Starting PU/PD tonight with 7mo, any tips for success

[Paddingtonblue]

DS's sleep is getting past a joke, he goes down well most evenings and sleeps happily in his cot until about 2.30am then wakes every 40 mins to an hour. He will settle a little if he can sleep on either me or DH, but this isn't a long term solution as I am pregnant again and fast losing my lap and also I know that he likes his cot. He then wakes for the day at 5.00am and screams until he is entertained. His naps are good, an hour to an hour and a half morning and evening, although more often than not I have to be there. From the BW book, PU/PD seems to be a good solution but can anyone who has successfully done PU/PD please give me any tips, or even just words of encouragement. I am more than a little apprehensive! DH is "working from home" for the next couple of days so we are starting tonight.

Whoops, sporry, meant to say his naps were morning and afternoon, not evening!

H, PB.
I did this with my DD2, who is now 3. It definitely worked for us, because it got her sleeping through the night fron 7 til 7 at a year old (am not being smug, honestly!)

I wish I had known about it with DD1. She was a truly terrible sleeper ( was 3 before she slept through). I tried controlled crying with her, but it didn't work at all.

The only advice I could give -and I'm no expert- is to keep going. When it's the 50th time you've done PU/PD in an hour, your resolve can weaken! It is worth it though - just a bit tough on your back.

As for your DH working from home, I found a dramatic improvement in DD2s daytime behaviour and naptimes after we 'cracked' PU/PD.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

I am going to do the first two nights and we were thinking that if DH was at home, that he could make sure I didn't go completely insane! Thanks Sib, am planning on repeating to myself "5.00am isn't my friend" should I feel my resolve weaken as I know that that is the time we are going to be up forever unless we crack this.

It's a bit like 'short term pain for long term gain' - sorry for cliche but it's true.
I think you will be especially glad you did it when your new baby is born. I found that I could go back to it when DD2 had unsettled periods eg if she was unwell.
I have BW books too. Did you ever watch the programmes she did for a Sky channel? It showed her doing PU/PD and what to expect. They haven't been shown for ages though.

No, I haven't seen them but the principle seems much nicer to me than CC and a bit more structured somehow than NCSS. Am I being unrealistic to think that within a couple of weeks that DS will be sleeping better?

I don't think that's unrealistic at all, I think it took us about 10 days - if I can remember back that far! Each baby is different though, so you never know.
Apparently, BW thinks that it's most successful if you carry it out exactly as she describes - ie be consistent. Have to admit that I didn't always manage it. Sometimes I would cuddle DD for a bit after she had calmed down. It all worked out in the end though.

I know CC has a lot of advocates and it's successful for loads of babies. I just didn't feel it was right for me personally. When I tried it with DD1, I would be crying in one room while she cried in the other!

Just make sure you rope in DH to help - it gets easier.(smile)

Oops, meant

Thanks Sib, am off now for DS's bath then stories then first attempt. Deep breath

Paddingtonblue - hope you had success and not put off. We did pu/pd two weeks ago and the 1st two nights where a nightmare! But he now settles himself at night and is sleeping through for 7.30 to 6.30 actually we got 7.40 the other morning but I think that was an exception.
It is hard work but dont give up just think in a weeks time you will have a baby who can settle themselves and you will be able to get the rest you need.
By the way I agree with SR get DH to help out.

HELP!! Sudden confusion on re-reading the book for six to eight months. Do I pick him up when he cries and then put him down straight away, calming him in his cot as opposed to holding him until he is calm then putting him down? DS is on Fri and Sat nights, hoorah.

Think you will find FAQs on PU/PD on www.babywhisperer.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=4937d4366eec34bd9a7781c595212054&board=31.0.

Let me know how you get on. DS2 is 6mths and still waking 2 or 3 times a night for breastfeeds which I am pretty sure are for comfort rather than calories. Also, it can take him 2hrs to go down in the first place on a bad night. For the time being have decided to offer breast when I can (he's going to be my last baby!) but everyone else who has an opinion to offer - and there are plenty - keeps telling me that I am going to make a rod for my own back etc. etc. Would be interested to know how you find PU/PD.

