https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:00:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1141223 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 17:48:17 +0000 hilsy85 1141223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: so sorry, just saw this! I guess I don't understand what you mean...? To me, night weaning is when you don't feed them overnight anymore. I still fed him 1x overnight, I just more or less "controlled" when the feeding took place in order to maximize sleep time for both of us. Hope that makes sense! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1139956 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:05:26 +0000 JoJoGirl 1139956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Hmm. okay thanks. I guess I don't understand the difference between the two :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1139819 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:27:34 +0000 hilsy85 1139819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: ah gotcha...then I would definitely try to push back that feeding til 3 or 330, especially since it's hardest to extend that 2nd stretch of sleep! I really recommend reading Ferber's book--he writes a lot about healthy sleep habits and it makes a TON of sense, regardless of whether or not you end up using his method.</p> <p>ETA I did NOT night wean when we sleep trained at 6.5 months--I am only now in the process of night weaning at almost 12 months. There's no reason that doing this method should lead to night weaning (unless LO decides to just STTN, which I"m sure you wouldn't mind! :) ). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1139812 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:25:49 +0000 JoJoGirl 1139812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: That's part of the problem, she often only sleeps another 2 or so hours after her first wakeup, so if it's at 2, she's often up at 4:30/5 for the day :( :( If it's 3, sometimes she'll make it to 6. But in general, yes that's her only wakeup. That's why I'm so hesitant to Ferber because it becomes night weaning and I'm not sure she's ready for that...</p> <p>(Sorry @moderndaisy!!!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1139790 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:21:43 +0000 hilsy85 1139790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: yup definitely! LO was going to bed at 630 so I felt like 2 was appropriate (7.5 hours). If he was going to bed later, I would set the time later--so maybe 3, 3:30? Is that her only wakeup though? And then when is she up for the day? If that had been LO's only wakeup (at let's say midnight) and then he slept another 6 hours after that, I would have left it--his issue was that he was up at midnight, 3, 5, and then up for the day at 630. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1139782 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:19:50 +0000 JoJoGirl 1139782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Absolutely makes sense. But what if you wanted LO to sleep later than 2am? :) She goes to bed at 8 and rarely gets up before 2, but at 5 months I feel like her first stretch should be longer than 6 hrs, you know? When it was 8 hrs for a few weeks a month ago? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1139775 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:18:39 +0000 hilsy85 1139775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: oh so you mean for MOTN wakeups? Yes! We did that--LO always fell asleep no problem on his own in the beginning of teh night, but would wake up in the MOTN and cry--he wouldn't REALLY be hungry (although nursing usually put him back to sleep). Sleep training is just that--helping them learn to put themselves to sleep, whether that's at the beginning of the night or in the MOTN. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1139770 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:17:21 +0000 hilsy85 1139770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: we did Ferber with checks at 6.5 months....I added in a bottle of pumped milk before bed so I knew he was really full, and then I set a time (2am) and didn't feed him before that--I would go in at intervals (3 min, 5 min, 7 min) and soothe for 30 seconds, then leave. Around this time we swaddle weaned and introduced a lovey. The whole point is to let them learn to fall asleep on their own, so putting them back to sleep with rocking/shushing is kind of counter productive, because it still creates a sleep crutch, if that makes sense?</p> <p>It was tough, but by night 3 there was a great improvement! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1139761 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:15:58 +0000 Modern Daisy 1139761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Haha, yes I know it is always changing! What I meant is sleep training when LO wakes up too early between feedings and isn't hungry, wet or needs to be held. So getting them to go back to sleep at night when they don't actually need anything. I know people use CIO and other methods to get LO's to fall asleep in the first place, but I was wondering if it's possible to 'train' them to sleep longer stretches. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1139742 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:12:23 +0000 JoJoGirl 1139742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Not to threadjack.. but how did you do the second one with sleep training? My LO dropped from 8 hrs stretches to 4-5 hr stretches for her first stretch of the night and I'm dying. If she's waking up at 2 to eat now instead of 4:30, how do I make it go back?? I always try to put her back to sleep with a paci/rocking at 2am and it's never once worked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1139673 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 08:57:43 +0000 hilsy85 1139673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: when you say longer stretches, do you mean getting them to wake up later in the morning for the day? Or longer stretches, like going from 4 hours between feedings to 7-8 hours between feedings? I think both those things are possible, as LOs develop and mature! We had success with the 2nd one by doing sleep training at 6.5 months; the first one, we tried to sleep train for it but mostly just ended up waiting it out. </p> <p>I think you'll find that your LOs sleep patterns may change a ton of times between now and 6/7/8 months...my LO went from being an awesome sleeper to a crappy one and now at almost 1, he's pretty good again (with some more ups and downs in between!). The only