Comments on: Sleeping babies Q & A http://inashoe.com/2008/07/sleeping-babies-q-a/ the methods and madness of one family of 12 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:10:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: kimc http://inashoe.com/2008/07/sleeping-babies-q-a/#comment-41172 kimc Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:18:12 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=2569#comment-41172 Sarah, I think you're on the right track. I've never heard of using a water bottle but it makes good sense in theory. If she really needs the nourishment, she won't be satisfied - or she'll wake again soon. If she doesn't, then you're a step closer to nixing the nighttime feeding altogether. Sarah,
I think you’re on the right track. I’ve never heard of using a water bottle but it makes good sense in theory. If she really needs the nourishment, she won’t be satisfied – or she’ll wake again soon. If she doesn’t, then you’re a step closer to nixing the nighttime feeding altogether.

]]> By: Sarah http://inashoe.com/2008/07/sleeping-babies-q-a/#comment-41169 Sarah Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:56:19 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=2569#comment-41169 Kim: I am interested in your experience with weaning a child from a night feeding. I have a 6.5 month year old that in the last few weeks might want more help with getting back to sleep than to feed. I noticed that her night feeding has gone from sucking down 6 oz to a slow feed (sometimes taking 45 mintues) to eat 2 - 3 oz. I would like to try to wean her next week, instead of letting her CIO due to an upcoming move and lots of travel this month I would like to take a softer approach, my husband or I (she is bottle fed) will go to her for the feeding after a heavy cry only and stop the feeding as soon as the suck/swallow becomes a steady and slow suck/suck/suck/swallow. That sounds similar to what you did to sleep train your children. Did that extinguish any unneeded feeding within a few days? I am considering adding a water bottle after 2 or 3 nights if she doesn't stop crying for a feed but isn't really eating...so that she really gets the point that she needs to get herself back to sleep. Have you heard of anyone doing that to extinguish a night feeding? She is an excellant sleeper besides the night feeding. We just think that the feeding is becoming more of a habit of a nightly "visit" instead of a real hunger need. Kim:

I am interested in your experience with weaning a child from a night feeding. I have a 6.5 month year old that in the last few weeks might want more help with getting back to sleep than to feed. I noticed that her night feeding has gone from sucking down 6 oz to a slow feed (sometimes taking 45 mintues) to eat 2 – 3 oz.

I would like to try to wean her next week, instead of letting her CIO due to an upcoming move and lots of travel this month I would like to take a softer approach, my husband or I (she is bottle fed) will go to her for the feeding after a heavy cry only and stop the feeding as soon as the suck/swallow becomes a steady and slow suck/suck/suck/swallow. That sounds similar to what you did to sleep train your children.

Did that extinguish any unneeded feeding within a few days? I am considering adding a water bottle after 2 or 3 nights if she doesn’t stop crying for a feed but isn’t really eating…so that she really gets the point that she needs to get herself back to sleep. Have you heard of anyone doing that to extinguish a night feeding?

She is an excellant sleeper besides the night feeding. We just think that the feeding is becoming more of a habit of a nightly “visit” instead of a real hunger need.

]]> By: kimc http://inashoe.com/2008/07/sleeping-babies-q-a/#comment-17160 kimc Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:56:12 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=2569#comment-17160 Christie, I put my babies to bed on their backs, but once they start to roll by themselves they always seem to prefer to sleep on their backs. Christie,
I put my babies to bed on their backs, but once they start to roll by
themselves they always seem to prefer to sleep on their backs.

]]> By: Christie http://inashoe.com/2008/07/sleeping-babies-q-a/#comment-17159 Christie Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:29:43 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=2569#comment-17159 You say you rub her back. Does that mean you let her sleep on her tummy? Although the doctors say to have all kids go to sleep on their backs, I was wondering what people really do. You say you rub her back. Does that mean you let her sleep on her tummy? Although the doctors say to have all kids go to sleep on their backs, I was wondering what people really do.

