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Sleep

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Original poster

'Wake-to-sleep' technique - anyone around who can answer a question for me?

12 replies

Ceebee74 · 18/08/2009 08:32

After being woken up at 5.30 every single morning for as long as I can remember by DS2 (9 months) I bit the bullet this morning and set my alarm for 4.30 and got up to wake him up a little.....all worked great, he stirred, opened his eyes, I put his dummy back in and he rolled over and went back to sleep until........6.50

So, am I right in thinking that I do this for the next 2 nights, then on the 4th night, I don't do it and hopefully he will naturally sleep past 5.30?? On the 4th night, is it just a case of crossing your fingers and hoping?

OP posts:

SleepWhenImDead · 18/08/2009 09:02

yes, pretty much. you might like to do it just for 4 or 5 nights just so the pattern is held, though. I did it last night (7 months of waking at 5am) but I am finding it v difficult to get back to sleep. he did sleep until 6am though so that's progress.

Original poster

Ceebee74 · 18/08/2009 11:36

Thanks for your reply - maybe we can keep each other company over the next few days

I am also struggling to get back to sleep - this morning DS1 had woken me up for a cuddle at 3.15 and I couldn't get back to sleep - I think I had been asleep for about 10 minutes when the alarm went off at 4.30....grrrr!

But I am determined to do this if it stops the ridiculously early mornings.

OP posts:

JoandMax · 20/08/2009 10:48

I'm about to try this with my 13 month old, he is always up at 5am now and it's just starting to get to me so decided to do something about it!

He's been waking early for about 6 months now, have I left it too long?? Am thinking of doing WTS for a week and have everything crossed it works. I was coping fine but am now nearly 9 weeks pregnant and am just exhausted.........

Hope it works for you both, please share your success stories

Original poster

Ceebee74 · 20/08/2009 14:17

Hi Joandmax - am impressed that 5am starts are only now beginning to get to you

Well I have done it for 3 nights now and DS2 has stayed asleep until 6.45, 6.30 and 6.45...so tonight I am not going to do it and keep everything crossed that it has somehow worked.

When the alarm went off this morning at 4.30, I did wonder what the hell I am doing....

OP posts:

kit2 · 20/08/2009 14:27

am huge fan of this. Did it with my 6 month old after 2 weeks of 3am wake-ups (i like my sleep!)Did it for 3 or 4 nights and it worked a treat. She is now 2 and sleeps really well but would use it again if i had to. Only prob is you then getting back to sleep as has been mentioned already!

TheOne · 14/09/2009 09:32

A few weeks late maybe, but read this thread here

byrnecat · 29/10/2010 13:22

My baby is 2wks old, and I know it takes time, but how do I get him to know the difference between night and day? He sleeps most of the day and feeds every 2-3hrs at night, but in between he makes moaning noises and dad and I are at our witts end as we can't get sleep in between feeds. By the way he dosen't make these noises during the day! Please can you give advice.

LaTristesse · 01/11/2010 06:38

Hi ladies, could I ask please if you've had some success with this method, does it only work for LOs who can self-settle? I'd love to try this with my 8mo DS but he needs a boob to help him get off / back to sleep so not sure it would be that useful...
Thanks, and congrats if you're now getting more sleep!

LaTristesse · 01/11/2010 06:40

Ah, just realised this original thread is ages old... does anyone else have experience of this method working?

Igglybuff · 01/11/2010 06:43

byrne your little one is too young to know the difference yet. Keep taking them out in the early afternoon, expose to as much natural light and he'll get there.

TheLadyIsNotForNapping · 01/11/2010 10:24

I'm going to try this, dd has been waking up between 5.15am and 5.30am every morning for weeks. I've started feeding her and putting her back down just to get a bit more sleep, rather than getting her up for the day. But I fear this is creeping back into night-feeding territory and I do not want to go there.

Can I ask a question: how much exactly do you rouse them? Eyes open? What is too much and too litle?

It scares me.... Don't want to start day at 4.15am! But I've read so many good things about it.

Allie123 · 02/11/2010 09:25

So glad to hear I'm not the only one who's experiencing this. I have an 18 month old who has been waking at 5am for about 6 months now. I'm 4 months pregnant and its just getting to me now. I feel bad for moaning about it as he does sleep through the night, but surely you can't sustain getting up at 5am every morning....anyways moan over!!

I am a bit reluctant to try the WTS method, as I'm worried that he will fully wake up? Any advice greatly welcomed! :)

First time user of Mumsnet!

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