https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 21:29:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2562766 Mon, 06 Jun 2016 15:58:10 +0000 shortcake 2562766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I always look at sleep training as a constant process. It is not a one week thing or a now thing or a later thing. I did it and reinforced it every nap and every night and every wake up. Just mentally, that helped me to think of it as a continuing process. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2562733 Mon, 06 Jun 2016 15:15:22 +0000 magnoliamama42 2562733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: That is WAY better! Sounds like y'all have come up with a great solution. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2562724 Mon, 06 Jun 2016 15:04:43 +0000 DesertDreams88 2562724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the input everyone! We decided to at least work on falling asleep without nursing / mom, and not nursing 7pm-midnight. So we are trying to keep him awake during his bedtime feed (7pm), put down "drowsy but awake", and then DH handles any wakings 7-12 by letting him cry for 2 minutes and then going in and patting his back until he calms, then leaves him to fall asleep on his own. It's worked out pretty well, he now only wakes 1-2x between 7-12 and he only cries a little bit, sometimes needing patting but sometimes falls right back asleep on his own. Much better than me nursing him to sleep at 7, then again at 8, and 9, and 11.... :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2562716 Mon, 06 Jun 2016 14:53:05 +0000 plantains 2562716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would wait until after the trip and then go for it. I think if you get him falling asleep on his own that may eliminate the nightwaking without much else needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2562709 Mon, 06 Jun 2016 14:46:11 +0000 magnoliamama42 2562709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It seems like he needs to suck in order to fall asleep - this is totally normal for a baby. You didn't mention if he'd take a pacifier? That could make the sleep training less difficult. We've struggled with this, too. To me, it really depends on the baby and the parents. You'll know right away if it's too soon to train, and you know better than anyone what he's capable of. Just remember to be flexible - if it's not working, it's no one's fault. Just stop and try again in a month or so.</p> <p>But I'm with everyone else - definitely wait until after the trip. Sleep training is hard on everyone - no need to go through it more than you necessary! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561905 Sat, 04 Jun 2016 16:02:20 +0000 ChelseaRose 2561905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I think the time zone issue depends on which direction you're going and whether you can keep him on a similar time pattern to what you do at home. When my older son was 1 we traveled from CA to NY for about a week and we just kept him on CA time, which meant that he mostly stayed up later and slept later compared to local time. If that's at all an option then it might help to do it now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561884 Sat, 04 Jun 2016 14:51:23 +0000 pachamama 2561884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmmm I think the travel would derail any progress you made. I think it might just be something your in-laws have to deal with as your baby is so young!. Four months is a little young for sleep training I thought... Maybe six months might bring you more luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561802 Sat, 04 Jun 2016 10:27:24 +0000 LindsayInNY 2561802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: Everything I've read said not to sleep train before 6 months. 4 months is a normal sleep regression time anyways. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561781 Sat, 04 Jun 2016 08:41:11 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2561781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: if it were me, I'd wait until after the trip. I'd be so discouraged if we worked to sleep train and I got my hopes up and it didn't work on our trip (and then we had to do it all over again). I do think the large time change is going to affect his sleep at least somewhat, as well as schedule &amp; rputine changes.<br /> It's a fat bummer to have a kid wake up every 1-2 hours. (My first was like that until he was 2.5 years old. It's killer.) But try not to stress too much about the in-laws. They've all had kids who cried at some point during the night! And my family has always said politely "Oh I didn't hear him!" even if they probably did. You could always bring some earplugs for them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561706 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 23:54:24 +0000 ChelseaRose 2561706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd do it now with the understanding that you may need a couple of nights to adjust when you get back too. I think the skill of learning to fall back asleep or just sleep longer periods of time without fully waking will be helpful on your trip. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561655 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 20:32:30 +0000 Mae 2561655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd sleep train after the trip, and only for going to bed. 4 mo seems a bit young to me to sleep train for MOTN wake ups, but I'm no expert. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561637 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 19:58:14 +0000 gingerbebe 2561637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: fwiw I was able to fold into half and shove it in our largest suitcase with the rest of the baby's stuff when we went to Hawaii last fall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561632 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 19:50:24 +0000 mrswin 2561632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I found that in the middle of the night it was ok to nurse back to sleep but the initial bedtime falling asleep was important that it was on her own </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561622 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 19:19:40 +0000 Corduroy 2561622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sleep trained LO1 at 4 months. I would try now and anticipate that you'll need a refresher after your trip. Sleep training has never been a one and one thing for us (colds, regressions, travel) but it has gotten easier each time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561619 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 19:10:30 +0000 DesertDreams88 2561619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrswin: yeah, unfortunately falling asleep while nursing at night (not during the day though). Guess I gotta kick that habit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561617 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 19:08:13 +0000 DesertDreams88 2561617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: We have the Dream on Me mattress based on a post from you in another thread :) We actually have 2! One for the PnP &amp; one for his crib (it's a "mini crib" due to our space limitations). I