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ahnet & bbPP, agree with Ching. It takes serious commitment to the cause though, cos it can be a very trying period especially if you're not in the best state of mind yourself from tiredness or struggles at work, etc.
Month ago, I shared at length about my lousy sleeper, who latches to sleep and wakes repeatedly at night for nurses. I shared tips from the Sleep Lady and BB Whisperer too... After months of training and interruptions due to HFMD, illness, vacation, etc., my sleep training goal finally come to fruition just 5 nights ago!!
Post-bath and pre-bed, I can now nurse Kyle.. pop him off the boob.. turn off the lights.. kiss him goodnight.. pop him into bed.. and
*this is the deal clincher!* immediately walk out of his room, shutting the door behind me. The next time I enter is when he wakes for his morning nurse. *I WAS ELATED WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED!!!!* He's been consistent so far.
For a time, I actually stopped latching him before bed and got my man to take turns giving him a btl. That kinda broke the mummy and her boob routine. Is this an option open to you?
If you have supportive spouses / support carers, it helps to get them to go in when bb wakes in the night cos they won't associate this person with a boob. This person will have to be prepared to deal with a fight and/or lots of crying and soothing though. (S)He'll need an arsenal of patience. At first my man did offer him a bottle, but we stopped after very quickly. Cos what would have been the point of getting him from a mid-of-night boob to a mid-of-night bottle?!
I'm not comfortable with abandoning Kyle to cry it out. To paraphrase BB Whisperer, a baby is too young to have any real fear except ONE - the fear of parent abandonment. So when we abandon them to cry all alone, we make that fear come true for the child. It's what she terms a trust-buster, and I had to apologise to Kyle for doing that to him.
So I preferred Sleep Lady's softer approach and as per my preference, stayed with Kyle and talked him through, even lying down on the floor beside his crib for >2hrs in the middle of the night. Sometimes I'd fall asleep myself *oops*, but this way I know I'm not breaking his trust. He cries cos it's a new experience for him and he's frustrated. But I'm there so he knows I'll support him through his learning every step of the way.
Sorry for going on and on... I thought this was such a great thing to have learnt from these sleep books.
I hope some of this sharing helps or inspires some mummy struggling with her kid's sleep issues.
Kyle's a success story so try these experts' recommendations!
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