How would you define STTN?

[rissierae]

I'm wondering how everyone here would define "Sleeping Through the Night?" We, as a society, place a very high importance on STTN so it's a pretty big topic. But from talking to friends and family, it seems like everyone has a different idea/opinion on what it actually is.

I originally assumed it meant sleeping 8 hours straight, but by that definition, I don't even STTN because I usually get up to use the bathroom at some point. So I started thinking, well maybe it means when you don't have to soothe a baby back to sleep after hours of crying in the middle of the night. The baby can just wake up, nurse, and you both fall back asleep without really even being woken up that much. I don't know, I'm just curious as to what you all think?

[Louisep]

I've come to think of STTN as a total myth perpetuated to sell sleep books. It's used as THE mainstream litmus test of a good baby/ successful parenting and it's just such nonsense. Now I view a good night's sleep as one when everyone wakes rested regardless of how many wakings.

[rissierae]

I've come to think of STTN as a total myth perpetuated to sell sleep books. It's used as THE mainstream litmus test of a good baby/ successful parenting and it's just such nonsense. Now I view a good night's sleep as one when everyone wakes rested regardless of how many wakings.

*like*

[Phoebe]

STTN to me means (as far a baby goes) that baby does not get up wide awake to play or be entertained. Feeding does not count, especailly if the baby latches on and stays sleeping. My son went from about 4-10 months old where I had to get up with him about 4 nights a week to bounce him around to put him back to sleep at around 2 am. Definately NOT sleeping through the night.

[LadyCatherine185]

STTN by definition I believe is sleeping 5 hours straight.

And YEAH THAT to what LouiseP said!

[crunchy_mommy]

STTN is when YOU sleep through the night because your baby is in the other room crying in his crib with the monitor turned off (and he eventually gives up & falls asleep).



Sorrry, couldn't resist. I consider STTN to be minimal wakings & falls back to sleep quickly & easily. On nights when DS wakes every 1/2 hour, I don't consider that STTN even though he easily falls back to sleep with nursing. On nights when he only wakes every 2-3 hours or so to eat, that's STTN in my book (or as close as we'll ever get to it!)

I don't really understand this obsession our society has with STTN. I think as long as everybody feels reasonably well-rested in the morning (which admittedly, that's a stretch in our house!), then everything's fine, no matter how often you or baby wakes up. I think the notion of STTN does more harm than good.

[rissierae]

I totally agree with all of these responses. I was just thinking about this lately because it seems like anyone who is pregnant with their first baby will ask me 'how long it took for ds to STTN'. And I just don't know how to respond. I usually say something like, "Well, he's always been a good sleeper." Because it's true, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't nurse at night anymore, or need help going potty at night (we do ec). He just barely wakes up to do those things, and I don't loose any sleep over it either, so I say he STTN.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by Louisep

I've come to think of STTN as a total myth perpetuated to sell sleep books. It's used as THE mainstream litmus test of a good baby/ successful parenting and it's just such nonsense. Now I view a good night's sleep as one when everyone wakes rested regardless of how many wakings.

Although, technically, I do think that 5+ hours for baby "counts" as through the night. Whether it's at the beginning, middle, or end of the night. Like OP said, I don't sleep straight through (well, didn't, I guess, before having a kid) without waking up and rolling over a handful of times. I wouldn't expect a small child or baby to, either.

But honestly, as long as everyone wakes rested and ready for the day, I think it's a success. And I do think it's really blown out of proportion how essential it is.

[mauinokaoi]

Love this thread.

My friend was just bragging that with her new formula and CIO routine her 3 month old sleeps 12 hours straight. Made me so mad and sad. She said feeding rocking and co sleeping are "props" and it only takes 7 minutes until she passes out.

I'm sorry but don't most adults use "props" like food or music or sex or wine or tv to fall asleep?

[mamika]

Originally Posted by mauinokaoi

Love this thread.

My friend was just bragging that with her new formula and CIO routine her 3 month old sleeps 12 hours straight. Made me so mad and sad. She said feeding rocking and co sleeping are "props" and it only takes 7 minutes until she passes out.

I'm sorry but don't most adults use "props" like food or music or sex or wine or tv to fall asleep?

Well-spoken....

[claddaghmom]

Originally Posted by rissierae

I'm wondering how everyone here would define "Sleeping Through the Night?" We, as a society, place a very high importance on STTN so it's a pretty big topic. But from talking to friends and family, it seems like everyone has a different idea/opinion on what it actually is.

I originally assumed it meant sleeping 8 hours straight, but by that definition, I don't even STTN because I usually get up to use the bathroom at some point. So I started thinking, well maybe it means when you don't have to soothe a baby back to sleep after hours of crying in the middle of the night. The baby can just wake up, nurse, and you both fall back asleep without really even being woken up that much. I don't know, I'm just curious as to what you all think?

I define STTN as having sleep periods of at least 4 hours. That's my personal definition, based around what made us as parents feel rested.

DD typically falls asleep around 10-11, wakes once in the wee hours for nursing and then wakes around 8-9am. Maybe she is also latched on while I'm asleep. *shrug* Also, probably b/c I'm preggers, she has started to wake up early and have a long drawn out nursing session. It's not too bad b/c we just laze in bed and watch a show or I read a book.

I do not expect babies to STTN. I'm not expecting this one to STTN. We were very surprised....in fact I kept waking her up at night b/c I was so worried. I remember I even called my mom w/ my anxiety about it.

[stormborn]

Pretty much your definition, rissierae. When all I have to do is roll over to expose a nipple, that counts.

[alaskaberry]

When *I* STTN! Which hardly ever happens anyway.

I just tell people that ds2 is STTN, because he sleeps 5-6 hrs then wakes up and nurses every 2 hrs after that. How is it their business anyway?

[Yippy!]

I think doctors define it as 6 hours. I don't place importance on it, but am a grouch if I get less than that but it's not my childs fault. I never ask a mom that cause I know how annoying it is

[lisavark]

Ah, I love this thread! If STTN means minimal wakings only to latch on and go right back to sleep, then DD has STTN since the day she was born. Maybe she's actually a GREAT sleeper. I should quit complaining!

[Carhootel]

I had always heard 5 or maybe 6 hours, can't remember. I guess I've heard both

[Mal85]

When it comes to babies, I don't think there is such a thing as STTN for all the reasons listed above. We all wake at some point. I think what we strive for though is for our babies to have the ability to soothe themselves back to sleep somehow, whether that be with a boob, pacifier, etc.

[evermore82]

I'm really enjoying this thread. I think there is no one definition of STTN, though.

Originally Posted by Louisep

I've come to think of STTN as a total myth perpetuated to sell sleep books. It's used as THE mainstream litmus test of a good baby/ successful parenting and it's just such nonsense. Now I view a good night's sleep as one when everyone wakes rested regardless of how many wakings.

After the initial couple weeks, both of my girls pretty much woke up only enough to roll over and latch on a couple times a night. But I can imagine that if we did not have a family bed, there would have been much more waking.

[kathleen_mary]

LOL! She must be SSTN right now! (I am not, however.)

My baby sleeps from about 8 or 9 to 6 or 7 and wakes about every 3-4 hours to nurse. But this is a vast improvement over a month ago, when she would sleep for 1-2 hours and then be awake for 3-4 hours and require all sorts of soothing to go to sleep. I love that I nurse her and then lay her right back down. We cosleep on occasion, but in general she seems to sleep better in her own bed. I would sleep better if all I had to do was roll over.