Comments on: Monkey’s nighttime schedule: 3.5 months old http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/3107/monkeys-nighttime-schedule-3-5-months-old Pregnancy and baby blog, a couple shares their true story into parenthood. Sat, 11 Sep 2010 02:14:24 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Amy http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/3107/monkeys-nighttime-schedule-3-5-months-old/comment-page-1#comment-18900 Amy Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:00:39 +0000 http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/?p=3107#comment-18900 We cant do a bath at bedtime because it works him up more than anything. he absolutely hates being messed with. So we start the night by dimming the lights in the house in the evening, it all depends on when he last ate. If he wakes up and eats at 7, we need to wait until 8 to start bedtime because it is critical that we feed him before bed. So we start by dimming all the lights in the house (this helps mommy unwind too!)wiping him down with a warm cloth gently, lotion him up, change his diaper, and get him into PJS. We will put on his soother mobile while we do this and that has soft music and soft lights. Then I will feed him a warm bottle and by now he is really dozing off. Then Ill swaddle him up and lay him in his crib. THis is the frustrating part, he HATES laying on his back, so I have to stand there sometimes for an hour or more, jiggling the crib mattress so it rocks him to sleep. Because if I rocked him in my arms he would wake up the second I laid him down. We cant do a bath at bedtime because it works him up more than anything. he absolutely hates being messed with. So we start the night by dimming the lights in the house in the evening, it all depends on when he last ate. If he wakes up and eats at 7, we need to wait until 8 to start bedtime because it is critical that we feed him before bed.

So we start by dimming all the lights in the house (this helps mommy unwind too!)wiping him down with a warm cloth gently, lotion him up, change his diaper, and get him into PJS. We will put on his soother mobile while we do this and that has soft music and soft lights. Then I will feed him a warm bottle and by now he is really dozing off. Then Ill swaddle him up and lay him in his crib. THis is the frustrating part, he HATES laying on his back, so I have to stand there sometimes for an hour or more, jiggling the crib mattress so it rocks him to sleep. Because if I rocked him in my arms he would wake up the second I laid him down.

]]> By: Lori @ I Can Grow People http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/3107/monkeys-nighttime-schedule-3-5-months-old/comment-page-1#comment-18707 Lori @ I Can Grow People Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:58:53 +0000 http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/?p=3107#comment-18707 I think you might have read the bedtime routine post on my blog, but really I swear the routine helps my sanity! And I really cherish bedtime with my son! Glad to know you are doing well :) I think you might have read the bedtime routine post on my blog, but really I swear the routine helps my sanity! And I really cherish bedtime with my son!

Glad to know you are doing well :)

]]> By: Erin http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/3107/monkeys-nighttime-schedule-3-5-months-old/comment-page-1#comment-18699 Erin Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:53:13 +0000 http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/?p=3107#comment-18699 My three month old has exactly the same routine, except I breastfeed. He still gets up at least twice a night, so it's important to note that it truly does vary--despite the routine! My three month old has exactly the same routine, except I breastfeed. He still gets up at least twice a night, so it’s important to note that it truly does vary–despite the routine!

]]> By: "little" one http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/3107/monkeys-nighttime-schedule-3-5-months-old/comment-page-1#comment-18678 "little" one Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:39:33 +0000 http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/?p=3107#comment-18678 I've heard a lot about the Einstein cd's..... I have one that I play through headphones on my belly.... I think it's cute I’ve heard a lot about the Einstein cd’s….. I have one that I play through headphones on my belly…. I think it’s cute