Good luck.

I think, just from memory, that you have to hold him until he starts to calm down. As soon as he shows signs of settling down ie the crying starts to subside, you lie him straight down - hope that's the right information.
Just a tip, but I found it helped if I used the 'broken record' technique - every time I lay DD back down I said 'time for night-night' in a really quiet voice. Don't know if that's BW hint or not. Best of luck.

Anon, I found I needed to use PU/PD for getting DD to settle at night. She was also awake for ages after I put her down.
It's hard work for a few nights - I wouldn't mislead you - but just imagine how lovely it will be to put your DS2 to bed and know you won't be up and down like a yo-yo.

He went to sleep after about 50 mins, and I stayed in there with him for a further twenty just with my hand on him. I took from what the BW said that I don't pick him up each time he cried at this age and just stayed there constantly saying 'night night' and 'it is sleepy time now baby'. If I am wrong and should have been picking me up, please tell me!! He semi-settled a few times, but then would have wake and start crying again but seemed okay. The trickiest bit was at the start - he is BF and always went to sleep on the breast so taking him off and burping him was a big surprise to him.

Sounds to me like you are doing it right! Well done. My DD was older when I tried PU/PD so my advice wouldn't all be relevant - sorry if it was misleading at all. It's great if you can get away without picking your DS up -saves hellish backache! Hope the rest of your night goes well. Fingers crossed for you.

I have first night euphoria!!! DS slept until just on midnight then only half woke and just needed a gentle hand on his tummy and a few words to go back to sleep. He then slept until 4.30 when he took a few PU/PDs and about fifteen minutes to get back to sleep. Unheard of!! He then slept till six when he woke for his first feed of the day. I feel like it is Christmas, although am trying to remind myself that often the first night isn't always repeated. Am now preparing myself for his nap in an hour.

That's great, am so pleased. I've heard that in some cases it only takes a couple of nights -fingers crossed that's the case for you.

Paddingtonblue - How did it go today? I'm glad you had sucess last night. It will be worth it in the long run.

Am almost afraid to type - this morning it took about twenty mins to get him to go to sleep with me there only PU if he was very upset, but he seemed more grumbly than unhappy. I then stayed in the room as he always wakes after twenty mins and the minute he started to stir I just put my hand on his back and said "sleepy time etc" and he slept for a further hour. This afternoon he had a nap in his stroller as we were out walking and then (and this is where I get nervous ) tonight he went straight down with no crying at bed time which is seven. He stirred briefly at about 8.30, but again a hand on his back and a few words then staying until he was sound asleep worked. I feel like a new woman not having to battle for sleep from him, fingers crossed it continues!!

well done padington, i have only just read your thread. I would only like to add that sleep training can take a couple of weeks to crack which is why you have to be consistent night after night. It sounds like you are getting there though

Hope you have a succesful night tonight.

The other thing is how is he napping in the day? Is he getting enough?

He normally sleeps for an hour to two in the morning and then again in the afternoon. Previously, we couold make it to two hours if he could sleep on me, and sometimes I was so tired that was fine, but if I got him to sleep on me, then he would normally only make it to an hour each time. If he would sleep for an hour and a half twice a day, that would be about right for an eight month old I am guessing...
I am telling myself that this is a long process and that a million things can change it like teething etc, but it does feel nice today

Hi. We did PUPD at 7 months two weeks ago. After 2 days there was a big improvement. But after 5 there was a big relapse. At the same time I introduced "no milk between 12am and 5am", which is very challenging. We are very consistent and I have not BF to sleep a single time but he still gets up at 11pm for a feed and then 2-3 times until 5. Settling for naps has gotten very difficult because he realises what's going on and gets very angry. As for some he is not settling when I PU but keeps on screeming so that I might as well lie him down, so not that different from CC only that I am with him at all times. I do not want to discourage you, you thought I should let you know how it went for us.

Thanks Anon, it is good to have more views on it. How are things going now?