constant in baby sleep is that it's always changing :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1139609 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 08:38:19 +0000 Modern Daisy 1139609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all for your comments and input!! I really like hearing everyone's individual journey, that is really helpful. I know it's different for every child and unfortunately the advice I get is always conflicting, so I like to hear real life stories. </p> <p>I guess we have been really lucky so far whereas DS seems to know the difference between night and day (for the most part), but his sleep patterns make me wonder if at any age (not as early as 7 weeks) it's possible to sleep train to make them sleep longer stretches. I guess I should have clarified in the beginning I'm wondering in general, not for my specific situation, if it's possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1139048 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 19:22:18 +0000 meredithNYC 1139048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: It may be a bit early for sleep training, but it's certainly not too early to do a little research. It depends on your philosophy re: CIO, but I read "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" when LO was about 3 months old and started sleep training shortly thereafter.</p> <p>However, I will say that I felt my LO was ready (you just have to trust your instincts on this one, I think) and because we had been working on a nighttime "routine" since she was 7-8 weeks old, the training went really well for us and we were lucky that we didn't have much CIO to contend with, as generally LO would only wake when something was actually wrong - in which case, we would go to her.</p> <p>I could write tons more, but I'll leave it at that since every situation is different and what worked for me may or may not work for others :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138912 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 18:01:21 +0000 Anagram 1138912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: my LO is 12 weeks now and she's always been an early bird and gotten up for the day round 5-5:30 am. I guess the difference is she'll wake up happy and smiley and ready to play...although she would definitely cry if we didnt pick her up when she woke up.<br /> We tried for quite some time to get her to go back to sleep but that would just make her hysterical and worked up. So we gave that up and my husband wakes up for the day at that point (because I do the night wakeups) and usually by the time he leaves for work, she's ready for her first nap of the day.</p> <p>I think 7 weeks is too young for any real sleep training because I don't think it will stick. I'm in a mom's group and some people have been doing scheduling and "training" from the first week home from the hospital and it still seems like the babies are either born good sleepers or they aren't. And all of our LO's, regardless of training, have been sleeping bout the same (maybe just at different times, but similar stretches). Even the ones who let their kids fuss before picking them up--- it might work fr a dayr two, but then a new wonder week or growth spurt will hit and they'll wake up more often again,</p> <p>The good news is, somewhere between 2-4 months, your LO will naturally start to sleep slightly longer, and I agree with the PPs that those early morning sleep stretches are shortest for pretty much all babies. My LO now sleeps 8 pm- 1 or 2 am (so 5-6 hours), then back until about 5 am, then up for a while from 5-7:30 am and then sleep until 9 am. That's just the schedule her body has naturally made.</p> <p>You can spend a lot of time fighting it, or just work with it. Personally, I wouldn't consider real sleep training until 3-5 months old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138875 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 17:21:26 +0000 Cherrybee 1138875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: Just chiming in to say my 11 wk old is rarely cheerful when she is awake and its not gas or an intolerance - we dealt with that during her very early life and this is very different. My LO is just tired all.the.time but will.not.sleep! She is a joy when she wakes up for the day after a really good night (8hrs then a feed, then 4 hours) but give her an hour of smiling/playing and Miss Grumpypants comes back. Then as the day goes on (and her 1/2 hr crap naps don't cut it) she gets more and more miserable. Ugh. Its frustrating when you KNOW they need more sleep but they will not drop back off. Her night sleep was good until the last few nights when she has started waking (when a feed isn't due) and refusing to go back off. I was in tears at 5.30 this morning because of it. Like your LO, nothing makes her happy - not being held, not her dummy - because she is so, so tired; only sleep would make her happy and she's not.doing.it! If you find an answer, please let me know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138709 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 16:06:42 +0000 heartonastring 1138709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with @skipper2010: and @lawbee11: about the swing. When DD was that age (back when she used to be a good sleeper!) her typical sleep schedule was 9-5. At 5 I'd bring her downstairs and feed her and then pop her in the swing while I slept on the couch. After awhile I got so used to that schedule that I'd just be up for the day at 5 without any problem.</p> <p>I think for a 7 week old your LO is doing well. Six to nine weeks is the peak period for fussiness. DD is not a crier at all, but during that time there was a lot of crying for no reason. It does pass though, I promise.</p> <p>Hang in there, mama. You're doing a great job :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138592 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 15:23:14 +0000 skipper2010 1138592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do the same exact thing @lawbee11 said. When LO wakes up early I put him in the swing and nap on the couch. He's usually pretty content in the swing even if he doesn't fall back asleep and it gives me a little more time to catch some zzz's. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138532 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 15:06:12 +0000 mrsjyw 1138532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unfortunately, I waited out the early morning wake-up periods. I've heard from several diff sources, even straight CIO methods that early/motn wake-ups aren't usually conducive to sleep-training... