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NCSS Support Thread - Page 6

post #101 of 210
9/6/06 at 7:29pm
Regarding the teething question...My dd seems to have times when she's teething pretty badly, I wouldn't do NCSS then. Right now she must be in between teeth or something, because she doesn't seem bothered by it. I think it goes in cycles. Ok, off to start our new bedtime routine...wish me luck! DH will make dinner while I put our little monkey to bed...I wonder if I'll get to have any of that dinner!?
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post #102 of 210
9/7/06 at 1:47pm
Our little bunny has a cold Last night she didn't sleep so well because of her stuffy nose - she would snort and try to clear it and wake up more. But we did get bedtime back to 8 pm, which was good. She cried going to sleep but was out in her usual 5 minutes of sleepy song - I think she was crying because she was uncomfortable. But between 8 and 12:30 she was up at least every hour. After I switched off with DH he only had to pick her up twice but she woke up a lot more. But he said he was able to get her back to sleep just singing, without picking her up, so that's progress. I'm not expecting too much over the next few days because of the sniffles.
post #103 of 210
9/7/06 at 2:49pm
Can I join this thread? I'm doing the NCSS with my 6 month old DD Ivey. We're about 3 weeks into it, but we're just doing one thing at a time. (FWIW, we co-sleep and BF)

For the first 2 weeks my goal was an earlier bedtime, since my DD is constantly going going going and never really went to bed for the night until 10:30-11 (she'd fall asleep numerous times before that after 8 pm, but it'd be like a nap for her- once she'd wake, she was ready to play). So for 2 weeks I put her to bed around 8, and we've been pretty successful. However, I'm afraid it's not going to last because we do a youth Bible study on wed. nights and that one night off seems to be enough to ruin every other night. So now I'm wondering if it's really worth this extra effort to stay home, not do anything EVERY evening just to get her to bed by 8...because other than that, she sleeps well, she happy, she's healthy, etc. Anyway...

We also do a nightime routine every night now. Dinner, quiet play, bathtime, PJ's, book, BF'ing, bed... I've tried to stick with it no matter what, even if we don't get around to it until 9:30-10 at night, I still go through each step really quick. I can tell a difference in the way she sleeps (and falls asleep) if we ever skip the routine!!

But we haven't really started working on lessening night wakings, though. DD went through a stage for a few months where she only woke once at 3-4 am. to eat, but slept the rest of the time (this was when bedtime was at 10:30). Now she's back to waking about 4 times a night, on average (then again, usually about 2 of those are after we put her down early- around 8). I've been trying the PPO and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

That's where my question lies...does anyone else here have a high-needs baby? My DD was VERY colicky for the first 3.5 months, and she's still pretty high-needs most of the time (getting better day by day, though). I've read the difference in how high needs babies sleep on Dr. Sears website, so I wonder how that plays into the NCSS. Like when I unlatch her she goes NUTS rooting around and then just cries if I don't give her the boob back, and we can repeat this 10-15 times and never see an improvement. Not to mention she won't ever fall asleep unless she's hooked to the boob. Period. (granted, sometimes DH can get her to fall asleep after she's been awake for hours and hours and then he takes her for walk outside or somethign...but that doesn't happen on a regular basis). Any other efforts (rocking, etc) just end up in hours on end of screaming.

So anyway, that's my novel...and the story of my life.
post #104 of 210
9/7/06 at 3:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1babysmom
does anyone else here have a high-needs baby? My DD was VERY colicky for the first 3.5 months, and she's still pretty high-needs most of the time (getting better day by day, though). I've read the difference in how high needs babies sleep on Dr. Sears website, so I wonder how that plays into the NCSS. Like when I unlatch her she goes NUTS rooting around and then just cries if I don't give her the boob back, and we can repeat this 10-15 times and never see an improvement.
Yep, us too. DD has fallen asleep a few times in the carseat, and a few times in the backpack, but that's it other than being attached to the breast. And like your DD, if I take the nipple away before she's ready to let go, she will root, fuss, and cry until she is latched back on. That's why I've basically given up on the PPO (see previous posts on that). I definitely think it has to do with temprement; doesn't Dr. Sears talk about a persistent baby and how he/she won't give up no matter how many times you do it? That's DD all the way. She just gets MORE angry, and that definitely doesn't seem to help the situation. I've thought a lot about it, and decided that as far as this goes, I will just follow her lead and try to provide what she needs to the best of my abilities!

