https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:25:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2718678 Fri, 31 Mar 2017 07:57:22 +0000 babycanuck 2718678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Night 3:</p> <p>Went down no issues<br /> Woke up overnight twice - had a drink and went back to sleep<br /> Woke up at 5:30, sat looking around the crib<br /> 6 AM he cried/complained for a few minutes for me<br /> 6:25 I went in and he was happy to see me</p> <p>Daycare also mentioned they've noticed a change in him and that's all down to the sleeping habits! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2718592 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 18:59:45 +0000 Mrs. Oreo 2718592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: So far so good! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2718556 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 16:02:25 +0000 youboots 2718556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like it's going well. We had to re sleep train T at about 19 months after her sleep was thrown off from a trip and we felt with 3-4+ wake ups a night it was like having a newborn. CIO does not bother me since sleep is way more important to me in the long term than difficult nights in the short term. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2718486 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 14:14:04 +0000 SweetiePie 2718486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: amazing! Keep it up!<br /> I fully understand that sleep training/CIO isn't for everyone (like, I get that it's just hard to do and not everyone can handle it). But it DOES work once you can work up the courage. Once he starts truly sleeping all night you'll see such a difference in his demeanor and since sleep begets sleep his naps will probably be more solid which means bedtime goes easier. It's such a cycle (for us at least).<br /> GREAT JOB! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2718477 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 14:06:42 +0000 birdofafeather 2718477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: so great!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2718146 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 07:52:40 +0000 babycanuck 2718146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Night 2:</p> <p>Whimpered a bit during our song time<br /> Complained for about a minute then laid down and went to sleep at 630</p> <p>Woke up at 830 crying, complained for 15 minutes then laid down and went to sleep</p> <p>Woke up at 6 AM crying for me, I went in at 625 and took him out for the day </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2718060 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 19:11:51 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2718060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: I'm impressed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2718033 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:28:11 +0000 Mrs. Oreo 2718033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: It sounds like this is off to a good start. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2718025 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:18:57 +0000 babycanuck 2718025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: He was going down at 8 PM, too. Honestly I just did the routine at 6 instead of 730 and into the crib he went at 630. Last night was tough. Tonight he stood up for a minute to whine, then went to sleep! I don't go into his room (per the doula) until 6:30 AM. Before daylight savings, he was going to bed at 7 and up on his own by 5-530, I was exhausted. After DST, it was 8 PM and waking around 6-7 AM, but that was with continual wake-ups and tantrums overnight.</p> <p>I am fortunate to work from home most days, so our day is like this:</p> <p>- Breakfast is right after he wakes up - he's like a dinosaur and just wants food<br /> - Daycare drop off just before 8 AM<br /> - Daycare pick-up between 4-4:30 PM<br /> - Dinner for him by 5, TV off/no screen time after dinner (I have a bad habit of always having a tv on for white noise)<br /> - After eating, we play.<br /> - 5:45 bath, even if I don't wash his hair, I let him play in the bath. While he's in the bath I close the black out curtains.<br /> - After bath we do jammies, play in his room, read a couple of books together.<br /> - Right before I put him in the crib we read Good Night Construction Site, I sing Twinkle Twinkle once, hum it twice and then kiss, "I Love You and Good Night" and in he goes.</p> <p>I think going back to the crib was a big thing - he always slept so well on my bed I converted his crib to a bed at 13 months, when I should have just left it. Baby jail! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717959 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 15:25:20 +0000 sauerkraut 2717959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: sounds like it's going awesome! Good for you for doing this. I'm following for tips. My LO is still sleeping in my room and most definitely not STTN, but I'm moving her into her own room in the next month, and looking for pointers to get her sleeping better :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717943 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 15:07:06 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2717943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: how did you move bedtime up so early in one day?</p> <p>I come home with my 11 mos old around 5:45 pm. He gets dinner, a bottle, playtime and sometimes a bath. Bedtime is 8 pm. We wake him up at 5:30 am. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717917 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 14:13:27 +0000 SweetiePie 2717917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: Good work! Soon you'll enjoy the wine AND the sleep!<br /> It's so hard but so worth it!<br /> Also, them being happy in the morning despite he night time crying makes me feel so much better. They aren't scarred for life. They aren't mad at us. They will be better off with the great night sleep and so will we! