https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 03:13:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2650613 Thu, 10 Nov 2016 08:35:56 +0000 JLC53 2650613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi!! Last night was night 5 and it is going amazing!!! I don't want to be too optimistic though and jinx myself. He still cries, but fell asleep within 3 minutes at 7:20pm and slept till 6:10am this morning!!! I still can't wait for the day that there are no more tears at all, but as my sleep consult said that some just do that to self sooth. He is in daycare 5 days a week and naps seem to be hit or miss. Monday, he barely slept so we needed to do a very early bedtime. Tuesday he took such a long morning nap (2 1/2 hrs) that he missed his afternoon nap at daycare all together and fell asleep in the car on the way home. I let him sleep for an hour and woke him up. Had to push bedtime back 1 hour (when he showed signs of tiredness). Yesterday he did pretty well with two 1 hr naps, so we were able to stick to our normal bedtime. What I am finding is that you have to be flexible, which a Type A personality like myself is having a hard time to do... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2650557 Wed, 09 Nov 2016 21:46:57 +0000 Mrs. Cookie 2650557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know I'm late to this but just wanted to say we sleep trained both our boys using CIO and I'm soooo happy we did! It works! Babies need to be able to self-soothe. You are absolutely doing the right thing. Hugs, it is hard but worth it. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2650556 Wed, 09 Nov 2016 21:43:00 +0000 DesertDreams88 2650556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: How is it going now? We are trying sleep training tmrw night with our 9.5m baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648488 Sat, 05 Nov 2016 14:30:06 +0000 JLC53 2648488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update. Morning nap went better then expected. He was tired come nap time, so went down and was out within 2 minutes of whining. Slept for 2 hours, he has NEVER slept for 2 hours EVER. Afternoon nap, since he slept for 2 hours this morning he was not as tired... Fussed/whined mostly, maybe hard cried for less then a minute and was asleep in 11 minutes. He has currently been asleep for 30 minutes... I don't want to be too optimistic, since I have heard it can get worse before it gets better, but I am really proud of myself. He hasn't had a binky since yesterday to sleep and I have been sticking with my plan. I never thought I would be able to do it, but all of your encouraging comments saying sleep training was the best desicion you have made for your family kept me going last night! I can't thank everyone enough... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648471 Sat, 05 Nov 2016 13:18:12 +0000 ocean81 2648471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: Good job! It will get better! When I started to let my daughter CIO, I was worried about it so I remember (jokingly) asking my 7 year old nephew if he remembered crying himself to sleep when he was a baby and if he got mad at my sister, Lol. He didn't remember and he loves his mom (and laughed at me) :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648406 Sat, 05 Nov 2016 08:46:23 +0000 wrkbrk 2648406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: We didn't sleep train in the traditional sense but I finally trained him not to expect to be picked up and taken into our bed in the middle of the night. The 3 night thing really is true. I've had to re-train a couple times after illness etc and it takes precisely 3 nights. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648398 Sat, 05 Nov 2016 07:51:43 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2648398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great work! Just keep at it. I got the cold shoulder for a few days and it sucked. I also had a clingier baby too for a few days. She liked me and didn't at the same time, but she quickly returned to normal. My sister warned me sometimes the third night can be the worst. It wasn't for me, but just in case everything starts going great and then you get a rough night don't get too discouraged. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648389 Sat, 05 Nov 2016 06:30:28 +0000 JLC53 2648389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, we got through our first night!!! Yay!!! I went into his room this morning after a long night and guess what!?!? He doesn't hate me! He smiled and laughed and babbled to me... I thought for sure I would get the cold shoulder. I'm dreading naps today and round 2 tonight... I can do this!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648364 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 23:04:42 +0000 Truvy 2648364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You are doing great! We were in the same situation as you with both my babies at 9 months with the sleep props, but CIO worked for us. As many said, it took 3 nights, the 1st was okay, 2nd was the worst, and by the 3rd, they both figured it out. They both slept through the night ever since. It seems the in-person mom community I am in is very against CIO so I don't share about it much, but it was the best decision we made. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648357 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 22:30:56 +0000 JennyLayneAZ 2648357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: :heart: hang in there momma! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648340 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 21:28:05 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2648340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: you're doing great!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648335 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 20:54:13 +0000 JLC53 2648335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Checking in... 30 minutes of straight hysterical crying and we were asleep. I did pick him up once when he smacked his head on the crib. But as soon as he took a breath, I put him back down. Woke up once since bed time and fell asleep within before 10 minutes because I didn't even get to my first 10 minute check. That was the hardest thing I have ever done. I hope I get through the rest of the night staying strong! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648310 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 19:59:06 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2648310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sleep training saved our lives, and it's the best thing I've ever done as a parent. We started sleep training really early, little by little. She's 2 yrs old now, and goes to sleep on her own and wakes up singing and waits for us to go get her. She's still in a crib though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648285 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 19:07:37 +0000 ShootingStar 2648285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sleep training was one of the best things we ever did as a parent. DS was miserable. He was so tired and we were getting no sleep. He'd be up at least every 2 hours, and by the end of the night it was more like an hour. </p> <p>We sleep trained at 7 months and he started sleeping longer stretches. By 8m he night weaned and was sleeping 12 hour stretches. We had one small regression at 9m and then he's slept amazingly ever since (He'll turn 3 this month). