alert and wants to look at everything! Will try again and persist. Congratulations on your pregnancy! I would probably say the same that I wouldn't want to fall into the bouncing trap but when you're so sleep deprived at the time, it just doesn't matter! Lol

[quote Tubbytele]@rosegoldivy thanks for the idea. I have tried the buggy but he's so alert and wants to look at everything! Will try again and persist. Congratulations on your pregnancy! I would probably say the same that I wouldn't want to fall into the bouncing trap but when you're so sleep deprived at the time, it just doesn't matter! Lol[/quote]
Hahaha I think it will be impossible for us to fall into the bouncing trap this time..... I won't have enough hands 🤣🤣🤣

@rosegoldivy hahaha! Yea that's a very good point with twins!

I could have written this post myself. My DD2 is 5 months in 2 days and she will only go to sleep by rocking and bouncing and all day naps are on me. Not to mention that she's in the 91st percentile for weight. Needless to say my back is wrecked.

I bounce her whilst standing on my bed to get that extra bounce. It can sometimes take up to an hour. She's so stimulated like your baby too. She's just learnt to lift herself up on all fours, so every time I put her down in her bed she rolls over and lifts herself up. Sigh.

My DD1 was so easy to get to sleep. I'd just pop her on the boob and she'd fall asleep almost instantly.

I know this isn't much help but just know you're not alone.

@Minkies13 It's so tough isn't it. I'm a FTM and DS only falls asleep with the bouncing. The boob used to work on him but he's even distracted during that! He'll look at whatever top I'm wearing for ages whilst on the boob, even if it's a simple coloured tee. Have you tried an exercise ball instead of the bed, might be a little less taxing? Though the exercise ball has started to affect my right knee