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717916 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 14:10:37 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2717916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: that's amazing!! Yay! When I let dd CIO she got up in the motn and also had a meltdown. For sure nights one and two were difficult but by night 3 she just got it. And night 4 she barely made a peep. And night 5 she sttn. Keep at it!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717904 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 14:00:34 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2717904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: video monitors are key for sleep training I feel! Good for you. That sounds like a pretty successful night. I did it around 6 months and the first 2 nights it was 45 minutes of crying. It was awful, but me going in there resulted in her throwing up. If I didn't go in then she'd fall asleep. </p> <p>You're lucky that he's older now and you should only have to do this one time! Some people say night 3 or 5 can be the worst. I didn't have that issue. Every night was better and night 3 was like 15 minutes. </p> <p>That better sleep and going to sleep solo is going to be great for you and for him!</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717894 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 13:51:03 +0000 babycanuck 2717894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Night 1:<br /> I put him in the crib at 6:30 PM<br /> He screamed (literally) for 30 minutes, including throwing his sippy cup of water and lovey out of the crib in the hopes I would pick it up. After the meltdown he laid down and went to sleep.</p> <p>He woke up 4 times overnight, cried for all of them but for less than 2 minutes. </p> <p>Was super happy to see me at 6:30 AM.</p> <p>I enjoyed some wine last night...but didn't sleep as I was so nervous I basically watched the video monitor I borrowed from a friend all night to make sure he was okay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717700 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 08:26:45 +0000 Truth Bombs 2717700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We sleep trained my bad sleeper around 13 months and honestly it turned out to be no big deal. I thought it would be horrible. I have a 4 year old and never sleep trained her because I just couldn't bare the thought. But my little guy was so sleep deprived and so was I and I had the flu and it was time for a change. The first night sucked, he screamed for 20 minutes and then alternated quite and whimpering until the 90 minute mark and then fell asleep. The second night was 10 minutes. The third night was 45 seconds. We are all soooooo much happier now that we sleep. I made the decision and handled to myself mainly because I was still nursing so I needed to make the call on when to nurse him, wean him, etc and because my husband is a total sucker and would have never made it 90 minutes :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717649 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 22:40:35 +0000 JessyMess 2717649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think its awesome you hired a sleep doula! It takes me so much trial and error before I finally realize that I need to ask for help. As for as a distraction, we watched loud movies with headphones when we tried CIO. I'm so curious to know how it goes, so I hope you update us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717598 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 18:59:19 +0000 Goldengirl 2717598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good luck! I haven't sleep trained (LO is 4 months) and also feel sooooo nervous about it. Let us know how night 1 goes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717588 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 18:44:18 +0000 Alba4 2717588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: good luck. Sleep training so so f*cking hard but SO worth it!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717513 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 15:10:10 +0000 wrkbrk 2717513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: Good luck! Don't feel like you have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. You can take her suggestions and modify them too, whatever works best for you. Update us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717442 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 12:53:28 +0000 babycanuck 2717442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OK - so day 1. We spoke about methods - chair/gradual removal and Ferber, which typically works for younger (4-6months) or older (2.5-3 y/o) because at least at the toddler stage they can converse back. CIO is the best method for me to do because, as I noticed the last couple of days, if I go in or try to sit there, he does everything humanly possible to make me pick him up - in our case, banging his head on the side of the crib.</p> <p>So. I'm ripping the band-aid off and starting it tonight. I have to keep a shared sleep and feeding log with her, she also said he's going to bed too late. 8 pm = no, 6:30 pm Yes. It means I get basically no time with him after work but it's short term, right? He will eventually go to bed later...</p> <p>I'm borrowing a video monitor from a friend so I have peace of mind, I only have a standard monitor. I'm scared out of my freaking mind...but I have to do it. Even though I could probably do this on my own, I'm glad I hired her. I need the moral support. I get no help from my hubby during the week when he has to get up at 4:30 AM for work and ignores all of the crying, it keeps me up. I also wholeheartedly admitted to her I know I am 90% of the problem.</p> <p>Down to bed at 6:30 - don't go in until 6:30. Naps on the weekends have a 90 minute rule - when he falls asleep, he has to be in the crib for 90 minutes. If he wakes at 60 minutes I have to leave him there to play/complain/whatever until the 90 minute mark.</p> <p>Time to find something to keep myself occupied when I put him down.