Page 2 | Did you sleep train and did it work?

Lizbiz89 · 2024-06-16T10:38:06+00:00

My almost 8 month old is a terrible sleeper. For example last night he woke 5 times. He isn't in pain or upset, just wakes and won't go back to sleep without my boobs. I'm getting to the point where I need to sleep. I don't think I've had more than a 3 hour stretch since I've had him. He's on 2 meals a day currently and is always given a good meal before bed. I keep going back and forth with sleep training. I would never let him cry it out as I couldn't do that so it would be gentle sleep training. Has anyone done sleep training at 8 months and did it work for you? If so can you give me any tips.

Original poster

Lizbiz89 · 19/06/2024 09:41

Kosenrufugirl · 19/06/2024 08:38

I did pick up/put down method by Baby Wisperer Solves All Your Problems at around 8.5 months. It does take a lot of resolve. However as Baby Wisperer says it's one thing to cry alone and another thing to cry on someone's shoulder. With Baby Wisperer method you put your baby down they start to cry. You wait until they become hysterical and pick them up. If they stop crying on the way to your shoulder- you picked up too soon. You calm them down on your shoulder then put them down. They start crying on the way down- you still put them down and wait for a hysterical note. Repeat. The idea is to ignore the cries of frustration and only pick up on cries on distress. Baby Wisperer has different methods for different ages. She passed away age 54 and her book could do with a bit of revision for clarity hence my explanation. The first time I tried it took 1.5 hours. I thought my baby would never forgive me however I had been a walking zombie for the previous 7 months so I couldn't carry on. He woke up all smiles and actually was less grumpy since we mastered this method. I think he was chronically overtired just as I was (used to wake up 8-12 times over the night). Baby Wisperer used to work as a neonatal nurse, she knows a lot about babies and young children and there are lots of good tips in her book. Ignore her breastfeeding advice, times were different, the rest of her book is excellent. Second edition with yellow cover is better. She literally saved me from a nervous breakdown. I continued to breastfeed till 13 months.
Baby Wisperer also says day and night sleep are related, overtired babies don't sleep well at night. She suggests following the baby's body language rather than the clock. Main sign of tiredness at this stage is rubbing eyes and pulling on hair if I remember correctly. This is the time to use pick up/put down technique. I vaguely remember her saying 1.5 hour naps are better than 45 minutes ones, corresponds with my experience. As I have said Baby Wisperer used to work as a paediatric nurse with babies and young children. I swear by her advice. I used her other technique with my other child- he was doing 5-6 hours at 2 months whist being exclusively breastfed and despite being a much more difficult baby to start with. She has different techniques for different ages. If you really can't stand the idea of letting your baby cry you can try No Cry Sleep Solutions by Elizabeth Pantley

Thank you, I will have a look at this book. Going to pick a day and start. Ds currently has a cold so don't want to start when he's unwell. Like you I'm a zombie everyday and feel like such a crappy parent to my older 2 as I just cannot do function. I'm prepared to wake up for feeds etc but not 5-10 times a night!

OP posts:

PeopleAreToads · 25/06/2024 10:46

@Lizbiz89 how are you getting on? We did our first night last night and it was no way near as bad as expected! Took about an hour to get her to sleep in the cot, but she wasn’t hysterical. And then had the best sleep she’s had in months, slept 7-3 then woke for a feed and then back down til 6. I’m sure other nights will be harder and we’ll have to do some night settling without feeding, but have us confidence that she and us can do it and better sleep is definitely possible

Original poster

Lizbiz89 · 25/06/2024 12:12

PeopleAreToads · 25/06/2024 10:46

@Lizbiz89 how are you getting on? We did our first night last night and it was no way near as bad as expected! Took about an hour to get her to sleep in the cot, but she wasn’t hysterical. And then had the best sleep she’s had in months, slept 7-3 then woke for a feed and then back down til 6. I’m sure other nights will be harder and we’ll have to do some night settling without feeding, but have us confidence that she and us can do it and better sleep is definitely possible

That's amazing! So happy it went well for you. Gives me hope! We haven't started yet as ds has had a cold since last week so want him to be well before we start. We're going to Portugal in a couple of weeks as well so I think it's probably best to wait until we're back. Did you have any particular method when you put her down? Would love to know what worked and what didn't.

OP posts:

BluPeony · 25/06/2024 12:14

I tried but couldn't hack it. He started sleeping through on his own around 11 months, which incidentally is when he started walking.

Still wakes up at 4/5am for milk, but we only get 2/3am wakings now if he's ill or teething.

PeopleAreToads · 25/06/2024 20:30

Lizbiz89 · 25/06/2024 12:12

That's amazing! So happy it went well for you. Gives me hope! We haven't started yet as ds has had a cold since last week so want him to be well before we start. We're going to Portugal in a couple of weeks as well so I think it's probably best to wait until we're back. Did you have any particular method when you put her down? Would love to know what worked and what didn't.

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We just put her down when she was calm, and then sang/shushed, just for her down for the second night which took about 45 minutes. It’s not nice, but now we know we can do it! The thought of doing it was far worse than actually doing it

We have done quite a lot of work on sussing out her ideal wake windows/getting decent naps in before which I think has helped. Because we can at least her into the cot when she’s calm

Universalrehearsal · 25/06/2024 20:32

Yes we did the No Cry Sleep Solution at eight months and it worked perfectly.

Scottishskifun · 25/06/2024 20:37

Yep we followed Lucy Wolfe sleep book with both DS's. I didn't follow the bf suggestions but my DH would do the first few wake ups til the 3 hour mark.
DS1 was extremely bad (every hour from birth) I was suffering from sleep deprivation by 4 months and it was truly terrifying.

DS2 wasn't as bad but sleep trained from 10 months when he started 2 hour wake ups.

Would also recommend a lumie bug light it has a sunset function. Although mine are now 5 and 2 we still use the bug light every night and even take it on holiday!