Am I expecting too much?

Cat Louise · Aug 9th, 2011, 11:02 AM

Hi All,

My LO is almost 4 months and I am currently having a nightmare getting her to sleep for naps and of an evening. She has always nursed to sleep, but I'm worried about getting her into bad habits so have been trying to put her down sleepy rather than fast asleep. But this has back fired on me, last night every time I put her down, even if she was fast asleep, she would wake up realise I'd put her down and scream until I picked her up. It took me over 3 hours to get her to sleep, it usually only takes half an hours!

Just wondering what everyone elses experiences are of 'nursing to sleep'? Will she just grow out of by herself or should I be trying to get her to self settle?

She'll be staying over a nana's fo the first time soon, and it worries me that she won't be able to sleep because I won't be there to nurse her to sleep.

All advice and experiences appreciated. I'm dreading another night like last night!

Thanks x

impatient1 · Aug 9th, 2011, 11:48 AM

I am going through the same thing. Sometimes I can rock her to sleep if she is sleepy but most times she falls asleep while nursing. However I have found if I am not home my mom is able to rock her to sleep with her on her shoulder or walk around with her on her shoulder and get her to sleep that way.
We got into the habit of her sleeping in our bed lately as that was easier for me with her waking so much recently so we are trying to break that habit right now and going through the same. My trials and tribulations are in my journal if you want to check it out. I know how frustrating and upsetting it has been for me.

ETA. - Part of the problem with us is that we smell of milk and they know that they are there for them to comfort suck where as if we are not there or doing it ourselves they don't smell us. OH recently had a much easier time getting her to sleep rather than me, which really upset me and me feel like such a failure but I'm trying to remember I smell differently and she knows that they are there.

new_to_ttc · Aug 9th, 2011, 11:51 AM

I started making my LO self settle at about 6-8 weeks old. Occassionally he nurses to sleep, sometimes just cuddles to sleep, but on the hold he goes down awake and goes to sleep. At first I had to rock his basket, or bounce his nest but after just a couple of days he went in awake, made no fuss and fell asleep in 5 minutes there abouts. I dont think you're expecting too much, but if its something you want to do then perservereing is the only way. if you keep giving in then it wont work - even if this is middle of the night hun so you may need to be prepared for small amounts of sleep. However, sometimes they just need a cuddle, and they still so tiny, so its about finding the balance.

Lilly12 · Aug 9th, 2011, 13:14 PM

It's probably the 4 month sleep regression!!

Aug 9th, 2011, 11:02 AM	#1
Cat Louise Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Liverpool Posts: 106	Am I expecting too much? Hi All, My LO is almost 4 months and I am currently having a nightmare getting her to sleep for naps and of an evening. She has always nursed to sleep, but I'm worried about getting her into bad habits so have been trying to put her down sleepy rather than fast asleep. But this has back fired on me, last night every time I put her down, even if she was fast asleep, she would wake up realise I'd put her down and scream until I picked her up. It took me over 3 hours to get her to sleep, it usually only takes half an hours! Just wondering what everyone elses experiences are of 'nursing to sleep'? Will she just grow out of by herself or should I be trying to get her to self settle? She'll be staying over a nana's fo the first time soon, and it worries me that she won't be able to sleep because I won't be there to nurse her to sleep. All advice and experiences appreciated. I'm dreading another night like last night! Thanks x

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Aug 9th, 2011, 11:48 AM	#2
impatient1 Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 10,284	I am going through the same thing. Sometimes I can rock her to sleep if she is sleepy but most times she falls asleep while nursing. However I have found if I am not home my mom is able to rock her to sleep with her on her shoulder or walk around with her on her shoulder and get her to sleep that way. We got into the habit of her sleeping in our bed lately as that was easier for me with her waking so much recently so we are trying to break that habit right now and going through the same. My trials and tribulations are in my journal if you want to check it out. I know how frustrating and upsetting it has been for me. ETA. - Part of the problem with us is that we smell of milk and they know that they are there for them to comfort suck where as if we are not there or doing it ourselves they don't smell us. OH recently had a much easier time getting her to sleep rather than me, which really upset me and me feel like such a failure but I'm trying to remember I smell differently and she knows that they are there.

Status: Offline

Aug 9th, 2011, 11:51 AM	#3
new_to_ttc Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Elite Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Caernarfon Posts: 13,154	I started making my LO self settle at about 6-8 weeks old. Occassionally he nurses to sleep, sometimes just cuddles to sleep, but on the hold he goes down awake and goes to sleep. At first I had to rock his basket, or bounce his nest but after just a couple of days he went in awake, made no fuss and fell asleep in 5 minutes there abouts. I dont think you're expecting too much, but if its something you want to do then perservereing is the only way. if you keep giving in then it wont work - even if this is middle of the night hun so you may need to be prepared for small amounts of sleep. However, sometimes they just need a cuddle, and they still so tiny, so its about finding the balance.

Status: Offline

Aug 9th, 2011, 13:14 PM	#4
Lilly12 Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Elite Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: FL Posts: 11,616	It's probably the 4 month sleep regression!!

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