https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 07 Jun 2026 07:03:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1750012 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 13:19:48 +0000 Bubbles 1750012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HazelEyes tbh I did not have success with drowsy but awake until pretty recently! If I tried it back in the serious bouncing days he would just go mad when I put him in the cot! So I would bounce for a while, then bounce and pat, then just pat and lay him in the cot asleep. Then over time I gradually started to lay him down earlier and earlier in the process, til now I can bounce him for literally 30 seconds (it's like his sleep cue now!) and lay him down drowsy and he'll do the rest. It's taken about a month and a half since I first started trying to ditch the bouncing. Also I do leave the room once I lay him down so he knows it's time to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1749714 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:45:33 +0000 Grace 1749714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HazelEyes: if you are running out of velcro room, isn't it pretty loose? Maybe you are ready for a sleep sack. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1749641 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:18:32 +0000 catomd00 1749641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just went cold turkey with the swaddle and it was much easier than expected, but she's a decent sleeper to begin with and I was definitely overestimating the startle reflex. Now, she rolls to her tummy to sleep.</p> <p>Yes I "hide" when patting my LO to sleep. I can't always get totally out of her line of sight, but I close my eyes and turn my head away! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1749584 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 10:52:28 +0000 HazelEyes 1749584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Tanjowen: He has once or twice but mostly it is just from side to side and not completely over to his tummy. I think we'll go to the muslin blanket next too. That makes sense. Then sleep sack. Thanks!</p> <p>@Grace: Yes! I have had this thread open on my computer and my iPhone for weeks, haha. I was unsuccessful in the past with it bc J is a persistent screamer. Boy does not give up. And I have been making the velcro less tight, but we are running to the edge of the velcro, so we won't be able to make it loser from there if that makes sense. Thanks.</p> <p>@twoofeverything: Hm. I have been eyeing that…. I guess I worry that that is just another thing to wean him from. Have you run into that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1748919 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:54:58 +0000 twoofeverything 1748919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gotta vote for the Merlin Suit. It saved my twin mom sanity :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1748719 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 20:11:38 +0000 Grace 1748719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bounced on that ball same as you, and like you, I just couldn't take it anymore. I followed what Sandy did in this thread. Except I left the room - I didn't think she'd sleep with me there. It worked wonderfully.<br /> <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-before-sleep-training" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-do-before-sleep-training</a><br /> Oh, and you can totally make the velcro ones looser. Just don't velcro it as tight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1748668 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 19:28:29 +0000 Tanjowen 1748668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HazelEyes: Out of curiosity, is your LO trying to roll over onto his tummy yet? That solved the flying arm issue for our LO around 4-5 months and he still sleeps on his tummy.</p> <p>We went from the velcro swaddle to a muslin blanket that he could break out of, and then just one night he went cold turkey into the sleep sack and did great - we didn't stick his arms inside and he slept with his arms over his head in a "Superman pose" which was adorable. :) . Maybe the sleep sack and sleeping in his RnP so he feels snuggled at first? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1748335 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 15:51:29 +0000 HazelEyes 1748335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Oatmeal: Oh yes, the ball is in his nursery. I even had my mother break her's out for a visit and my cousin bring one to the beach house for a weekend trip. It was getting crazy, but it was the ONLY thing that would get him to sleep. </p> <p>@Tanjowen: I'm adopting your "babies be crazy." He surprises me daily. We are attempting the drowsy but awake method starting today. I ended up calling the pediatrician who said the same thing…. I've tried it unsuccessfully before, but DH was still bouncing. I think since it "came from the doctor" DH will be on board to do it too. And I just ordered some sleep sacks, but I'm thinking we won't use them until he's used to his arms being free? or do you tuck his arms in the sleep sack?</p> <p>@ScarletBegonia: I mentioned it on our other board, but we are trying the gradually loosening method of swaddle weaning per the doc. I don't know why I didn't think of that and assumed I had to do one or both arms out to wean. May be a bit tough since we use the summer infant ones that velcro, but perhaps will transition back to blanket swaddles since I know he can break out if he wants to….Will keep you posted. </p> <p>@Mrs. Oatmeal: @ScarletBegonia: @Bubbles: The doctor recommended staying nearby until he went from drowsy to asleep, but I am finding if I"m visible he wakes back up… so do you "hide" when you're patting your LOs to sleep? