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Britbird
10-10-2009, 00:33
I have been having sleep issues with my 13mth old for the past 6 months and its gradually getting worse.
she goes off fine with me sitting next to her cot but is now waking every 1-3 hours throughout the night and calling out for me to go in and settle her back down again. Obviously if i dont go she gets distressed. it simply takes 5 mins to tuck her in and for her to drop off again, but as you can imagine it has started to take its toll on me.

i have approached my CHN and am attending the government run sleepworks course, but am aware that the current methodology for self settling is controlled crying, and seem to be getting this shoved down my throat everywhere i go for advice as the only solution.

she is such a happy peaceful baby and i am so reluctant to begin disrupting her nights by refusing her needs and not going to her thus causing her to cry and get distraught...(although the regular waking is disrupting mine) i also hate the thought of leaving her for what i know will have to be a very long time to cry herself to sleep, as she is very strong willed (and i am of the opinion not that they learn to sleep, but more that they learn to give up)

does anyone have any advice or alternative sleep methodologies i can try...im getting so desperate that ive started to contemplate trying the controlled crying...although it makes me sick even thinking about doing it....any help would be awsome.:confused:

justmum
10-10-2009, 00:54
Earlier this year I got in touch with a sleep consultant called the Goodnight Nurse (Emma somethings or other :laughing:) and we had a 1.5 hour telephone consult and she wrote a detailed gradual withdrawal plan for my 2 yo.

It took a while to work but that's life if you won't CC (like us).

It has now worked a charmand we usually have only one wake up around 5am.

Now for the 8mo :laughing:

So you could try that... or for a lot less $$ get hold of a copy of the No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and use that. Because we had added health issues with our son we needed some extra help but otherwise this book is a good start.

kar
10-10-2009, 13:36
Dr Jay Gordon has a good article available free online. I think he is a complete crackpot about most things TBH, but I found this really helpful.

Babybliss by Jo Ryan I have also found helpful