Awake training for parents
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38498
Printed Date: 25 August 2025 at 9:48pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Awake training for parents
Posted By: AzzaNZ
Subject: Awake training for parents
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 12:39pm
|
Only a little bit funny given the severe lack of sleep in our house at the mo but thought I'd share anyway...
Dear Fellow Babies, OK, here's my situation. My Mommy has had me for almost 5 months. The first few months were great - I cried, she picked me up and fed me, anytime, around the clock. Then something happened. Over the last few weeks, she has been trying to STTN (sleep thru the night). At first, I thought it was just a phase, but it is only getting worse. I've talked to other babies, and it seems like its pretty common after Mommies have had us for around 5-6 months. Here's the thing: these Mommies don't really need to sleep. It's just a habit. Many of them have had some 30 years to sleep - they just don't need it anymore. So I am implementing a plan. I call it the Crybaby Shuffle. It goes like this: Night 1 - cry every 3 hours until you get fed. I know, it's hard. It's hard to see your Mommy upset over your crying. Just keep reminding yourself, it's for her own good. Night 2 - cry every 2 hours until you get fed. Night 3 - every hour. Most Mommies will start to respond more quickly after about 3 nights. Some Mommies are more alert, and may resist the change longer. These Mommies may stand in your doorway for hours, shhhh-ing. Don't give in. I cannot stress this enough: CONSISTENCY IS KEY!! If you let her STTN (sleep through the night), just once, she will expect it every night. I know it's hard! But she really does not need the sleep; she is just resisting the change.. If you have an especially alert Mommy, you can stop crying for about 10 minutes, just long enough for her to go back to bed and start to fall asleep. Then cry again. It WILL eventually work. My Mommy once stayed awake for 10 hours straight, so I know she can do it. The other night, I cried every hour. You just have to decide to stick to it and just go for it. BE CONSISTENT! I cried for any reason I could come up with: -My sleep sack tickled my foot. -I felt a wrinkle under the sheet. -My mobile made a shadow on the wall. -I burped, and it tasted like rice cereal. I hadn't eaten rice cereal since breakfast, what's up with that? -The dog said 'ruff'. I should know. My Mommy reminds me of this about 20 times a day. LOL. -Once I cried just because I liked how it sounded when it echoed on the monitor in the other room. -Too hot, too cold, just right - doesn't matter! Keep crying!! -I had drooled so much my sheets were damp and I didn't like it touching me. -I decided I was sick of all the pink in my room so I cried. It took awhile, but it worked. She fed me at 4am. Tomorrow night, my goal is 3:30am. You need to slowly shorten the interval between feedings in order to reset your Mommies' internal clocks. Sometimes my Mommy will call for reinforcements by sending in Daddy. Don't worry Daddies are not set up for not needing sleep the way Mommies are. They can only handle a few pats and shhing before they declare defeat and send in the Mommy. Also, be wary of the sleep sheep with rain noises. I like to give Mommy false hope that listening to the rain puts me to sleep sometimes I pretend to close my eyes and be asleep and then wait until I know Mommy is settling back to sleep to spring a surprise cry attack. If she doesn't get to me fast enough I follow up with my fake cough and gag noise that always has her running to the crib. At some point I am positive she will start to realize that she really doesn't really need sleep. P.S. Don't let those rubber things fool you, no matter how long you suck on them, no milk will come out. Trust me. Sincerely, Baby J ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
http://intermittentblogger.wordpress.com |
Replies:
Posted By: Rainbow
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 12:47pm
Very funny! Laughed out loud!!  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: mothermercury
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 12:53pm
I enjoyed that! Also:
This happened last night. Little ratbag. |
AzzaNZ wrote:Posted By: myonlineself
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 12:56pm
|
that's so funny, but its so not funny! I especially hate the eyes closed - seemingly asleep, just long enough for you to climb back into bed and settle down and then it starts again! OMG - that does your head in.
Thanks for sharing ;-) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: Jaune
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 12:57pm
|
^^me too! And here I was thinking the sound of the rain would be settling... DS needed help to settle for the first time in 2 weeks, annoying!
VERY funny Azza! Loved it!  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 1:17pm
|
I am off to buy the "No cry sleep solution" book after work.
7 months of no sleep is doing my head in. And yeah, the little ratbag waits until he hears my head hit the pillow before starting to cry again. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://intermittentblogger.wordpress.com |
Posted By: Two_Puddle_Ducks
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 1:31pm
|
This was so funny. I will be adding it to my 'remember to be light hearted about things mummy list' in prep for this little guy to arrive. It alwaus helps to have things to read and giggle at when its 2am in the morning and you still haven't had any sleep after a day of crying. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: sbeach
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 1:53pm
|
so true... I can see my wee madam thinking like this!! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: BayGirl
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 3:24pm
|
Love it. WE have just started sleep training and really it's gone well. I really like this tho shows the other side of the story.
Maybe take a step back and hang out till the bubs are older. IT only took us 2 nights and then she was sleeping thru we started at 8 1/2 months. -------------   
|
Posted By: myonlineself
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 4:51pm
|
I need to buy the no cry sleep solution for toddlers! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: MrsJMcD
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 7:20pm
| azza this is awesome! |
Posted By: Bobchannz
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 8:01pm
|
ROFL!!!
We followed the Sleepstore's advice and went in every five minutes saying 'Goodnight DD2.' My limit for her crying was one hour with checks every five minutes. It got a lot better after three nights, but actually took ten nights to sort out all up. She goes to bed at 6.30/7 and sleeps for 12 hours with a dreamfeed at 11. I'm now phasing out the dreamfeed by sneakily expressing before hand! I did it last night and she fed for a couple of minutes then went back to bed. Hopefully next week I'll be sleeping through the night, just like the baby! Good luck! ------------- www.makedomum.blogspot.co.nz |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 8:01pm
Totally agree! DD gave me the toddler no-cry sleep book for christmas  It's not that great for our wee toddlers though, cos it's got a lot of explaining to them kind of things and I dunno about your girl, but mine's not yet much into listening/comprehending! The 8 key points in it are on Elizabeth Pantley's website too.------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: myonlineself
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 8:43pm
|
oooh thanks T-rex. Yeah I don't think my girl is at the stage to listen to anything when she's being refusing sleep.... she understands a lot, but not that sort of thing. I'll go check the website out.
------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: millymollymandy
Date Posted: 23 March 2011 at 8:04am
|
LOL. What bub doesn't know is that they won't win! Mummy is way tougher than she looked.
Good luck with NCSS - I found it way too vauge for my sleep deprived self. The sleepstore advice was brilliant worked straight away, happy mum and happy bub ever since. |
Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 23 March 2011 at 7:35pm
|
LOL but cry! We got 2 x 5 hour sleeps monday night and 1 x 6.5 hours last night, Im not holding my breath for tonight tho, Im sure its going to be 2 hourly wake ups again! Thanks for the chuckle azza! ------------- 
+1 May 09 Angel 
|
Posted By: shadowfeet
Date Posted: 23 March 2011 at 8:13pm
|
So funny, but kinda feels like that some nights at our house ------------- 
|
Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 25 March 2011 at 9:37am
|
hehe thats funny ------------- http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
|
Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 25 March 2011 at 12:46pm
hahaha!!! Brilliant  ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">  
|
Posted By: NewMummyJade
Date Posted: 28 March 2011 at 3:37pm
|
OMG brilliant! Going to share with my fellow March 2011 mummies whom are all battling with newborn sleep deprivation!
Still laughing, out loud! (but not loud enough to wake the baby )------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 28 March 2011 at 8:20pm
|
love it ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |