Settling...

[Harmony83]

Hi guys! I was just after a bit of advice (are'nt we all!!)
My little man turns 1 next month (gosh it flies), and as most of you might know he has always been comforted to sleep, at the moment to get him to sleep, I have to wrap him up and give him a bottle, which I used to love doing, I am just getting a bit concerned (mainly with the wrapping)... Do babies eventually grow out of these comfort routines themselves when they don't need them or is it something that I would have to help him with??? The reason I am getting worried is that, in the beginning of April we have plans to go out whoop whoop so as my DF can work in the mines, and apparently they are very small communities, plus my DF would be working very long hours, 11 days on 4 days off (probably), so if I needed to help DS 'teach' himself to fall asleep on his own I wouldn't really have much support from DF... We were thinking that maybe I should go to Riverton Sleep Centre and get help there before we make the move?! What do you guys think??? Should I just go with the flow, and see if he grows out of it himself or should I seek help from Riverton while I can?? Thanks muchly!!

[cwsmum]

I'm sure bub would eventually grow out of needing to be wrapped up & have a bottle to sleep...It just depends if you are prepared to wait for it to happen, and how long you want to wait.

My DS was still having a bottle to go to sleep until he was 2.5yrs...he was also having one thru the night to get him back to sleep if/when he woke up. I decided I was tired of getting up to him so we just stopped giving him bottles, threw them all out to remove the tepmtation. We let him have a cup of milk before bed if he wanted it instead of the bottle. The first night he didn't have a bottle he didn't wake me up thru the night either :D

Both my bubs stopped being wrapped before they were 1mth old. DS just didn't like it and DD it was waaay to hot.

I wouldn't worry about the bottle, I know people who still let their 3 & 4yr old kids have bottles at bedtime.

[Chickadee]

What is it about the wrapping that you are starting not to like? You might try swapping the wrap for a sleeping bag.

My DD had a bottle before bedtime until she was over 20 months old. We dropped it when she was ill, so I don't have any advice on how to go about it. But I'd say if it works and doesn't bother you then keep it. Or swap for milk in a cup.

[Harmony83]

You know what - Im not really sure what it is about the wrapping I don't like! I guess when I mention to someone that he is still getting wrapped I get such shocked looks! I guess I also have this vision of wrapping up a 2 year old to sleep...

[Chickadee]

If that's the case then keep wrapping. Who cares what others think, there will always be someone out there who doesn't approve of any method. Just be glad you have such a great way to get him t o sleep. He'll let you know when he doesn't need or want it anymore.

I'd only stop if he starts fighting having his arms wrapped, or if you have to keep getting up to rewrap him through the night.

[sarah81]

You could try wrapping him under the arms to wean him off the wrap. We did that and now my DS uses the wrap as a comfort/security item that he cuddles at bedtime.

Good luck with your move :)

[ETsMum]

Does he want to be wrapped or does he just want the wrap as security? One of the mums in my group ties the wrap to one of the rails of the cot and her bub just likes to hold it.

[mariafresnel]

Hi Harmony83,

Well, I can empathise with your situation, as we wrapped SOphia up until she was 12/5 months. ON her 1st birthday we were admitted into hospital for her (as with most months in her short life). The different thing was, that all of the staff (esp Doctors) were in shock taht I was still wrapping her. Unfortunately, this was the only way she would go to sleep, after having her milk.

So, when we got home from hospital we thought we'd try and help her learn how to sleep without the wrap. We subscribed to the help from www.saveoursleep.com.au and we haven't looked back. Of course, this worked for us, and this may not suit all babies, families or way of life.

First of all we also didn't like anything to do with control crying - and that's what we liked about the sos stuff.

Essentially, the plan was to start during the day sleeps and my husband did the first ones (which we planned for a weekend, rather a weekdays). The strategy is that you stay in the room, you give milk (if that';s what you do), and the put baby in the cot, telling them that it's time to go to sleep, kiss and tell them you'll b e back when they wake up.

Now this was the tricky bit, Sophia got up 70 times the first day, and my husband put her on her back 70 times, until she fell asleep. The next sleep was 60 times, and it progressed from there. Sophia ended up falling asleep unaided, and each time we would put her in her cot with minimal fuss. It went from 70, 60 to 40, 20 to 10, to nothing. If anyone told me that it was possible, I wouldn't have believed them, but with Sophia it was possible. In no circumstances, do I leave the room until she has fallen asleep. I don't pat or rock her. Occasionally shush her, and put my hand firmly on her shoulder or back (dep how she is sleeping) to give her an indication I would like her to stay there.

Now she plays up when we put her in her cot to go to sleep, but that's her just winding down. She's now 16 months, and if I leave the room, she cries and spends more time and energy on calling out than trying to fall asleep, so I don't leave, as it's too distressing, and not the aim of what we are trying to achieve.

SO in summary, it's possible, and maybe an idea to try and do it in your home environment now, before you leave for your new home, as it would be too many changes for your family.

If you need anything else, let me know.
Maria