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717418 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 12:12:39 +0000 erinbaderin 2717418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>100% support from me - we have hired a sleep doula THREE TIMES because we keep screwing him up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717402 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 11:49:50 +0000 MrsADS 2717402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck we went through SLEEP HELL recently with my 19mo. He has been a bad sleeper since day #1 and had horrible reflux until well, recently, so we couldn't do any sleep training or let him cry which led to horrible sleep habits. From December through Feb this year, he was literally up for 3-4 hours in the middle of the night EVERY NIGHT and we though we were going to die. We had to do something.</p> <p>Feel free to read my crazy posts if you want more background and others' advice, it may be helpful:<br /> <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-trainingcio-with-a-toddler-17m" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-trainingcio-with-a-toddler-17m</a><br /> <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-consultant-for-toddler" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-consultant-for-toddler</a><br /> <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-16-month-old-up-for-hours-at-night" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-16-month-old-up-for-hours-at-night</a></p> <p>I also did quite a bit of research on sleep consultants, etc. because were absolutely at rock bottom. Basically, the advice I got from everyone was that most sleep consultants will give you some sort of "plan" (variation on CIO, etc) depending on what you want/are comfortable with/your needs, and you can just try it on your own first.</p> <p>So, that's what we did. I hate hate hate CIO. I said I would never do it. I still hate it tbh. But my child was literally getting sick from sleep deprivation and totally miserable. I have a long commute and had a few close calls driving from exhaustion that could have been catastrophic, so something had to give. I was literally about to quit my job.</p> <p>So, we picked a plan that worked for us (ferber-style CIO with frequent checks) and... I made my husband do it. Lol. I could not handle it. </p> <p>It worked great and quickly, too, so I am glad we didn't hire the sleep consultant. If it had not worked, that would have been my next step. We have been VERY CONSISTENT and do the same thing every single night. </p> <p>Good luck. I know how truly, truly awful it is. :crying: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717401 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 11:47:08 +0000 wrkbrk 2717401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: Good luck! You are not alone! My 16 month old still wakes up 1-3 times 90% of nights. He doesn't need anything ... it's just a bad habit. I feel you! Please share what the sleep guru tells you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717396 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 11:37:19 +0000 babycanuck 2717396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LulaBee: So the one I hired doesn't come in - she said if she does that, what happens when she leaves? Basically she gives me a few options on different methods, we decide on the right one, when to start, then I keep a sleep/feeding log and we check in every day. She said she helps to tweak routine and focus on the small wins until he's finally sleeping well.</p> <p>I did find another woman who does come in and do it for you and deals with CIO but she was suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuper expensive. </p> <p>I have my first call with her shortly so I'll report back what comes out of it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717394 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 11:33:42 +0000 LulaBee 2717394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How will that work if you're home? Won't you hear him crying for you? My 16 month old doesn't STTN either, so I feel your pain (my 4 year old didn't STTN until 21 months). For me, I think a night alone at a hotel would be better than a sleep doula. Good luck! You're not a failure!! You're a great mom who needs rest. The end. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717378 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 11:12:35 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2717378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My Oct '15 baby still doesn't sttn consistently. Wakes more often than doesn't for sure although the past week has been exceptionally good. The weeks/months before he rarely sttn. I blamed it on teething. My dh says it's because he wants to see me because when I'm out of town he doesn't wake up as much. 😳 His sister sttn off and on the whole first year and then we sleep trained at 16m. Yesterday I tried letting him cry at nap time and he was hysterical so I got him and picked him up and he was sort of choking on his own spit so I pat him on the back and he puked. Soooo yah. 😂 (He was perfectly happy while this was happening, honestly! I took his shirt off and he ran off for a toy.)</p> <p>Anyway you are NOT a failure. A) you're working on it and B) babies don't always cooperate. Hang in there and I hope you get some much needed sleep soon! You're doing great, chin up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717372 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 11:01:44 +0000 mrskansas 2717372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Girl you should not feel like a failure! You are doing what's best for your sanity and hopefully the doula can help with your LO's sleep issues.</p> <p>There is no shame in that. I would be doing the same thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ive-given-in-and-hired-a-sleep-doula#post-2717369 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 10:52:51 +0000 babycanuck 2717369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've read posts from some of the bees who have hired a sleep doula. I am at my wit's end with my LO - 17 months and still not sleeping through the night, up 3-5 times a night looking for me, and fighting all naps (only with me). If we co-sleep he's fine; he's always been tough to get down.</p> <p>Daycare has no issues getting him to nap...<br /> I'm glad I reached out for help...<br /> Why do I still feel like a failure?? :bummed: </p>