Exhausted but sleep training just feels cruel to me
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Look up takingcarababies on Instagram... we did a lot of the things she said and it worked wonders. We didn't do cry it out and she puts enough valuable information on her platform that we were able to piece together enough things to have it work for all three of our kids
in the same boat as you 10.5 months in with my son who is EBF. my daughter was the same way. she eventually slept thru the night around 16 months. it’s a lot but i can’t bring myself to sleep train. even the pediatrician said to. but honestly? i was “sleep trained” to cry it out as a baby. and i’ve had sleep issues my entire life. so, i feel like we’re doing what is biologically necessary and what baby needs. for thousands of years mothers have been listening to instincts and didn’t have sleep programs lol hang in there momma!! we’re almost there!
Maybe transition to solids? My LO sleeps a lot better on a full belly
It's normal for baby to do that. Mine as well. I breastfeed and with my 2nd as soon as I stopped the night feedings she was sleeping through just like that so just be patient. I understand the frustration. I planned stopping at 1 bcus I am TIED. This is my 3rd baby. Hugs!
After about 6 months when they started food, they should be getting all/most their nourishment during the Daytime. I would still breastfeed at night if they needed it, BUT I would only give 5 minutes. Because at that age it is more used as a way to soothe rather than a feeding. After so long of doing this, their body won't wake up hungry because they are getting enough nourishment during the day and both yours and baby's body will adjust to that. If you're still doing full feedings at night, I would slowly adjust the time down. I hope it helps!!!
I’m in the same boat. It’s 1am my time and my son has been up 3 times. He’ll be 6 months on the 30th. He’s combo fed. I’m trying to sleep train with the patting and pick him up for a couple of minutes if he’s inconsolable. Sometimes it seems to make it worse if I tend to him because he wants me to pick him up. He’s been up for an hour at this point. He’s been doing this since end of Jan and I’m just starting to attempt sleep training since he’s started purées. No idea if it’s gonna work, but I feel your pain. I’m so exhausted.
Babies cry… learning something new can be hard. My 2 yr old hated learning to swim and cried his whole lesson but we had to push through it. Eventually he stopped crying. I was there reassuring him and showing him that he was ok. Allowing your child the space and ability to learn sleep skills is not cruel, it’s one of the best things you can do when you are in a situation that you can’t continue with. You can be right beside them, allow them to show their emotion, but also show them they can indeed fall asleep another way. The more they do it the more it will be easier and the protest will stop. Your baby needs you at your best, you need you at your best, and sleep is so important. It’s not ‘cruel’ to have a baby cry in a car seat, so why is it cruel to have a baby cry in a crib with you beside them? Try and think of it a different way, and it might make it easier for you.
Cosleep if you’re open to it! I’ve gotten WAY more sleep that way with both of my kiddos. When baby stirs, I can just roll over and nurse her back to sleep in side-lying position. If baby’s consistently not pooping at night, you can put on some ointment/aquaphor before putting on her nighttime diaper and then not change until morning.
Or if you’re worried about baby crawling out of bed or are not up for full co-sleeping, a mattress on the floor at the foot of your bed can work. Just go side-lie nurse on the mattress on the floor when baby wakes up and ninja-roll away when they are back asleep and go back to your bed. You absolutely don’t have to sleep train if it doesn’t feel right to you! Trust your mama instincts
I had the exact same situation. I tried sleep training (all methods) like 3 times before i gave up. My daughter didnt sleep thru the night until after 13 months. I dont wanna discourage you, its so hard. I feel your pain. My daughter did NOT like sleep training, she would cry for over an hour & id cry in the living room. You can try lessening the nighttime feeds because thats why baby is waking. To drink his favorite food. It makes sense. And itll be a few hard days of crying because hes gonna be upset you cut off nighttime feeds. But once he realizes its not there he will stop waking. Either that or endure thru the lack of sleep like i did. Good luck mama!!