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138432 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 14:38:06 +0000 immabeetoo 1138432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: an analogy that helped me was that sleep is developmental; you wouldn't expect a 3 month old to crawl if you left them in the middle of a room for long enough. That helped me when my LO was screaming in my ear even though I knew he was tired and had all his needs met. Being cuddled or tended to is a need for tiny babies just like eating. I spent many mornings from 4-7 asleep in our glider with him asleep on my chest.. And now he sleeps fine in his crib for 12 hours. If your kiddo is genuinely unhappy all the time I'd investigate physical causes of fussiness too. Hang in there!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138396 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 14:12:20 +0000 tysonja 1138396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: hi! I just wanted to chime in and say that in my experience I don't think seven weeks is too young, given what you have described about the situation. We started around that time too and it worked for us:) for us, if he was not hungry, wet, or crying too hard, we let him fuss and coo in the crib until his wake time. He usually fell back asleep within 15 min. It was a gradual process though, with ups and downs, but he had his nap schedule down pat and sttn at night around 3 months and hasn't ever woken up at night yet since -- he is now 16 months. </p> <p>It's possible that he was just a good sleeper and had nothing to do with sleep training, so we will see with LO#2, who is 12 days old so far, so too young still:) </p> <p>Hope it works out with your LO, whatever you end up deciding to do! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138384 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 14:04:15 +0000 hilsy85 1138384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sammyfab: OMG YES the dinosaur noises. That's why we moved LO out of our room. So noisy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138367 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 13:58:00 +0000 Sammyfab 1138367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have to agree with others. 7 weeks is pretty early to teach any sleep habits...especially in the early morning hours where it is so hard for babies to settle and learn how to fall back asleep. Sleep is so unpredictable at that age so setting expectations for when / how long he should sleep may not be the most realistic.</p> <p>I would try the 5 S's and maybe try a swing like @lawbee11 suggested. Do you swaddle and use white noise? Oh, and is he full-out crying and awake at that time? My son used to make dinosaur noises between 4-7am that drove me crazy because he wasn't actually awake...just super fussy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138366 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 13:57:59 +0000 MamaMoose 1138366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: hhmhh.... if he's never awake and happy is it possible he has a food intolerance? I'm guessing from your comments that you are formula feeding... maybe try switching to soy to see if that helps? Or even just giving him gas drops or gripe water to help soothe his tummy? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138354 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 13:53:01 +0000 hilsy85 1138354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: do you mean waking up too early in the mornings (like 530am)? or waking in the MOTN (like 3am) and not being able to go back to sleep? For the first one, he might just be an early bird unfortunately...if it's the MOTN, I would try a swing, a tight swaddle, and loud shushing while rocking--those things helped our LO fall back asleep! But it will get better, hang in there! Could he have gas/be uncomfortable? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138346 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 13:47:42 +0000 lawbee11 1138346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: I think eventually that could work but I don't think you can teach them anything at this age. I think they cry because they need something (or think they need something). Do you have a swing? Whenever M wakes up early DH puts her in the snugabunny swing and we can usually get a couple more hours out of her. He sleeps on the couch since the swing is in the living room and I stay in bed. We're screwed once she outgrows that swing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138273 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 13:16:28 +0000 Modern Daisy 1138273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: LO is never awake and happy unless he's just eaten. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138268 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 13:15:14 +0000 Modern Daisy 1138268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@loveisstrange: He screams/fusses until it's time for his next bottle, regardless of what we try. He screams even louder when we hold him, a paci doesn't work and he refuses a bottle. So if we left him in the crib.. he'd be screaming. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138264 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 13:14:18 +0000 Modern Daisy 1138264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: We still go to him too, but he doesn't want to be held. He cries/fusses until it's REALLY time for his next bottle, then he'll finally eat it. So really I'm just wondering if, in general (not just for my specific situation) if it's possible to teach them to go back to sleep when it's too early to eat. I feel like he wakes up and just doesn't know what to do with himself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138034 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 11:23:19 +0000 immabeetoo 1138034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: Oh wow that is young! I think at that age, it is completely normal and developmentally LOs are just doing what they need/can do in terms of sleep stretch length. Is he crying if he is in his crib awake? My son would be awake and happy sometimes when he was that little, and we just left him to hang out if it was before 7 AM. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleep-training-to-stay-asleep#post-1138031 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 11:22:09 +0000 loveisstrange 1138031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If he's happy to just lay in his crib, I dont see why you couldn't leave him for a bit. </p>