might consider buying another one for the grandparents but it feels a bit silly, given that we'd only use it 1x-2x a year with these grandparents. Hmmm, will think on it more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561608 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 18:34:33 +0000 gingerbebe 2561608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: in that case if it were me I would sleep train now, and if you have to do it again when you get back then so be it. We occasionally have to roomshare with our son and if he's down as 730 and we go to bed around 10-11 and be super quiet he will sleep just fine in the PNP. The Dream on Me mattress for the PNP is a great investment - makes the bed way more comfy and I would practice with that at home too. We keep one at each grandparents house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561549 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 16:30:45 +0000 mrswin 2561549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: Is he falling asleep nursing? This is the age where sleep associations can become a bigger problem and may be contributing to the hourly wake ups. </p> <p>Could you nurse him and then maybe put him into a sleep sack or something that will wake him up slightly so he falls asleep without the nursing. Getting my DD to fall asleep on her own was a huge game changer for wake ups! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561518 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 15:49:28 +0000 DesertDreams88 2561518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: @gingerbebe: Thanks for the dream feed suggestion! We have tried dreamfeeds with a bottle, and he drinks a random unpredictable amount and then refuses to continue, and I hate wasting all that milk. Plus, most nights I nurse him at 7 and put him to bed, and then he wakes at 8pm, and again at 9pm, and sometimes again around 12,.... so adding in more feeds won't really help that, I don't think.</p> <p>@gingerbebe: hopefully we will have the same situation! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561506 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 15:38:30 +0000 gingerbebe 2561506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @2PeasinaPod: and would add a 10pm Dreamfeed. We were able to get our first to sleep from Dreamfeed to morning for a long time. Changing up the feed schedule itself might shake things up a bit so that he won't wake up as much. That would get you hopefully to about 430am and then feed again and get to 730am for wake up. That should work ok for your trip.</p> <p>FWIW, we went to my inlaws when DS was 3 months old and they live 3 time zones away. He was so out of it from the air travel that the time difference really didn't affect anything. We just put him on his schedule in the new time zone and switched back to our time zone when we got back and it was not an issue. If there is, it usually doesn't take more than 2 days to sort itself out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561479 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 15:04:46 +0000 raspberries 2561479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd wait and do it after - we traveled shortly after we sleep trained and had to redo it, so it was twice the suffering for everyone involved. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561465 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 14:35:13 +0000 erinbaderin 2561465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For what it's worth, with my son we consulted a sleep doula wanting to sleep train at 4 months. We mentioned that we were going to England in two weeks and she advised us to wait and do it after. We were all sharing a room too so I was usually able to get to him to nurse before he really started crying, and I just tried to take a nap when he did every so often to make up the sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561456 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 14:18:34 +0000 catlady 2561456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would try it and see how it goes, and it it doesn't work (or if travel wipes it out), do it again. We were in a miserable place at 4 months, tried sleep training, and within a single night, we knew that it wasn't working at all. We waiting 6 weeks, tried again, and it worked. In our case, I think our baby wasn't ready (but we were a different situation, ours never acted likes yours did at 2 months). I just wouldn't push it past 1-2 nights if it doesn't work at first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561451 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 14:14:05 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2561451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What if you put him down at 7 and wake him up at 10 to feed (providing he doesn't wake on his own), then see if he goes 10-5? That seems a little more manageable than waking up in the middle of the night? </p> <p>I know you were asking about sleep training now vs. later, but I think the time zone change is going to wipe out anything you do before you go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-we-sleep-train-now-or-later#post-2561446 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 14:09:24 +0000 DesertDreams88 2561446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>TLDR version: DS is 4mo old and 90th percentile. We plan on doing "controlled crying" (Ferber) or "limited crying" (The Baby Sleep Solution) soon to manage his night feeds. I don't believe he really needs to eat more than once a night, if at all (more detail below) and I am so tired.</p> <p>In 3 weeks, we are taking a 2wk trip to 2 timezones away. We all be sharing a room with adjoining walls to my ILs and then my parents. I know I will be stressed out if his crying wakes up my parents or my ILs, and I don't want to feel like a sleep-deprived zombie during the once-a-year trip of seeing friends and family. So, I want to sleep train before the trip.</p> <p>On the other hand, this trip might cancel out any sleep training we do, via timezones and new setting and disrupted routines. Then we'd have to sleep train all over again afterwards.</p> <p>So, would you sleep train before, or after the trip?<br /> ----------------------------------------------------------<br /> More details, skip if you want, I know it's long:<br /> LO was down to usually 1, sometimes 2, night feeds at 2mo. He would sleep 7pm-5:30am, feeding at 1am and 4am OR 3am. So his first stretch of sleep would be 6-8 hours and the feeds would last 20-25min.</p> <p>It gloriously stayed like that until the 4mo sleep regression hit. Since then he's been waking up every 1-2 hours which is only solved by 5-10min nursing. It's been 4 or 5 weeks of this...</p> <p>I thought feeding might be an issue, so we upped his breastmilk bottles to 6oz (which he readily drinks) &amp; dipped into my frozen stash. I also try to get him to feed longer at night but both he &amp; I are so tired. </p> <p>We gradually dropped the swaddle because he began rolling. He does it rarely, but enough to make me nervous. Unswaddling seemed to not affect his sleep at all.</p> <p>He used to sleep in the RnP but he's nearing the weight limits and we need to use a PnP on our trip in 3 weeks. So we have been doing that transition, too. </p>