Types of sleep training for a 5 month old

[caggimedicine]

What forms of sleep training would you recommend for a 5 month old?

 

[Noelle610]

What's the issue?

There are gentle methods you can use.

 

[caggimedicine]

What's the issue?

There are gentle methods you can use.

I was up with him, walking around his room carrying him from midnight last night through the whole night. He slept for approx 30 mins during that entire time. I didn't sleep at all. Today he has slept for 20 minutes this morning at around 10.30 am, and 20 minutes this afternoon at about 1.00 pm... both naps only when I'm walking him in the pram. I'm exhausted and can't continue carrying a 14lb baby around. I have a 4 year old to contend with also.

 

[newmumgg]

I don't know but I am going to follow this thread my 5 month old's naps resemble those of a newborn !!! Good luck, I hope someone is able to help you x

 

[Noelle610]

Oh wow, that's rough. I would start with nights. Do whatever you can to preserve daytime sleep so that he's well rested come night time. Overtired babies fight sleep, so that will make any kind of gentle training harder. Once nights are in order, you can move on to naps.

I think at that age I'd suggest trying pick up/put down. Here's an outline of the method:

https://www.mybabysleepguide.com/2009/01/pupd-tbw.html

How long is he awake in the day before you attemtp a nap? Do you have a short nap time routine? Bedtime routine? What time is bedtime.

 

[caggimedicine]

How long is he awake in the day before you attemtp a nap?

1.5 - 2 hours from waking

Bedtime routine? What time is bedtime.

Our bedtime routine:

6.00 pm Take George upstairs to his room
Change nappy and put in bedtime clothes
Cuddles, quiet music, no talking
Bottle
Dummy and walking around/rocking
Into cot

Do you have a short nap time routine?

Naps in same place (cot)
Same music as bedtime
Nappy change
Dummy and walking around/rocking
Into cot

 

[lomelly]

I did pick up put down around 4.5 (I wasn't trying to sleep train, just trying to encourage falling asleep without me holding him)... I rocked him and patted his bum till he was almost asleep then put him very gently in his crib. If needed I would let him have a suck of his bottle for a minute after putting him down. I also did this thing where I put my hand under his one side and "rocked" him in his crib. Took a while but now I can put him right in his crib with a suck on the bottle and a gentle rock (in his crib, not with me holding him). That took weeks though. Maybe try to settle him without picking him up? And if he gets worked up give him a quick cuddle and back down.
Now my son doesn't even want me to hold him to sleep (it's too stimulating for him, he looks around thinking its play time). Took a lot of perseverance but I'm glad I did it.
Repeat, I did not sleep train! Or let him cry for longer than maybe 30 seconds... It's just about encouraging sleep habits at that age cause its on the younger age to sleep train.
Listen to noelle

 

[Noelle610]

How long is he awake in the day before you attemtp a nap?

1.5 - 2 hours from waking

Bedtime routine? What time is bedtime.

Our bedtime routine:

6.00 pm Take George upstairs to his room
Change nappy and put in bedtime clothes
Cuddles, quiet music, no talking
Bottle
Dummy and walking around/rocking
Into cot

Do you have a short nap time routine?

Naps in same place (cot)
Same music as bedtime
Nappy change
Dummy and walking around/rocking
Into cot

Okay, great. I'd aim to have him asleep no later than 2 hours from the time he last woke up. If you know he needs a lot of soothing, you may need to start earlier than the 90 minute mark.

Bedtime routine looks good. When you're doing the PU/PD, you may want to move the bottle earlier in his routine, perhaps before you put him into his PJs. That way he dissasociates feeding with sleeping, unless you don't think that's a problem. I do think the bottle is relaxing for my daughter, so I just read her a story between bottle and bedtime. It serves the dual purpose of letting her digest a bit and not feeding to sleep.

It's great that you have a naptime routine also. I find it really helps.

Does he wake for the dummy?

 

[caggimedicine]

Bedtime routine looks good. When you're doing the PU/PD, you may want to move the bottle earlier in his routine, perhaps before you put him into his PJs. That way he dissasociates feeding with sleeping, unless you don't think that's a problem.

I don't think the bottle is a sleep association for George. He's never fallen asleep whilst feeding. My first son used to have to be fed to sleep, but not George.

Does he wake for the dummy?

When he falls asleep, he actually pushes dummy out of his mouth and sleeps without it. The dummy definitely calms him down, but I don't think he NEEDS it. He doesn't wake for it - he just seems to wake for no reason... but the trouble is - when he wakes at night, he is WIDE awake, as if he's just had a nap.

 

[Noelle610]

Understood - keep the bottle where it is and use the dummy then! My daughter never really woke for it either and it was always good for soothing her. I think they can be awesome as long as they're not causing a problem.