11 Month Old Night Sleeping Habits

I totally understand what you are saying when you say "he is still using me to fall asleep",in other words, he is still relying on your comfort to fall asleep.

I would suggest trying a mixture of the ferber method and sears method, atleast that's what worked with my now 3 year and I just started this past Monday with my 9 month old. I start with staying in there until almost asleep then I go out into the hall and wait ( cuz I know she will cry), I wait about 3 min then go back in help her settle, lay her back down (if she is standing up), stroke her face and then leave. It takes about 15-20 min and she falls asleep. In one week she has cut down from 15 min to 5 min. The key to any sleep training technique is to stay consistant. I know it will be hard in the middle of the night but once he learns how to let himself fall asleep I think things will fall into place. Good Luck Mommy!

Also, I have learned that knowing your child and his needs will be your best guide. Books are helpful but they are only outlines to help you, try not to stress too much!

K.

Not all babies are the same, of course, but I nursed my daughter every night at about midnight until she was 13 months old. Then, she started walking and slept right through. I didn't have to do any kind of "training".

We used the Ferber method, it advocates graduated waiting. When you go back into your child, you may soothe, but you must not put the child to sleep. It is a brief interaction at best, by way of reassurance that you are available, you haven't disappeared, you care, and you are confident that your child can, and will, eventually, learn to put themselves back to sleep.

It takes increasing intervals, 5, 10, 15, 20, 35, etc the first night. 10, 15, 20, 35 the second night, 15, 20, 35, 45 the third night. Most kids don't require a 4th night, but if yours does it would be 20, 35, 45 minutes the 4th night etc.

Ferber worked for us. Get the book, read up, you can do it too.

Good luck to you and yours,
F. B.

Hi M.,
Personally I don't think an 11-month old is "using" you (still too young), but I understand what you're trying to say. Every child is different. We could *not* do CIO because both my kids would cry until they vomited. Nor would they have stayed put in bed, despite the repetition of "training." They were just spirited, determined kids who wanted the comfort of falling asleep next to a warm body. I'd suggest you try the Ferber book and see what happens. Best of luck to you! Many of us have been there, sorry that it's so frustrating.

Hi, M.:

Your statement: "Either way he is using me to get him back to sleep."

That statement triggers a reaction in me. I was wondering what triggers your thinking to write something like that.

This thought of yours is the foundation to your concerns. It would be worth your while to process that statement.

Good luck.
D.

It isn't different than you going in and nursing him back to sleep!! YOU are still helping him go back to sleep instead of allowing him to learn how to help soothe himself.

Did you look into the book I recommended - Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child? It will help...

SORRY - I was thinking about another sleep post I replied to...I reply to a lot and I always recommend this book. I went back and looked at your previous question and I DIDN'T respond...so, I apologize for my mistake. To rephrase...get the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. It talks about how to "teach" a child to self-soothe, and yes it does involve letting them cry it out, but it gives very good information (IMO) and reasons WHY kids need to learn this. If they learn how to self soothe, when they wake in the middle of the night, they are able to put themselves to sleep instead of crying/needing assistance from nursing, rocking, rubbing back, etc. This book was a HUGE help to me and I recommend it as often as I can :-) Good luck!!