https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 12 May 2026 11:41:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-313238 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:56:45 +0000 rachiecakes 313238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our pediatrician is the same way and we've let DS dictate his bedtime (within reason) and usually he goes to sleep around 8:30. He's not the greatest sleeper, wakes up to every noise (like me). My mom said I was the same way when I was a baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-313228 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:49:25 +0000 kml636 313228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like common sense to me! I cant' believe the amount of sleep books out there, and they all contradict each other. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-312500 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 08:32:45 +0000 stargal 312500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i like what your pedi had to say.</p> <p>confession: i havent read any baby books and my baby goes to bed ususally at 10 pm or later and sleeps great. sleep books would totally dissaporve on how i was doing it, but ti works for us. P is rested and so am i. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-311567 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:41:33 +0000 Mrsbells 311567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My pediatrician is the same way, she believes in letting the baby nap whenever they want so we dont have a nap schedule. she falls asleep when she is tired or if I think its been a while since she slept I might give her her paci but we dont have a nap schedule. The bottom linei s every child is different so not everything will work well for every child </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-311565 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:39:07 +0000 dookie32 311565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meredithNYC: That's interesting because my mom was a SAHM and she said the opposite- that it's a lot easier to let the baby sleep whenever they want because you don't have any obligations of having to be anywhere or do anything at a certain time. But I do think nowadays the schedules are geared more towards SAHMs- my son is in day care and there is no way I would be able to dictate to them that they follow as strict of a schedule as some of the books suggest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-311541 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:23:00 +0000 meredithNYC 311541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dookie32: It's funny you say that because both my mother and MIL are both pretty adamant about getting the baby on a schedule. Luckily I agree with them so it hasn't been an issue, but it's definitely something I consider more of an old school attitude. I figured it's probably because so many women used to be stay at home moms and it's easier to enforce a schedule when that's the case.</p> <p>I'm in the camp of "do whatever works for you" but I will say that sleep training has saved my sanity. I just can't function on little to no sleep as evidenced by the first few months with LO when I nearly lost my mind. However, I have friends and family members who would rather go with the flow and I think that's fine. I never give them advice since I know they don't want/need it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-311429 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:27:30 +0000 dookie32 311429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do think it was probably a lot less stressful for moms before a lot of these books (&amp; the internet). Most moms of our parents generation that I interact with think it's nuts that you would attempt to put a baby on a schedule. They think like your doctor does- some babies sleep, some don't- such is life. I'm a control freak and a lot of my mom friends are too so I understand the desire to want things to be in a routine and predictable, but I think a lot of times we're attempting to control something that is not able to be and/or shouldn't be controlled. It's a baby, not a robot. My son has a consistent bedtime and I do believe in sticking with that so he gets the sleep he needs but otherwise it is what it is for now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-311371 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:56:52 +0000 MsMamaBear 311371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What do you think? Are we too reliant on books and the internet when it comes to parenting our kids?YES! Would things be easier if we didn't have all these books? Yep!</p> <p>@Nskillet: I feel the same way. I pop in every so often, but on things like shoes, etc. I'm not about to feel like my toddler is damaged b/c I didn't do a certain thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-311357 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:47:22 +0000 Nskillet 311357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This may come off as harsh but I feel this way about the boards in general! Not just about sleep. I have spent a bit less time on Hellobee at the advice of my DH because he noticed I was obsessing over what other mommys did/do and comparing myself and the feeling sad if I didnt measure up. Sleep is just that, whatever my baby gets is good. I don't read parenting books and occasionally pop into threads like these out of sheer curiosity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-311351 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:43:09 +0000 lovehoneybee 311351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great post, and your pedi sounds great!</p> <p>I'm not planning on buying any baby sleep books. Right now we're just following E's schedule. Sometimes he takes several short naps during the day, sometimes he takes one or two super long ones. He's happy and seems well-rested when he's awake. </p> <p>I would like to try to get him to bed earlier. DH works late (last night he didn't get home until 11p) and we sleep in late because of it, so for night sleep he's as nocturnal as his parents are (and we've both ALWAYS been). I start trying to put him down around 10p, but he's usually not out out until 12:30-1 (and then sleeps until 9 or 10a, waking up to feed). I'd like to get him down earlier just so DH and I can have a little time together :) I'm slowly working on moving his bedtime back. </p> <p>I'm not terribly worried about it, though. I know eventually it'll have to be moved back way early for school, but for now it means that DH gets to see him and spend time with him after work, and he's not wide awake at 6am (way before we get up). </p> <p>Anyway, it's working for now. I just refuse to buy the books because I don't think there's a "one size fits all" sleep schedule for babies. A 6p bedtime just won't work for us right now. I imagine the people who write those books make tons of money on the idea that babies MUST be in bed by 6-7 for their health (and the HUGE selling point of Mom and Dad having many hours alone together, I'm sure). