Just after some success stories while trying to help my 13 week old baby learn to fall asleep independently!
Pleeease no mum-shaming comments implying I shouldn't want her away from me/what did I expect/soak up the cuddles while you can/sounds normal to me etc! It's taking 3-4 hours to get her down at night, she wakes as soon as she's put down or has multiple false starts and I KNOW this is biological etc but I'm noticing that my mental health is suffering as I'm so anxious all day about the evenings, it's soooo hard for us both to stay calm trying to get her to bed, and then my thoughts become so negative and I get so scared that I can't handle things so shes not getting the best version of me at all. I also hate that she only finally sleeps without waking because she's so beyond exhausted she can't wake up! She does sleep well once she's actually asleep. I ONLY want to gently help her to learn to fall asleep independently for the best of both of us, not for my convenience
I also have a next to me and it makes no difference trying to get her to sleep in my arms next to her so I have no faith co sleeping will be any different because she's literally millimetres away from me and it makes no difference!
After much research and advice on here, we're now trying to put her in her moses basket down stairs for naps (dim room but not as dark as night) and her crib next to the bed for nighttime sleep (UK so won't be leaving her to nap alone until after 6 months).
We're putting her down drowsy but still awake and sitting next to her (not standing over the crib so she expects to be picked up) and doing some hands on soothing to encourage her to sleep. If she properly cries we pick her up and calm her and then try again. If she cries a second time we repeat, then a third time I pick her up and let her sleep on me as usual as I don't want her to miss her nap.
After a week, she's fallen asleep once for her first morning nap 🤣 but I know this gentle method can take a long time so I'm just looking for any encouragement or success stories from people who have successfully managed this to keep me motivated!!!!!!!
Thank you!!!!