But the good news is, despite not doing the PPO very often, I think it is starting to work, if slightly. Last night she went to sleep at 8:00 and rather than waking at her usual 45 minute or one hour interval, she slept for over two hours before waking again. I latched her on immediately, and she barely took two sucks before falling asleep again. And the best part was that before the first two hours had elapsed, I saw her reposition herself, lift her head, and then go back to sleep ON HER OWN. It actually happened 2-3 times within a 15 minute window, and still, she didn't try to root for Mama. This is progress, people!! After that point, I think she slept pretty well until around 5:30 (possibly waking up once to reposition and cuddle with me, but not to nurse!) and then I think her tender gums got the best of her, and she became pretty restless. So I got her up, gave her some tylenol, changed the dipe, and we went back to sleep. I woke up feeling so happy and hopeful again, and I really needed that. So yay, at least things are looking up. Oh, one thing that I really think makes a difference in her ability to go back to sleep on her own is how she is positioned: she seems to do *much* better if she is sleeping on her tummy. So that's what I'm going to keep trying from now on. I mean, she is 9 months old so I really don't think there is any danger of SIDS at this point. Plus, I'm a tummy sleeper and always have been, so it makes sense to me that she would be more comfortable that way.

Anyway, 1babysmom, it definitely sounds like your baby wants the later bedtime. Not to try to give advice, but if that works for her, maybe you should go with it. I know the book says early early early, but it also says to choose bedtime based on your baby's cues. I hope you find whatever works best for her!
post #105 of 210
9/7/06 at 4:14pm
Amy, that's awesome! My DD has put herself back to sleep maybe 3 times total, and I could live for those times! LOL Sounds like you're definately making progress!!

I've noticed the same thing about tummy sleeping. Maybe I should put more effort into having her sleep on her tummy, because she definately sleeps sounder that way (most of the time, anyway). I'm a tummy sleeper, too.

BTW- love your daughters name. That's my name, too!
post #106 of 210
9/7/06 at 4:18pm
Really?? I've never met another Brynn - just heard of them through friends. It's the most beautiful name ever.

One little note on tummy sleeping - what I've done the past couple of nights is nurse her to sleep in whatever position she's in (side-laying, cradle position, whatever) and then wait til she's in a deep sleep and put her on her tummy. This seems to work better than trying to lay her down when she's not-quite asleep; if I do this, she will automatically get up on hands and knees and start to crawl around, then we have to start the whole process over again!

Spughy, sorry to hear about Rowan's sniffles. I hope it passes soon and you are all back on track.
post #107 of 210
9/7/06 at 4:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1babysmom
That's where my question lies...does anyone else here have a high-needs baby? My DD was VERY colicky for the first 3.5 months, and she's still pretty high-needs most of the time (getting better day by day, though). I've read the difference in how high needs babies sleep on Dr. Sears website, so I wonder how that plays into the NCSS. Like when I unlatch her she goes NUTS rooting around and then just cries if I don't give her the boob back, and we can repeat this 10-15 times and never see an improvement. Not to mention she won't ever fall asleep unless she's hooked to the boob. Period. (granted, sometimes DH can get her to fall asleep after she's been awake for hours and hours and then he takes her for walk outside or somethign...but that doesn't happen on a regular basis). Any other efforts (rocking, etc) just end up in hours on end of screaming.

