For those "Rod Creators"

[twitch]

I just wanted to let all the no-cry parents out there know that I have breastfed or rocked my little angel to sleep for every single nap since she was born. She is now 7 months old. Valentine

For the past week, she has been happily putting herself to sleep :D

I give her a little feed, a cuddle and a kiss, tell her I love her and put her in her cot WIDE AWAKE. Within 5 minutes she's asleep. No crying, nothing. Se cracks it big time if I do try to rock her.

So for all those who are being told you're creating a rod for your own back by rocking/feeding or whatever, or that you have to let them "cry it out" to get a proper sleep or they'll never learn to do it on their own, we are a prime example of how gentle techniques really do work. It has been time comsuming to get to the point where she does this on her own and so many ppl have told me I am doing the wrong thing, I'll regret it later :ecomcity: but we are there and I actually miss the quiet times when I would put her to sleep! Ssure she may go back to wanting mummy agin (I hope so!) but for now, she's doingg it all on her own.

I just wanted to share cos I am so proud of my little girl :D

[0BleSseD0]

:yelclap: Yay!

DD is now 7 1/2 months, and is VERY easy to put to sleep. Shes not quite putting herself to sleep yet, but shes very good anyway.

I agree.. I have never thought that CIO or CC was a good idea.. To me I think they teach insecurity because they just never know when or if Mum or Dad are going to come and cuddle them.. Its all innocent on their behalf.

It seems a little cruel to me.. *I cant walk or talk, and they wont come when I cry.. What do I do.. I need cuddles! What if they NEVER come back!* :( Doesnt seem very fair to me.

But congratulations to you and your bub! :thumbsup:

P.S If your bub is anything like my DS she will still want Mummy come toddlerhood.. DS is 2 and he is the biggest Mummy's boy ever! :smiliedance:

[0BleSseD0]

:fingerscrossed: For #2 for you!!

[Benji]

Good on you :yelclap: :)

It sounds like you're doing a wonderful job. I think the best thing to do when people say you are "creating a rod" is ignore them - they do what works for them, you should be allowed to do what works well for you :)

Unfortunately, I did have to let DS "cry it out" (with me next to him) because after 9 months of being woken up every 20 minutes I fell asleep at the wheel and crashed my car. Some circumstances don't allow some babies to be rocked but if you can, you're doing a lot better than I ever did :D

[Natsmummy]

It took us a little longer, but after rocking and cuddling my DS to sleep for the first 18 months of his life, for the last few months he has also been happy to go to bed wide awake and then drift off on his own with no tears at all! I got a lot of the comments that you talked about, but I feel so vindicated now!

[TKK]

This is awesome to hear - thanks for sharing.

Whilst DD is only 8 weeks I have had some niggling doubt (mostly fed from other people - whom I try not to listen to but they do plant those seeds of doubt!) that the way I handle her (rocking to sleep, allowing her to feed to sleep, swaddling etc) might be setting myself up for a tough time down the track. But there is no way I can do CC or anything like that (I know there are good arguments for and against but I don't personally think I could do it) so I'm happy to hear that I'm on the right track and that lovin' them to sleep works :yelclap:

[twitch]

so I'm happy to hear that I'm on the right track and that lovin' them to sleep works :yelclap:

Lovin' them to sleep - LOVE IT!!

I recently read a book called Helping your Baby to Sleep - Why Gentle Techniques Work Best. It is amazing. There is one line in there I always think of and I'm using it as my mantra:

"Never miss an opportunity to show affection to your child - even at bed time".

Thanks for the positive comments as well :thumbsup:

[*Chels*]

I have BF DS to sleep and co-slept with him since day 1.Sooooo many people have told meI am "making a rod for my own back".
Well he is 2 now and sleeps in his own bed.He still comes into my bed in the middle of the night and loves to have someone close by when he goes to sleep.Kindy days are fine too,he sleeps for 2 hours.Sleeping is not a huge deal for us,he has learnt to do it on his own.
I dont regret a thing I did,and I love my cuddles with my wee man while he falls asleep.He is so independent and we are coping with "the rod" just fine:yelclap:
I would rather a couple of years of tiredness(mine)than my baby screaming himself to sleep alone in a dark room.

[Sheer Bliss]

:smiliedance: Woo hoo!! Gotta love that you stuck with what you felt was best, despite being discouraged. Mothers know best!! :raspberry: to those that said otherwise. lol.

[EsSjAy]

I could not agree with you more Twitch...
Bad habits are not created by bub's being rocked, fed or cuddled to sleep and there's definitely no rod in my back...

x x

[pookiesossige]

I just wanted to let all the no-cry parents out there know that I have breastfed or rocked my little angel to sleep for every single nap since she was born. She is now 7 months old.

For the past week, she has been happily putting herself to sleep :D

I give her a little feed, a cuddle and a kiss, tell her I love her and put her in her cot WIDE AWAKE. Within 5 minutes she's asleep. No crying, nothing. Se cracks it big time if I do try to rock her.

So for all those who are being told you're creating a rod for your own back by rocking/feeding or whatever, or that you have to let them "cry it out" to get a proper sleep or they'll never learn to do it on their own, we are a prime example of how gentle techniques really do work. It has been time comsuming to get to the point where she does this on her own and so many ppl have told me I am doing the wrong thing, I'll regret it later :ecomcity: but we are there and I actually miss the quiet times when I would put her to sleep! Ssure she may go back to wanting mummy agin (I hope so!) but for now, she's doingg it all on her own.

I just wanted to share cos I am so proud of my little girl :D

Sounds just like what Ariene did at 12 months- one day being breastfed to sleep, the next wanting to go to sleep alone :yes:

Ronan was bottlefed to sleep until 20 months- never a prob getting him to go to sleep either!

My kids LOVE bedtime and I have trouble holding them off until 6.30pm! No bad habits here! :no::D

[OJandMe]

I held, patted, fed the boys to sleep.

Now at almost 3 they put themselves to bed, don't have bottles and don't need us to sit in their room while they fall asleep.

2 and a half years isn't a lot to give give your child that comfort of falling asleep with you nearby.

I don't understand this whole 'push for self-relliance' of infants and toddlers.

I've never met an 8 year old who still drinks bottles, or still needs to be patted to sleep, or carried around.

They are only little for such a short period of time... we should cherish the closeness, not try to sever it, creating anxious children. :no:

[SilverStarfish]

It's my back and I'll make a rod for it if I choose to!

:D

After finally getting over the guilt of breastfeeding Sarah to sleep every night until she was 12 months old - something that I actually enjoyed doing but was made to feel bad about - now at 21 months she also puts herself to sleep peacefully and happily. Well, 95% of the time ;) It happened very suddenly, as it did with pookiesossige's DD. One day she was b/f to sleep, the next she was demanding to be left alone!

I plan to nurse Becky to sleep whenever she needs it too.

[AbsNjai]

well done! :yelclap:

i agree all, my DS is 4months and has begun putting himself to sleep and he also cracks it when i try and rock him to sleep like i have been doing. I almost miss having our before bed cuddles- i am sure they will need to come back but he has been 'self settling' with no crying for 3 weeks! I am very proud of my little man- growing up so fast!