Soothing

[Lilacs]

Hi Ladies,

I have a question about soothing. I was advised by my ped to start sleep training when my little one turned 2 months. And so we did. She sleeps through the night...she sleeps about 5-6 hours and wakes up for a feeding around 3-4am.

I don't think my little one has learned to soothe herself, not completely anyways. I have seen her wake up during her nighttime sleep, eyes wide open and blinking, and fall back asleep on her own. It's the falling asleep at the beginning of bedtime that I don't think she knows how to fall asleep on her own.

I've read that babies can learn to soothe themselves with pacifiers. She doesn't like any pacifiers. I've tried a variety of shapes and several brands and all she does is spit them out. She started to suck on her knuckles recently and the ped said some babies will soothe themselves that way instead of a pacifier, but the thing is I keep her swaddled so she has no access to her hands.

So for now, I do hold her for a little bit until she is droopy eyes then place her in her crib. Sometimes I will rock her a little bit too until she looks like she can fall asleep on her from that point before I place her in her bed.

My understanding is she is suppose to be able to do this on her own with no rocking or help.

Any advice or tips? Would really appreciate it!

Thanks!

[M&M]

wow! 2m seems early for sleep training or self soothing, so I have no clue. That didn't come for us until several months later.

[molly777]

If she is not crying she will find a way or is finding a way to soothe herself already. At this young age babies cry to communicate whether it be for hunger, messy diaper or just needing mommy love. I regret being in such a rush to sleep train my 2 oldest especially since I had such a great 11 months with my youngest. At the time it had its moments of exhaustion but those sweet snuggles go by so fast. Now that he is 20 months I actually get a little excited when he wakes up in the night so I can have a sleepy time snuggle.

[waiting in MT]

I too think she is pretty young to be self soothing but then I am guilty of rocking and or nursing my little grl to sleep until about 9 months old at night but was letting her put herself to sleep for naps by 6 months. I would recommend waiting until 4 months for really starting and the rocking until almost asleep is a great technique i hear but like I said I am a sucker and rocked her until she was asleep totally!

[DMS721]

I sleep trained Patrick around 7 months. Z is 10 months, and I still rock and cuddle him to sleep. He has some health issues, and his pedi doesn't want him to cry it out as it causes him some breathing difficulties, so we're kind of stuck. They do grow so fast, so I'm really enjoying all of the extra snuggles.

Dawn

[BC-Sparrow]

We dis sleep training at 4 months, as per our ped and the book I recommended in your cat nap thread. I personally think 2 months is too early.

[Mrs.H]

I too think you should snuggle and rock at bedtime. This time is too short and will fly by. Enjoy the cuddles. She has her whole life to learn to fall asleep on her own.

[Lilacs]

Oh gosh, I feel so much better after reading everyone's responses. To be honest, I was feeling like a bad mom because I haven't stuck to the sleep training thing. I really felt like I was going to mess all this up - what if she never learns to soothe herself, what if she needs me and I'm don't go pick her up and she has abandonment issues later!?! I was starting to really really feel like a bad mon.

My little one loves to be held close nice and tight. During the days, I hold her as much as she wants me to and that's nearly around the clock. I can't resist not holding or rocking her to put her to bed.

They grow pretty fast indeed. I can't believe my little one is already 3 months now. When I look back her newborn photos, she was sooo tiny. Now she's so long she wears 6 month clothing.

Thanks ladies!

[molly777]

Lilacs-I am glad you feel better. There is enough time later for our LO's to learn to soothe themselves and they will. Enjoy your little snuggle bug!

[molly777]

BTW-feeling like a bad mom means you are a good mom.