]]> By: Julie http://inashoe.com/2008/07/sleeping-babies-q-a/#comment-16940 Julie Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:46:18 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=2569#comment-16940 Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth has been a very helpful book for us. I only have two children so far (slowly working up to the rest of you!) but both have benefited greatly after I read the book and are now great sleepers. What a blessing that is! We also swaddle at night until they get big enough to protest...seems to help them get into the good habit of sleeping longer stretches at night right from the start. Thanks, Kim, for sharing your life with everyone...I really enjoy your blog. Julie Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth has been a very helpful book for us. I only have two children so far (slowly working up to the rest of you!) but both have benefited greatly after I read the book and are now great sleepers. What a blessing that is! We also swaddle at night until they get big enough to protest…seems to help them get into the good habit of sleeping longer stretches at night right from the start. Thanks, Kim, for sharing your life with everyone…I really enjoy your blog.
Julie

]]> By: whitney http://inashoe.com/2008/07/sleeping-babies-q-a/#comment-16814 whitney Sat, 26 Jul 2008 05:20:27 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=2569#comment-16814 Dear Kim, I rarely discuss our feeding/sleeping ideas with others because it seems that all too often people want to complain about how badly their children sleep but don't want to hear any advice. I constantly hear that I am "lucky" to have such good sleepers but it isn't luck at all. We have six children and they have all slept through the night between 6 and 12 weeks. Yes, they are all different BUT they have all slept 12 hour nights by 4-6 months old. We use the book "On Becoming Babywise" . Listen, if you're opposed to the philosophy of parent directed feeding then you've probably never tried it. I never speak against attachment type parenting philosophies because every family is different and we all love and want the best for our children. As for me and my family, we need a mommy who gets a good eight hours at night asap after the new birth!! The basics of babywise are these: begin to practice an eat-awake-asleep cycle as soon as possible after birth...lay the baby down to sleep on his own without sleep aids...the cycle stays the same all day which means there is a nap between EVERY feeding and feedings are scheduled in a flexible way. It works! Get the book and check it out! It produces happy and healthy babies who are very secure and attached to us! God bless you all as you seek to raise children for His glory! All for Him, Whitney in Ca. Dear Kim, I rarely discuss our feeding/sleeping ideas with others because it seems that all too often people want to complain about how badly their children sleep but don’t want to hear any advice. I constantly hear that I am “lucky” to have such good sleepers but it isn’t luck at all. We have six children and they have all slept through the night between 6 and 12 weeks. Yes, they are all different BUT they have all slept 12 hour nights by 4-6 months old. We use the book “On Becoming Babywise” . Listen, if you’re opposed to the philosophy of parent directed feeding then you’ve probably never tried it. I never speak against attachment type parenting philosophies because every family is different and we all love and want the best for our children. As for me and my family, we need a mommy who gets a good eight hours at night asap after the new birth!! The basics of babywise are these: begin to practice an eat-awake-asleep cycle as soon as possible after birth…lay the baby down to sleep on his own without sleep aids…the cycle stays the same all day which means there is a nap between EVERY feeding and feedings are scheduled in a flexible way. It works! Get the book and check it out! It produces happy and healthy babies who are very secure and attached to us! God bless you all as you seek to raise children for His glory! All for Him, Whitney in Ca.

]]> By: kimc http://inashoe.com/2008/07/sleeping-babies-q-a/#comment-16801 kimc Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:06:36 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=2569#comment-16801 Kristi, I feel the same way about sleeping with our babies. I love to snuggle with them, but I get sore if I can't move around during the night. That's why our babies sleep next to my bed right from the start. I like them in arm's reach but not in my bed. I would suggest you start training from the beginning. There's no need to let a newborn "cry it out" but it seems harder on the baby to start out with one set of rules/habits then do a switcharoo when the baby reaches the magical age of 6 weeks. I have found that our babies sleep best if we wrap them in a blanket and tuck a pillow firmly against their side. I think they feel more secure this way, rather than lying in a great expanse of empty bed. Infant seats also seem to make for good sleepers, though some say it's not a good idea to leave babies in them for long periods. You might not want to take a chance on letting the baby wake the 19mo during the night, but if his sleep habits are well established he should go right back to sleep, and might even quickly learn to sleep right through it all. Kristi,
I feel the same way about sleeping with our babies. I love to snuggle with them, but I get sore if I can’t move around during the night. That’s why our babies sleep next to my bed right from the start. I like them in arm’s reach but not in my bed.
I would suggest you start training from the beginning. There’s no need to let a newborn “cry it out” but it seems harder on the baby to start out with one set of rules/habits then do a switcharoo when the baby reaches the magical age of 6 weeks.
I have found that our babies sleep best if we wrap them in a blanket and tuck a pillow firmly against their side. I think they feel more secure this way, rather than lying in a great expanse of empty bed. Infant seats also seem to make for good sleepers, though some say it’s not a good idea to leave babies in them for long periods.
You might not want to take a chance on letting the baby wake the 19mo during the night, but if his sleep habits are well established he should go right back to sleep, and might even quickly learn to sleep right through it all.

