Crazy Sleep Training Question (Pregnancy)

You will have better instincts this time around. Relax. My son got his days and nights on track in a few days, just remember to turn out all the lights at night, in the whole house, and to wake for feedings every 1.5 hours during the day. I know some people don't like to wake a sleeping baby, but if you wake them every 1.5 hours during the day, they will learn quickly to do their long stretches at night.

My son (my second child) starting sleeping 7 hours at 5 weeks. He loves his sleep, unlike my daughter, and while every baby is different, I trust you will get the baby on track faster this time.

Hi There,
This may sound crazy but, here is my theory (for my kids anyway). I have a 5 and 1/2 year old, a 3 and 1/2 year old and a 3 month old. They have all been good sleepers from day one... my oldest being the hardest, but by not means difficult! My younger child and my 3 month old slept 8 to 10 hours straight at night starting from 6 weeks... at 2 weeks were sleeping for a 5-6 hour stretch them a 4 hour stretch. Both totally cluster fed in the evening, eating every hour or so from 6 pm to 10pm or so... but slept so well at night I went with it. Thinking about this, since my 2nd pregnancy, this was my eating habits as well! I know it is not good for you to eat too much at night, but I ate a regular healthy dinner, always had a bowl of ice cream in the early evening, then another large snack before bed (english muffin with peanut butter or cereal and fruit orchips and salsa...). I am petite and have a high metabolism, so I am lucky in the department, I was just so hungry in the evening. That being said, my theory is that my babies may have gotten used to get their blood sugars up in the evening through me, then kept that habit! They were so full, they slept well. Ofcourse, this could just be pure coincidence. My 3 and 1/2 month old not longer cluster feeds in the evening to that extent, and she is still a great sleeper! Good luck! Another piece of advice is, when your baby wakes up, wait a few minutes before feeding him/her. She may just be waking through her normal sleep cylce and may be able to soothe back to sleep. Don't get him/her into the habit of eating if they might not be waking to eat each time!

I don't know if there's anything you can do now while pregnant (that I've ever heard of) but just make sure that you start establishing good sleeping habits from the very beginning so that your exhaustion lasts only a couple months. Get the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weisbluth - it goes through the sleep needs and patterns of babies/toddlers at very specific ages (newborn, weeks 2-4, 2 months, etc.) and it worked fantastically for my son. Once she is old enough to not be fed at night, at least you will be back to full nights of sleep instead of a nasty habit of night time wakings, rocking back to sleep, replacing pacifiers, etc. Good Luck!

I always think it's funny when people say babies have days and nights reversed. My mother in law used to say that about our babies. But truthfully, they kind of sleep all day and wake up just to eat. So even though it seems like they are sleeping all day, if you decided to sleep during the day, you'd still be waking up with your baby during the times she/he screamed to be fed!! I think it's just a rough 8 week period. That being said, I have no idea whether you can sleep train in utero. Would be an interesting concept! I guess if the baby sleeps when you move around, you could walk around all night to get the baby to sleep at night! Doesn't sound like a good plan though!

Hey Mama!

I've never heard of doing anything in utero, but once the baby is born just make sure s/he is exposed to sunlight during the day, even if its just a sunny room. Make sure to keep all the lights dim in the evening. A bedtime routine helps too, even when you know the baby will be up in a few hours again. A sponge bath, change into PJs, and nurse all in a dimly lit room.

It worked for me with my 2nd. Congratulations and good luck!
R.

I don't think there is much you can do. You are rocking your baby all day long while walking/moving around, and when you rest, the baby wakes up because the rocking stops. Since baby has been sleeping all day, night time in utero is like a little night club and baby will party all night long!

Sorry, but in this case, what will be will be. Babies sleep-wake cycles change with development so there's really nothing that can be done to "sleep train" in utero. Expect you will be exhausted for a few months (to years in my case) with 2 little ones, but know that it won't last forever. Please ask for help from friends and family when your sleep deprivation gets the best of you. Don't be tempted to "just let them cry it out" when you feel you have nothing more to give. Here's a great research article you should read:http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/fussy-baby/science-says-....
I know you will make it through the infant-toddler days ahead. Relax and enjoy your final days of being just mom of 1 then later you will have no regrets with her. Nurse Midwife Mom of 3 blessings