Pick up put down method

I used this method a few weeks ago as I was previously feeding to sleep. It had a really good effect on little ones night wakings! I wasn’t expecting it to so when we went from 7-10 night wakings to 1-3 I was pleasantly surprised. The first night we started pick up put down, I think it took us around 45 mins. The following night about 30 mins, then 20 mins. Now it takes around 10 mins or so each night. I too wasn’t keen on the idea of sleep training and I still hate the phrase. However, you are picking up baby and soothing them as soon as they cry so you are still responding to their needs!! The first few nights were tough and I felt awful that she was crying a lot but try to remind yourself it’s for you and for them!! They need solid blocks of sleep just as much as we do! Hope this helps x

@Erin how old is your little one? Thinking of starting this with my boy but not sure when the right age is! X

@Emma She’ll be 6 months on the 20th Dec. I can’t remember exactly when I started doing it but I’m sure it was end of Oct/Nov. We’d been in the sleep regression for 10+ weeks and I was exhausted and needed to try something. I’m so glad we did it, it’s made such a difference! Xx

@Erin thank you that's reassuring! X

@Erin my little boy is 11 weeks now but has hit regression, it’s killing me already as we were on 6+ hours before! Might consider trying it soonish if we have no let up…x

@Emma I read a sleep guide about the pick up put down method created by a HV and she said it isn't recommended before 4 months old. Not entirely sure why but thought I'd let you know! X

I’ve seen this too when I’ve been researching. Might just have to wait out till end of Jan then 😫

@Emma We hit it at 11 weeks too so I feel your pain!! Prior to she was sleeping 10pm-6am so when she randomly started waking up hourly, sometimes half hourly through the night I felt like I had been hit by a truck… three times🤣🤦🏼‍♀️ I honestly can’t give you any sort of magical advice but just hang in there!😔🫶🏼 I remember when I was reading up on sleep training everything told me to wait until they were 4 months to try anything. Something about their circadian rhythm not being developed enough for sleep training to have an effect! Ofcourse read up yourself though and do what is best for you and your baby!Xx

We’ve also got a regression in sleep started about 10 weeks and continued into his 11 weeks however, he’s just had his first long stretch in nearly two weeks tonight so hopefully is coming out the other side! But we had a sleep consultant in one of our baby classes to chat to us, and at 4 months they go through a massive development in their sleep cycles (gets called a regression but actually is a permanent change in the way they sleep) and before then they’re too young to have a rhythm where sleep training is effective and even if it is, at 4 months it’s all change anyway xx