My 8mo is currently waking up every 2 hours at least. His sleep has generally been bad but have had some promising weeks at times where he’s woken only once or twice. Other than this, it’s pretty consistently every 2 hours that he wakes up.
I dont want to sleep train (yet anyway!) but wonder if there’s anything else I can do to help sleep?
I don’t want to co sleep as I find I actually sleep worse…
he’s breastfed exclusively. used to self settle but teething ruined that! Not that it helped night wakes anyway when he did self settle
I feed him to sleep every time he wakes up as it’s just so hard to get him to sleep by patting etc
has anyone in a similar situation done anything and seen a tangible improvement? Otherwise when did yours sleep through the night?? I need some hope!
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Anything I can do without sleep training?
Catlikereactions · 14/04/2024 09:33
WhatWouldYouDo33 · 14/04/2024 09:38
Feeding to sleep is not self settling btw
Philandbill · 14/04/2024 09:44
Calories aren't the only reason babies feed through the night @WhatWouldYouDo33 .
My two didn't sleep either but I co-slept and that helped to get me through but I understand if you don't find that works for you. Honestly, acceptance that it was for a tiny proportion of our lives was also helpful. I read something along the lines of "nobody has a right to eight hours sleep and that was oddly helpful too. This too will pass.
WhatWouldYouDo33 · 14/04/2024 09:49
Yes I know but it’s far healthier for a baby and their brain development to get a 6-8 hours sleep in a row instead of waking every 2-3 hours to feed. A healthy and normal weight 8 month old can easily go 6-8 hours without milk. If they are used to using the nipple as a dummy, that’s a different issue. No need to be a martyr everyone is doing much better if they get proper sleep and an 8 month old can easily get used to sleeping withoit a nipple.
Philandbill · 14/04/2024 09:44
Calories aren't the only reason babies feed through the night @WhatWouldYouDo33 .
My two didn't sleep either but I co-slept and that helped to get me through but I understand if you don't find that works for you. Honestly, acceptance that it was for a tiny proportion of our lives was also helpful. I read something along the lines of "nobody has a right to eight hours sleep and that was oddly helpful too. This too will pass.
WhatWouldYouDo33 · 14/04/2024 09:47
Where exactly is night weaning not recommended until 18 months? What nonsense!
EditedEdithGrantham · 14/04/2024 09:58
Do you think you could manage co-sleeping if he was in a cot "side-carred" to your bed so you each had your own space?
Catlikereactions · 14/04/2024 10:01
He used to be (has massively outgrown it - he’s a big baby) but it didn’t help night wakes
EdithGrantham · 14/04/2024 09:58
Do you think you could manage co-sleeping if he was in a cot "side-carred" to your bed so you each had your own space?
Catlikereactions · 14/04/2024 10:10
I just worry about going back to work which I do in August, did anyone find sleep gradually improved at least? I don’t need perfection but 2 night wakes consistently would be a dream!
I just feel like if I did sleep training I’d regret it and that’s not how I want to feel about my parenting
kelsaycobbles · 14/04/2024 12:29
Sleep training isn't leaving baby to cry for hours - it's teaching them how to sleep which may involve short periods of crying. Like any teaching it can be done well, badly or cruelly
Like any learning experience it may be painful to some degree. As it's not exactly how your child wants things now they will cry but that's not cruelty - it's communication. You shouldn't shield your child from anything that might upset them in the short term because one way we grow as people - by pushing through difficult times ( mum not responding instantly, or studying for an exam , or coping with death - we need to build the ability to be upset and change ) .
Balance. Care. Age appropriate. Achievable.
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WhatWouldYouDo33 · 14/04/2024 11:31
I don’t know what you are expecting. Unless you teach him to self settle and not feed in the night, it won’t gradually improve. My friend’s DS woke every 2 hours until he was 2 and she nearly had a breakdown and sleep trained.
how do you know you will regret it if you haven’t researched gentle methods and tried? We are not evil witches who let their babies cry for hours!
Catlikereactions · 14/04/2024 10:10
I just worry about going back to work which I do in August, did anyone find sleep gradually improved at least? I don’t need perfection but 2 night wakes consistently would be a dream!
I just feel like if I did sleep training I’d regret it and that’s not how I want to feel about my parenting
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