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1747016 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 07:59:13 +0000 Bubbles 1747016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would agree with scarletbegonia about the patting! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1746904 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 05:41:34 +0000 ScarletBegonia 1746904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HazelEyes: following re: swaddle weaning cause we're in the same boat. In terms of rocking, I started patting his bum while rocking (pretty vigourously - those cloth diapers can take a pounding ;)), and slowly calmed down the rocking and kept patting, and eventually just patted after nursing, and putting him down awake but still patting his chest whilst shushing. Its not ideal, and still has sleep associations (patting and shushing, occasionally rocking the bassinet with my knee if he's really upset), but its saved my back and arms! And another advantage is that if its nap time and he's not looking too tired, I can start patting his bum and he'll usually start yawning!<br /> Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1746444 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 19:32:13 +0000 Tanjowen 1746444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HazelEyes: Not really the same as bouncing, but we had to wean my LO off the swing. We started by putting him down drowsy and almost asleep and stepping out of the room. If he screamed, we went back in and rocked and tried again - upwards of 4-5 times before it really worked. And not going to lie, if he woke up in the middle of the night, back in the swing he went! But over 3-4 weeks, he started sleeping longer and longer in his crib. Also, have you thought about using sleep sacks? We went from a swaddle to a sleep sack and it worked pretty well. </p> <p>The 4 month regression is just rough. He might just surprise you after and just fall asleep :) "Babies be crazy" is a favorite term among my friends! I hope you find something that works for you guys soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1746417 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 19:23:58 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1746417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HazelEyes: We bounced LO for the first three months of her life. I lived on that exercise ball - and built up some crazy strong arms.<br /> At 4 months, we transitioned her to a crib in her own room. She was still swaddled (because we couldn't get her to sleep any other way). After nursing til she was drowsy, I brought the exercise ball into her room. I would bounce her just until she was falling asleep, then I would stop and put her in her crib. Then I'd sort of pat her until she fell the rest of the way asleep. Over the course of a few days, I stopped bouncing all together.</p> <p>Hope you find a solution that works for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1746351 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 18:53:16 +0000 HazelEyes 1746351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ellewoods84: It is exhausting! I work up a sweat every time.. which I guess I shouldn't complain about, but man, its tough holding a medicine ball-like baby in front of you! If it was just getting tired I could deal with it, its the aches that accompany it. I have to hold him out in front of me so that my hand is behind his head, otherwise he wakes up when I move my hands so I can transfer him to his RnP. Ugh, what have I gotten myself into!?</p> <p>@swedishfish: Actually, that's how we got into this bouncing mess in the first place. Rocking has never been vigorous enough for him. He hates his swing too for that matter. Maybe we should give it a go again though… thank you for responding :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1746194 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 17:19:55 +0000 swedishfish 1746194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about ditching the swaddle and sleeping in the RnP until LO can make the switch to the crib? Maybe rocking the RnP instead of bouncing LO? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1746188 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 17:17:26 +0000 ellewoods84 1746188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice (sorry!), but following because my daughter requires the same for EVERY SINGLE SLEEP. She is a bit younger (10 weeks), but this bouncing is wearing on me. It takes at least 15-20 minutes of bouncing, which doesn't seem long, but it is very tiring! (And I consider myself to be I pretty good shape)! Anyways. Hope we can get some answers and you are not alone!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-would-you-start#post-1746181 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 17:13:13 +0000 HazelEyes 1746181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been trying to read up on sleep suggestions and threads but don't know where begin...</p> <p>Right now our 15 week old needs to be swaddled and bounced (DH can do it with his arms, I have to use the yoga ball) to sleep. I just can't do the bouncing any more. He is just getting heavier and my back, wrists and shoulders are killing me. I also know that we need to swaddle wean soon since he is rolling more, however he keeps waking himself up w startles and arms flying around. Currently he is in his RnP because I'm nervous to put him in his crib while he is still swaddled.</p> <p>So, this brings me back to, where the heck do I start? Rip the bandaid and cold turkey without the swaddle into the crib? How do I quit the bouncing? Or do I just suck it up until we get through the 4 mo regression (which if the past three days/nights are any indication, we may be hitting early)?</p> <p>Of all of the above, I am most concerned about the bouncing... </p>