Sleepy Time

[Unregistered]

Logged out because, well you know.

Just to be honest, I'm not concerned with people's philosophies on infant/child sleeping preferences because I know it varies and some are extremely passionate about doing this or that or not doing this or that. My questions are pointed at those that have had successfull experience with laying a child down to sleep while awake vs holding until they fall asleep and hoping they stay asleep when you lay them down.

Please note, no disrespect intended, if you begin remarking that self soothing techniques are wrong, etc, I probably won't even bother to read the post. I've used my own variation of the method on my own children and they are happy, healthy, loving children and my now 1.5 year old loves being laid down awake. Seriously, she will let me cuddle with her outside her bedroom, but when we enter her room and head for the bed she wants me to unhand her so she can just go to bed already. So here goes my question. How do you make this work for a 1 year old that is held to sleep at home. Dcg has no other siblings so DCM has no other distractions or noises and is able to do this successfully at home. I mentioned at last pickup that dcg didn't get her last nap in so she was sleepy/fussy at pickup. DCM said she was wondering how I was getting her to sleep. (I guess because she sees it on my communication log that she is napping). I told her that I've tried everything which I have. I've tried the holding BUT I have three of my own and she just can't always settle hearing them. So that doesn't work all the time. I've also tried a sleep routine with soft music and just laying her down. She does cry for a while and will most of the time fall asleep and wake happy. This last time though didn't work out and I had to get her up as I didn't want her to cry for long BUT she was extremely strung out and tired until pickup unfortunately. I think I should have waited it out and let her fuss a little longer because at least she would get the sleep she is needing instead of being outside the bed and crying and not getting sleep.

Anyhow, for those of you who have perfected this, how did you work it out?

[AuntTami]

Logged out because, well you know.

Just to be honest, I'm not concerned with people's philosophies on infant/child sleeping preferences because I know it varies and some are extremely passionate about doing this or that or not doing this or that. My questions are pointed at those that have had successfull experience with laying a child down to sleep while awake vs holding until they fall asleep and hoping they stay asleep when you lay them down.

Please note, no disrespect intended, if you begin remarking that self soothing techniques are wrong, etc, I probably won't even bother to read the post. I've used my own variation of the method on my own children and they are happy, healthy, loving children and my now 1.5 year old loves being laid down awake. Seriously, she will let me cuddle with her outside her bedroom, but when we enter her room and head for the bed she wants me to unhand her so she can just go to bed already. So here goes my question. How do you make this work for a 1 year old that is held to sleep at home. Dcg has no other siblings so DCM has no other distractions or noises and is able to do this successfully at home. I mentioned at last pickup that dcg didn't get her last nap in so she was sleepy/fussy at pickup. DCM said she was wondering how I was getting her to sleep. (I guess because she sees it on my communication log that she is napping). I told her that I've tried everything which I have. I've tried the holding BUT I have three of my own and she just can't always settle hearing them. So that doesn't work all the time. I've also tried a sleep routine with soft music and just laying her down. She does cry for a while and will most of the time fall asleep and wake happy. This last time though didn't work out and I had to get her up as I didn't want her to cry for long BUT she was extremely strung out and tired until pickup unfortunately. I think I should have waited it out and let her fuss a little longer because at least she would get the sleep she is needing instead of being outside the bed and crying and not getting sleep.

Anyhow, for those of you who have perfected this, how did you work it out?

I have an 18 month old here that still co-sleeps with his mom, even to this day. From day one when he first started here 3 months ago, I never held him. I put him down, played music, and sat beside him "shhhing" him until he fell asleep. He fought for about a week, and I just kept doing the same thing. Eventually he stopped and now I don't even have to sit by him or play music. I lay him down and he goes to sleep. I even weaned him from his nuk at nap time by doing this. It was so easy. Maybe I'm lucky . But my other 18 month old im doin the same thing with and having great success.

[Heidi]

For most children like this, I've used the true sleep training method of establishing a routine, laying them donw, and then going in after longer and longer intervals to simply lay them back down and say night night. That usually works for me when they are no older than lets say 9 months.

Once they are able to stand up, I find it often doesn't work. They just get MORE worked up every time I come in.

With those kids (I've had 2), I've done true CIO. Again, establishing routines, laying them down, rubbing their back for a minute or two, and then saying "I will come back when nap is over", and walking out. If I had to do that again, I now have a video monitor (I'd turn the sound off...), but that would make me feel better about it. I HATE to do it, but honestly, with some children, it is the only way for me. I always try sleep training first.

I am a big believer in establishing routines, singing transition songs, and talking about what-comes-next with toddlers who are adjusting. "SO, we are eating lunch now, and then we will read our story. What comes next? Yep! We go nighty-night".

So, many years ago, before we had video monitors, my sister was visiting with my 20 month old niece (now 25) from Germany. Little missy needed a nap, so we put her in my sons' crib. She threw a fit. My sister was torn about going in, knowing it would just wind her up more, but something sounded "off". So, I said "I'll go in".

She was hanging on the OUTSIDE of the crib. Apparently, she'd tried to climb out, but only gotten that far and then was stuck. She STILL took a nap....