]]> By: kimc http://inashoe.com/2008/07/sleeping-babies-q-a/#comment-16800 kimc Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:59:48 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=2569#comment-16800 Melanie, This sounds a lot like the pattern that we fall into with our babies, and it's worked beautifully for us too. I'll have to check for that book at <a href="http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php?n=7&r_by=kittykait">Paperback Swap</a>. Melanie,
This sounds a lot like the pattern that we fall into with our babies, and it’s worked beautifully for us too. I’ll have to check for that book at Paperback Swap.

]]> By: Melanie http://inashoe.com/2008/07/sleeping-babies-q-a/#comment-16799 Melanie Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:50:30 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=2569#comment-16799 "The Baby Whisperer" is a fantastic book I got when my oldest (now 6) was an infant. I can't remember the author's name, sorry, but I'm sure it'll come up if you google the book title. I loaned my book out and it apparently got lost. =( Basically she uses the E.A.S.Y. method: Eat, Awake, Sleep, Your time It's not a schedule (I hate scheduling!) but pattern that babies easily fall into anyway. Being prepared helps avoid the pitfalls and bad habits that can form when the baby wants to fall asleep at the breast etc. Good luck! The EASY method has worked well for me with all my 3 children. “The Baby Whisperer” is a fantastic book I got when my oldest (now 6) was an infant. I can’t remember the author’s name, sorry, but I’m sure it’ll come up if you google the book title. I loaned my book out and it apparently got lost. =(

Basically she uses the E.A.S.Y. method: Eat, Awake, Sleep, Your time

It’s not a schedule (I hate scheduling!) but pattern that babies easily fall into anyway. Being prepared helps avoid the pitfalls and bad habits that can form when the baby wants to fall asleep at the breast etc.

Good luck! The EASY method has worked well for me with all my 3 children.

]]> By: Kristi http://inashoe.com/2008/07/sleeping-babies-q-a/#comment-16795 Kristi Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:30:38 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=2569#comment-16795 I have co slept with all of our babies, taking them to bed with me and sleeping with them all night long. Often they'll fall asleep on the couch while dh and I are in the living room in the evenings, and then they'll be ready to nurse soon before I go to bed, and I'll just take them to bed with me. I've always enjoyed this, and stil enjoy the cuddle time, but I'd rather get some stretches of sleep on my own now after doing this for several years (all of our babies have been moved into their OWN beds around 9-10 months with no problem whatsoever) But now with our newborn baby #4, I'm hoping to do things a little differently. Your point about not starting habits is a good one, although we've been taking our newest little guy to bed with us already (he's 3 weeks old)....I've heard you shouldn't try any actual "training" before they're 6 weeks, would you agree with that? I'm wondering if now, at only 3 weeks, I should start trying to "train" him to sleep for longer stretches? Often when I try to lay him down on his own, he'll sleep for an average of an hour. Ugh. When he sleeps with me, he'll do great all night long, but my back and shoulders get tired of laying in basically the same position all night, and I'd rather not get him in the habit of nursing all night long, but I know that when they're this young they probably need the nutrition in the middle of the night if they're waking for it. Just wondering on what your opinion would be. How do I encourage him to sleep for longer stretches? Because of room arrangements, our 19 mo. old still sleeps in our room in a pack-n-play, so we can't really let the baby cry it out. I have co slept with all of our babies, taking them to bed with me and sleeping with them all night long. Often they’ll fall asleep on the couch while dh and I are in the living room in the evenings, and then they’ll be ready to nurse soon before I go to bed, and I’ll just take them to bed with me. I’ve always enjoyed this, and stil enjoy the cuddle time, but I’d rather get some stretches of sleep on my own now after doing this for several years (all of our babies have been moved into their OWN beds around 9-10 months with no problem whatsoever)

But now with our newborn baby #4, I’m hoping to do things a little differently. Your point about not starting habits is a good one, although we’ve been taking our newest little guy to bed with us already (he’s 3 weeks old)….I’ve heard you shouldn’t try any actual “training” before they’re 6 weeks, would you agree with that? I’m wondering if now, at only 3 weeks, I should start trying to “train” him to sleep for longer stretches? Often when I try to lay him down on his own, he’ll sleep for an average of an hour. Ugh. When he sleeps with me, he’ll do great all night long, but my back and shoulders get tired of laying in basically the same position all night, and I’d rather not get him in the habit of nursing all night long, but I know that when they’re this young they probably need the nutrition in the middle of the night if they’re waking for it.

Just wondering on what your opinion would be. How do I encourage him to sleep for longer stretches? Because of room arrangements, our 19 mo. old still sleeps in our room in a pack-n-play, so we can’t really let the baby cry it out.

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