That's my DS, too. Very high-needs. I think there are probably a lot of us on this thread. At least two or three wakings a night happen because he needs to pass gas and can't seem to do it alone. : We called it colic for the first 3.5 months, too, but then we resigned ourselves to labeling it "high-needs." It's better than the early days of constant screaming, but it's still rough. There's no way on earth he's going to go to sleep without a boob in his mouth unless he's in his carseat. We've been on step 1 for two or three months now. The only improvement so far is that sometimes he will let me pop him off once he's asleep. Never while he's awake, though.
post #108 of 210
9/7/06 at 4:27pm
Oh, one thing I forgot to ask...does anyone have a "boob holder?" If I'm lucky enough to sneak my nipple away from her (LOL...that sounds funny), if she's not totally zonked, she usually starts fussing around until she can hold onto my boob. And if I move, she comes searching until she finds it again. I've tried taking my shirt off so at least she'd still have something right beside her that smells like me, but I can't find something to adequately replace the boob.
post #109 of 210
9/7/06 at 9:04pm
So last night was awful. She went down at 8pm, nursed to sleep after her bath and songs, no fuss. Since we wern't ready for bed we put her down and took a shower and then she woke at 9:15. She fell asleep nursing again at 9:45 no problem. After there its a blur. I usually estimate how often she's woken up on whether I have full breasts or not, because i know if I wake up empty, she's been nursing, or it hasnt been that long! I think she was up twice between 10 and 2, and then every hour after that. And it wasn't just up once, she was back asleep nursing then she'd stir herself awake 3 min later, and she'd repeat that like 6 times before she'd go down again for another hour. :
Finally I put her in her sidecarred crib on her tummy and she slept more like 1.5 hours, but I tried patting her back to sleep when she woke and she just got mad. If I take the boob away she just shoves her face into the mattress and roots around looking for it. When she decides she's done nursing then she pops off and rolls onto her back from her side and goes to sleep. Thats the only way it works.


Spughy - How are you lucky enough to have a DH that will do that !? I don't know if my DH would go for that unless he was on a day off. I envy you! Do you think using the crib has helped? Ours is sidecarred to our bed, but I thought perhaps putting it on the otherside of the room would help because sometimes when I'm fed up and go sleep downstairs, she sleeps like 5 hours next to DH. What is it my smell or something ? Just how far can they possibly smell!
post #110 of 210
9/7/06 at 9:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ndunn
Spughy - How are you lucky enough to have a DH that will do that !? I don't know if my DH would go for that unless he was on a day off. I envy you! Do you think using the crib has helped? Ours is sidecarred to our bed, but I thought perhaps putting it on the otherside of the room would help because sometimes when I'm fed up and go sleep downstairs, she sleeps like 5 hours next to DH. What is it my smell or something ? Just how far can they possibly smell!
I know, my DH is AWESOME. But I do think she sleeps better for him than for me. I think it is the proximity of the delicious boobies - would you sleep if someone was constantly waving, say, doughnuts near your face? Mmmmmm doughnuts... But I digress. I think the crib + DH has helped for the latter part of the night. Ours isn't side-carred, it's just about 6 inches away from the bed. DH can reach out and touch her when she's in it; my arms aren't quite that long. I feel much more comfortable with her in the crib than in bed with DH, and his movements don't wake her up. However, I must admit that she is up just as many times for me in the crib as she was in the bed. So far. However, I sleep much better between wakeups without her in the bed so it's a success on one level, at least. I love the idea of cosleeping but I am just not a cuddly person at night and I am such a light sleeper that every little twitch wakes me up, so it was just not working for me at all. I can't believe I actually did it for 6 months...
post #111 of 210
9/7/06 at 10:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by spughy
Mmmmmm doughnuts... But I digress.
:
post #112 of 210
9/7/06 at 10:17pm
mmmm doughnuts

Well I swear lily sleeps better for my Dh as well. I don't know WHAT it is, but when I"m out of the room she sleeps. I'm a light sleeper too so I get woken up so easily. I've been so tired lately though I sleep through the nursings.
I'm going to ask my DH about doing shifts.
post #113 of 210
9/7/06 at 10:26pm
It's funny that some of you are stopping co-sleeping and finding it helps. We're starting it and finding it helps! I've been bringing him into bed at 3 or 4 in the morning and he sleeps 5 hours or so, rooting around once or twice to take a quick snack. I'd do it all night if I could, but I have shoulder problems and can't lie on my side that long.

Amy, where is the only sane place in Ohio? I'm pretty sure it's not Cleveland!
post #114 of 210
9/7/06 at 10:39pm
Mmmm, doughnuts.

