I don't know, if this post belongs here or in the "naps" thread, so I will post to both! Our very spirited son is 16 weeks old and we have taken away the binky, cold turkey. It was causing frequent night wakings for replacement so we just decided that the best way for everyone to get some sleep was to remove the problem. At the same time, we started using Tracy Hogg's techniques (sh-sh-pat and p/u-p/d) to help soothe him through the rough patches. We started all of this four days ago. His night time sleep is improving, he only woke once after his DF, at 3am and he played in his crib until 4am. Then he made started crying so we went in to help him out. He was stuck at the bottom of the crib and just needed some repositioning. Once he was moved, he was out cold, on his own! He woke again at 5am and with some persistence and crying, we got him to go back to sleep until 6. He played until 6:30 and then I fed him. This is a far stretch from the every one to two hour wakings for soothing. That was how last week was. We didn't let that go on for very long, before making the decision that he needs to learn to soothe himself, but we are not fans of the CIO method, so here we are.
Anyway, my real reason for being here. We have been able to sh-sh-pat him back to sleep pretty easily at night, b/c he is still groggy mostly. But his naps, whoa!! What a different story! He does NOT want to go down and fights me so badly that I often want to give in and stick the binky in his mouth. When he used the pacifier, he would go to sleep so easily. Now, he's like a demon child. I am waiting for The Baby Whisperer book to arrive, I just ordered it, so in the meantime, I want to make sure I am doing this right. For a 3-6 month old, when doing p/u-p/d, are you supposed to soothe until he is calm and then put him down or p/u and then p/d immediately? With him going cold turkey on the pacifier, I wonder if I should be more flexible on this?? I am so afraid of creating a new sleep crutch, if I don't do this right. Also, he ALWAYS wakes up at the 45 minute and 1 hour mark of his naps. I have to sh-sh-pat him through that, sometimes with a HUGE struggle and lots of crying. He really needs 1.5-2 hour naps and if I persist, I can always get him there, but no always easily. Does anyone have any advice for getting him past this hump? Today he managed to get by it himself and sometimes he does, but not usually. I guess I could go in before I expect it and catch him before he gets really awake, but wouldn't that be hindering his ability to soothe himself? Since this is all so new, I'm not sure what is right and I don't want to confuse him by starting something and then changing it on him. Help!!
Jessica with Grayson - 16 weeks/1day