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-311190 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:07:18 +0000 Andrea 311190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: I did think of you as my only example of IRL but I have only met you once so you are still mostly in my Internet realm. Heehee! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-311183 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:05:06 +0000 Mrs. Pen 311183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow that's so awesome!!! I think it is great to just let whatever happen, happen as long as everyone is happy and well rested.</p> <p>Sadly that wasn't us - none of us were happy or well rested. So CIO was what worked for us. I didn't want to do it but glad I did. He is a much happier baby as a result.</p> <p>Your Willa though is so completely different that that approach sounds like the right one for her! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-311164 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:53:33 +0000 Mrs. Bee 311164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: you know me irl and i nap trained! :)</p> <p>i'm in the big sleep obsessed camp and it worked for our family, but as with all things parenting, nothing is one size fits all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-311160 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:50:29 +0000 Freckles 311160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my ped told me that less than half the babies out there nap, so if they do, it's just a bonus. he is more adamant about babies sleeping 10-12 hours through the night though. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-311004 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 09:43:22 +0000 calsmom 311004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of the girls I nannied a few yrs back never napped as a baby. She was a happy and healthy baby girl, and is still very much the same as a preteen now. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310918 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 09:00:37 +0000 mrsjazz 310918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: Same here. When I told my doctor that we used a co-sleeper, she told me to put LO in her crib, leave the room, and go back in the morning, so we no longer discuss sleep with her.</p> <p>LO used to go to bed at 10:30/11 and now she goes to bed at 8:30/9. I used to worry that it was too late, but a friend told me her older baby has a late bedtime and it's fine so I stopped stressing about what the books said and paid attention to how my daughter was acting: healthy and happy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310849 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 08:17:55 +0000 yoursilverlining 310849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great post; there is a lot of pressure regarding sleep and every baby is different. My LO doesnt nap much either during the day, and goes to bed for the night between 8-9pm, sometimes later. She uses to go to bed between 10-11pm. She's happy, and sleeps through the night. She's not ready for bed at 6:30, and that's ok! LO was nocturnal when she was born, so I think it's amazing that in 15 weeks she has turned her internal timer around; and I don't expect her to do more than she's already done. Plus, i would much rather have a good night sleeper than a good napper!!! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310786 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 07:22:08 +0000 Andrea 310786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My pediatrician would definitely agree. I've asked her about sleep and she's said that you can't force it. </p> <p>And btw, I don't know ONE person IRL who has nap trained, even though "everyone" seems to do it in books and on the internet. All of my friends (and me) have just dealt with it if their babies take short naps.</p> <p>Thanks for this post. I'm sure you've made a lot of people feel better about their baby's sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310777 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 07:10:27 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 310777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I totally agree, and so does our pediatrician. Chloe takes awful naps and sometimes goes to bed so late at night. I brought it up to the ped, worried she'd think we're horrible parents, but she told me the same thing: You can't force a baby to sleep. When she's tired, she'll sleep. If she is happy, has energy and seems satisfied, then everything is OK.</p> <p>I never read any books, but I sure did a lot of "my 9 month old won't nap" googling. Everyone told me that babies sleep ALL THE TIME when I was pregnant, so it was a huge shock to me when my two week old was up for 8 hour stretches at a time. I thought something was wrong. I thought we were doing something wrong! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310766 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 06:40:32 +0000 mediagirl 310766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's nice to hear. I haven't had to talk to our ped about sleep yet but I have tried to read one sleep book and really didn't feel like it hit on our specific situation. I did ask a few questions of a woman who does some sleep help with parents and their infants and she helped me to understand that 30 minute naps at this age (15 weeks) is still normal. That she will regulate.</p> <p>I'm glad you feel better about where you are with your lo's sleep. It's hard seeing them have trouble sleeping but, like you and your ped, I know I won't be able to do CIO. Some people I know swear by it but, it's just not for me. I'll take my sleep deprivation. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310765 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 06:36:03 +0000 heffalump 310765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish my doctor were like that. They're pro cio so I refuse to ask them any questions about sleep because I didn't want to cio so I knew it wouldn't help me.