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648234 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 15:46:09 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2648234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sleep trained DD when she was 10 months. I did checks. It took 2 nights. Three weeks later she started sleeping through the night all on her own. It was worth it! My DH and I say we should have done it sooner. You've got this! Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648229 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 15:26:29 +0000 catlady 2648229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I honestly believe that sleep training was one of the best parenting decisions we made. LO didn't sleep much even as a newborn, and the 4 month sleep regression just killed us. She was up close to 10 times per night, every night, and often she'd have a really hard time getting back to sleep and one of us would just have to be up with her, trying to rock her back to sleep. It got to the point where we'd put her to "bed" at like 7 or 8pm and the wakeups would literally start 45 min later and not stop until 4am, and then she'd be up for the day. DH and I wanted to die from exhaustion, LO was cranky all the time, and we were all so unhappy. We tried a couple gentler methods (like Sleep Lady shuffle) but they didn't work. At 5.5 months, we finally gave in and did CIO with checks. We had one bad night, one ok night, and by night 3, she was down to waking up only 3 times per night to nurse and then she'd go right back to sleep.</p> <p>She slept through the night for real at 10 months and has never regressed. She is 3 now and for the past 2+ years, we've all been sleeping through the night pretty much 99% of the time.</p> <p>Good luck. I know it is so hard, but in our case, it was beyond worth it. I would not hesitate to do it again for my next LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648226 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 15:19:28 +0000 gotkimchi 2648226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sleep trained my first lo at 5.5mo and now I have to do my second. I've been putting it off because it seems harder this time :( so I'm following for encouragement as well. Good luck and let us know how it goes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648220 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 15:05:03 +0000 JennyLayneAZ 2648220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following. LO is 6 months and doesn't sleep through the night. I know what we need to do, I guess I'm just not ready yet (even though I really am LOL). So, GOOD LUCK :goodluck: . And please report back :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648219 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 15:03:44 +0000 Dahlia 2648219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes to all of the above. Sleep training made me a much better parent and my daughter soooo much happier. It also took us about 3 nights, with 1/2 the quantity of crying each night. </p> <p>It really helped me to write down my plan and write down small successes, so I would stick to it when things got rough. I also wrote down some "mantras," like a rested baby is a happy baby. And when I couldn't take the crying anymore, I gave my husband the monitor and slept in another room with lots of LOUD white noise to drown it out. </p> <p>My last bit of advice would be to remember that even once you train you'll still have some bad nights, but that doesn't mean it didn't work or you have to start all over!</p> <p>And your kid may surprise you and do great right away! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648195 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 14:25:21 +0000 lioneyes 2648195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i consider sleep training my son to be my greatest professional accomplishment to date. besides all the "how to" advice, the best advice i got was, it takes them 3 nights to learn a skill- 1st night will be not great, 2nd night better, 3rd night good. GOOD LUCK, YOU GOT THIS! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648192 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 14:22:52 +0000 LBee 2648192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm hoping @jape14: sees this post -- she ranks sleep training in her top 3 best things she did in life (marrying her husband, having her son, and sleep training). </p> <p>Either way, we sleep trained and haven't looked back. It was hard, but I viewed it as a couple of bad nights to address the inevitableness that was A LOT of bad nights. What we were doing prior (rocking to sleep) wasn't working anymore and he needed to figure out how to self soothe. Learning how to self soothe has been huge for him and it also gave us freedom because after we sleep trained literally ANYONE could put him down if they just did his routine. </p> <p>The biggest tip I have is to stick to your guns for 3 nights. I cried on our backporch looking at the monitor while we sleep trained, but (thanks to my husband) I stayed strong. It was 3 days of hell and then on the 4th night we put him in his crib and he was like "oh, okay, I know the drill now, no sense in crying!"</p> <p>ETA: Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648191 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 14:22:22 +0000 Freckles 2648191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I broke down and nap trained LO2 at 8 months because i basically wore him for all of his naps and he was getting so freaking heavy! Previously, i did try to sleep train him at 4 months, then at 6 months but deferred it to a later date because he responded so badly.</p> <p>So at 8 months he cried for 45 minutes before sleeping for 2 hours straight. The next day he cried for 10 minutes, the following day for 5 minutes. It was amazing. A couple of weeks later we did night sleep (putting down awake) and he went down without issues.</p> <p>Good luck!! I would say that if after 3 days the crying doesn't get shorter or there is no improvement, i would postpone for another time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-tales-from-the-trenches#post-2648183 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 14:11:59 +0000 JLC53 2648183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like I have been talking about sleep training since my son was born. I said I was going to do it at 6 months and 6 months came and went by...</p> <p>Well tonight is the night. We aren't sick, not cutting teeth at the moment, and this Momma needs some sleep. I don't know if I am ready... I am more fearful of the unknown. I have no idea what he is going to do. He has been rocked to sleep with a bottle or a pacifier for his entire 9 months of existence. Tonight all sleep props are going.</p> <p>I have decided that I am going to do CIO with checks. If he gets more upset with the checks, I will stop checking. I feel like I am torturing him, but I can't keep going the way we are, because he is torturing me (totally kidding)...</p> <p>Please don't lecture me on CIO if it isn't for you... I already am worried that I am not doing the right thing... </p> <p>Please tell me your success stories. I could really use them right now going into tonight... </p>