CC with 16mth old

[mummynumnum]

DD has been a variable sleeper. We have had co-sleeping, sleeping through the night and regular wakings. We thought she had it sussed wwhen she turned 1 but has recently started waking alot and I I do pick her up and give her a cuddle. I have never felt comfortable with cc, but dh is worried she is developing a very bad habit now and thinks we should consider it. I am a bit put off as she has teeth coming through at the mo, but wondered if dd had passed the age when cc was effective. Also worried cc could damage our relationship. any thoughts would be appreciated from a confused mum.

Don't do it. Please.

Kids don't sleep, then they do sleep, they wake up at three, four, five, six, then there's a spell when it's 7.30 every morning ... then it's six again.

Then they get to be teenagers and they sleep all day long.

it just seems that when I talk to friends with dc they all seem to be sleepign through!

I know. And if you had another child, I bet that one would

They're all different. It's absolutely exhausting, isn't it? You feel like it's going to go on for ever. But it doesn't.

It just seems to me that you're not that keen on the idea. In a scenario like that, I think cc will upset you (and dd). By all means buy the books and look into it some more, but ultimately, if it doesn't feel instinctively right, then it probably isn't.

Any way, I've just pushed some positive vibes your way this evening. Let's hope they work!

I agree that you have to be guided by your own instincts, but also that parents are often better at being parents if they get a good night's sleep.

I can still remember the pain of letting my dh try a version of cc with dd1 and being distraught behind a door, wanting to claw it open and go to her. But I now think a lot of that was that I couldn't be rational while I was so tired. We tried it when she was 9 months and to be honest it was 45 mins one night, 20 the next and then she's been a brilliant sleeper (although I think we got off very lightly). DD2 got a lighter version of same treatment from about 6 weeks - just that I sometimes let her cry a bit when I could be sure she was tired.

IMHO children do need our help to learn how to sleep and they (and you) need undisturbed nights if possible. Maybe you can find a milder version of cc that suits you instead? Maybe tell dd you're going to make yourself a drink and then you'll be back to check, then go to the loo, then make a phone call, etc - would she understand any of that do you think?

Your post makes good sense, madrush.

But not all children need to learn how to sleep. Some children are naturally good sleepers. That is a gift straight from heaven, I agree

Just a thought, mummynumnum, but do you take dd out much in the pram? A good bout of belting fresh air a couple of times a day, a trip to the local park, etc., can work wonders.

At this time of year, particularly, going from centrally heated house to car seat to house again, can lead to too much drowsiness in the day and not enough good sleep at night.

Thanks for all the very sensible advice. We had a very disturbed night last night and early morning, but nursery said she has been pulling at her ear loads today, which is usually a sign that teeth are coming through, so will hold fire whilst these teeth come through and consider again in xmas hols when I am on hols from school and a bit more rational. If she is not sleeping by then we will see!