</p> <p>For the short nap thing, I think that does depend on the baby. I think as long as they're happy than yes that's fine, but my lo was a bad napper and she was cranky about it so she did need to be fixed. She needed sleep but didn't know how to get it. She would fight sleep. Luckily for us she finely figured it out on her own without cio. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310761 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 06:17:18 +0000 cvbee 310761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yay for your sleep post! :) So glad you have such a great doc. </p> <p>At my 4 month appointment our sleep issues had just started and I did not mention it to mine because I was afraid that she would tell us to CIO, which I was very against at that time, but I have a hard time not following doc orders so I thought it was just easier if I didn't say anything, ha. Now I'm wondering what mine would have said! I'll have to ask her at the 6 month. :) </p> <p>You have to go with what works for you---book or no book. Without a book, I had all sorts of people giving me such varied and conflicting advice, and that was hard. For me, a book worked. Now, if book is making you think you have problems that you don't have, that is a problem for sure. But if your Mommy-instincts say 'we've got a problem' and going with the flow is not helping, it is nice that there are books out there to guide through things.</p> <p>I definitely agree to not stress about naps. With the short napping, even the Healthy Sleep book says that some babies are just 30 minute nappers and that's just the way they are and you can't change that (and he is a sleep doctor!). But you're right that then the rest of the chapter goes on to tell you how *important* naps are. My friend had a 30 minute napper, and just like your doc said, the LO just turned into a longer napper now at 8 months old. </p> <p>And I'll add my 2 cents about CIO here too. After being against it for so long we did CIO in the end----and it has been an extremely positive experience, not like all the the anti-CIO stuff I read led me to believe and led me to feel guilty about....the other side of the fence can make you just as crazy!). Mrs.Bee passed me a link a while back with a blog post about someone who had two kids and CIO is what one needed and the other CIO wouldn't have worked for, and it did help me to put the let-cry vs no-cry debate into perspective. Let me see if I can find it! Found: <a href="http://www.askmoxie.org/2011/01/tension-increasers.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.askmoxie.org/2011/01/tension-increasers.html</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310756 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 05:59:22 +0000 chrispygal 310756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree! I have been reading some books on sleep, but really just as information gathering. Like anything else in life, I prefer to research multiple opinions and then form my own. Regardless of what route I choose, I refuse to stress about it. My stress will only stress out LO more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310752 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 05:27:35 +0000 matador84 310752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Amen to that. And...I always put LO to sleep around 10p, because that when he is tired! Yikes, I think if I put him to sleep at 6 he'd been up at 4 everyday (he is 1m). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310747 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 03:32:44 +0000 Honeybee 310747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with your pedi to adjust your approach dependir on the baby; every one is different! I was really cautious about "fixing" DD's sleep, figuring she would learn to put herself to sleep and sleep through the night when she was ready. She figured it out on her own at about a year. I was more anxious about DS's sleep, but recently decided to take the same hands off approach and that has really helped reduce my stress! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310718 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:44:57 +0000 tequiero21 310718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/10/health/sleepless-infants-mom-depressed/index.html?hpt=he_c2" rel="nofollow">http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/10/health/sleepless-infants-mom-depressed/index.html?hpt=he_c2</a></p> <p>didn't get to finish this article, but i think it was saying something similar. of course, studies don't follow kids all the way to high school or anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310701 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 23:27:46 +0000 jedeve 310701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that there needs to be a balance for everything. Some babies need to figure out how to comfort themselves and self soothe and won't without needing to. But there's no perfect method. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310680 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 23:11:29 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 310680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Um sadly-this seems kind of obvious!!! I think we get so caught up in books that we forget to keep it simple....and natural :) your doctor is sensible; I like her </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310679 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 23:11:19 +0000 SAHM0811 310679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tend to agree with your ped. I'm pretty laid back about sleep... I was lucky that my first baby was and still is an awesome sleeper though. My second, not so much... I have stressed about it here and there, but in the end, she's still happy, healthy and reaching milestones left and right so we make do. Today she had only two 30-40 min naps and went down an hour later than usual, but she wasn't overtired or had meltdown. We try our best and yeah, at least she improves every month vs when she was an infant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/interesting-conversation-with-our-pediatrician-regarding-sleep#post-310671 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 22:56:47 +0000 lemondrop 310671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love it! We have some great nap days, others he. won't. sleep. at. all. </p> <p>Some babies don't read the manual. I'm all for getting suggestions from books, but there is no "one book fits all" out there that I have found, so I just go with what he wants. </p>