It's amazing how much the routine matters. Tonight I started it early because I had a meeting at 6:30. We nursed, then bathed, then I put her in her jammies, and she was rubbing her eyes big time. But then I put her on the floor (NOT in the routine). And she was awake! Playtime! We went to the meeting and she was happy awake girl for an hour. Then I came back home (just across the street, yay cohousing), we went downstairs to the bedroom, I put on the white noise, put her on the bed and boom, rubbing her eyes again! Amazing thing, that routine. We nursed and she quieted right down, I put her down, turned off the light, gave her a pinky to suck on and she went to sleep in about 20 seconds. (Sometimes she needs that pinky, sometimes not.)

That was about 80 minutes ago; she hasn't woken, which is a good sign! :
post #115 of 210
9/7/06 at 11:06pm
Hi
i hope that it's never too late to join this thread as I'm in desperate need of it! My ds, Egan, is almost 10 months old, breastfeeding and sleping just about everywhere, including his crib, our bed,his sling and his swing each night. He was a super high needs infant (basically cried for the first 5 months despite lots of aping) We read NCSS at 5 months and tried it and it seemed to be helping some. Then... we had a move and lots of transitory situations for about 4 months. We are now settled in our new home and desperately trying to get back on track. My dh is awesome and we switch off all the time but it's been really rough. he just had tooth number 4 emerge and we are hoping for a break sometime soon. so that's our background and just wanted to say I'm thankful for the opportunity for help and support on this crazy journey towards sleep!
post #116 of 210
9/7/06 at 11:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by anonymous4_20
It's funny that some of you are stopping co-sleeping and finding it helps. We're starting it and finding it helps! I've been bringing him into bed at 3 or 4 in the morning and he sleeps 5 hours or so, rooting around once or twice to take a quick snack. I'd do it all night if I could, but I have shoulder problems and can't lie on my side that long.
I started cosleeping because DD seemed to sleep better that way too - at around 3 months (maybe a little before?) It worked beautifully until she hit about 8 months. Then it was all downhill. I think it's one of those things that sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and you have to be flexible enough to go either way.

ETA: DD had super-crappy naps today, so I expect tonight will be absolute hell. And she refused to eat most of her dinner too. Bah. Not looking forward to this evening... at least I had a chiro appt today so my back should be up to at least 4 rock-to-sleep sessions...
post #117 of 210
9/8/06 at 1:32pm
Well I guess when a baby has a cold, it is time to put NCSS on hold. DD would NOT sleep last night except in our arms. With us upright. So we each got a 5 hour shift of real sleep and a 5 hour shift of uncomfortable propped-up sitting "sleep". Could have been worse. She still woke up every hour or more with snuffles and made little Bill the Cat noises until her nose was clear enough for her to go back to sleep. Poor little bunny.
post #118 of 210
9/8/06 at 2:44pm
Awww. Poor darlin. :
post #119 of 210
9/8/06 at 2:59pm
We had a so-so night last night. She went down at 8:45 with a bit of fuss, slept until 9:30 and then wouldnt go back to sleep. It took until 11:30 but then my DH put her in the basinette like 5 feet from our bed and she slept 3 hours! woo hoo
Then it was 2, then woke every hour after that. Woke up for the day at 8.

I'm sleepy.
post #120 of 210
9/8/06 at 3:52pm
OK something very odd just happened. DD napped from 9:45 til 10:30 this morning, and then again from 1:15 til around 2:00. When she woke up at 2:00, I let her nurse to see if she wanted to go back to sleep, but she seemed ready to get up. I decided to make lunch so I tried putting her down, which resulted in her total dissolve into tears; same with the baby backpack. I did't want to use the sling (too hard to make lunch with her in the hip carry) so I pulled downthe Snuggli, which wa haven't used in months, and she happily went into it, and fell asleep again about 20 minutes later. I guess she's still tired and/or not feeling well (still from those top teeth?) but wow, it was just really surprising. Poor punkin. Maybe I should wear her in the Snuggli every night at the end of our bedtime routine though, huh?