]]> By: Shawna http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/3107/monkeys-nighttime-schedule-3-5-months-old/comment-page-1#comment-18673 Shawna Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:05:17 +0000 http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/?p=3107#comment-18673 I LOVE the Rockabye Baby CDs (for me more than the little one . . .she doesn't seem to care either way!) For anyone really struggling, I highly recommend the book "Twelve Hours Sleep by Twelve Weeks Old". I read it before giving birth and then re-read it when my baby was about 3 weeks old. It's a quick quick read and easily laid out. My daughter is 7 weeks old and she has been consistently sleeping 8-10 hours at night for 2 1/2 weeks. Only twice she has woken up to be fed in the middle of the night; most nights if she stirs at all we can just put her pacifier in and she drifts off within seconds. Last night we struggled to get her to sleep, but once we did, she was out for 10 hours with no feeding and one pacifier replacement. I'm not bragging. I'm more THANKFUL than anything . . .her sleeping well has let me retain my sanity. But I seriously could not have done it without that book. I had no idea how to get my baby on a schedule or how to wean her off of night feedings, or even how much formula to give her. This book made it easier for me to understand what I needed to do. I don't return to work for 2 more weeks, and once I do I know that our schedule has to become a lot more rigid (for her sake and ours), but I'm not really concerned about it because I feel confident enough in the "sleep training" we've been able to enforce so far. A word of caution, though . . .my daughter was a big baby (10 lbs 2 oz) at birth, and I understand that big babies are better sleepers, so it may take longer to get a smaller baby to sleep for longer stretches, although that is addressed in the book. It's also helpful for twins--the friend who gave me the book has twins who are now 8 months old. One was sleeping in 12 hour stretches by 10 weeks; the other by 15 weeks. I LOVE the Rockabye Baby CDs (for me more than the little one . . .she doesn’t seem to care either way!)

For anyone really struggling, I highly recommend the book “Twelve Hours Sleep by Twelve Weeks Old”. I read it before giving birth and then re-read it when my baby was about 3 weeks old. It’s a quick quick read and easily laid out.

My daughter is 7 weeks old and she has been consistently sleeping 8-10 hours at night for 2 1/2 weeks. Only twice she has woken up to be fed in the middle of the night; most nights if she stirs at all we can just put her pacifier in and she drifts off within seconds. Last night we struggled to get her to sleep, but once we did, she was out for 10 hours with no feeding and one pacifier replacement.

I’m not bragging. I’m more THANKFUL than anything . . .her sleeping well has let me retain my sanity. But I seriously could not have done it without that book. I had no idea how to get my baby on a schedule or how to wean her off of night feedings, or even how much formula to give her. This book made it easier for me to understand what I needed to do.

I don’t return to work for 2 more weeks, and once I do I know that our schedule has to become a lot more rigid (for her sake and ours), but I’m not really concerned about it because I feel confident enough in the “sleep training” we’ve been able to enforce so far.

A word of caution, though . . .my daughter was a big baby (10 lbs 2 oz) at birth, and I understand that big babies are better sleepers, so it may take longer to get a smaller baby to sleep for longer stretches, although that is addressed in the book. It’s also helpful for twins–the friend who gave me the book has twins who are now 8 months old. One was sleeping in 12 hour stretches by 10 weeks; the other by 15 weeks.

]]> By: mom-in-china http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/3107/monkeys-nighttime-schedule-3-5-months-old/comment-page-1#comment-18659 mom-in-china Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:12:53 +0000 http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/?p=3107#comment-18659 We have a similar routine too for my 3 month old.... bath at 6pm, a feed and then usually asleep by 7pm. We swaddle using the Miracle Blanket (though my husband likes the Cloud B blanket.. same makers of the sleep sheep). And baby either is asleep until sometime between 4-6am- straight, or wakes up once or twice for a feed (usually 11pm and/or 3am). If he does wake, its less than 20 minutes to feed and he is back to sleep. Our music choice these days between 6-7pm is our Rockabye Baby CD-- we have the Beatles and Eagles, and I am thinking of getting a few more... I enjoy humming to the soft music tunes of famous bands. www.rockabyebabymusic.com We have a similar routine too for my 3 month old…. bath at 6pm, a feed and then usually asleep by 7pm. We swaddle using the Miracle Blanket (though my husband likes the Cloud B blanket.. same makers of the sleep sheep). And baby either is asleep until sometime between 4-6am- straight, or wakes up once or twice for a feed (usually 11pm and/or 3am). If he does wake, its less than 20 minutes to feed and he is back to sleep.

Our music choice these days between 6-7pm is our Rockabye Baby CD– we have the Beatles and Eagles, and I am thinking of getting a few more… I enjoy humming to the soft music tunes of famous bands. http://www.rockabyebabymusic.com

]]> By: Liz http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/3107/monkeys-nighttime-schedule-3-5-months-old/comment-page-1#comment-18607 Liz Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:33:01 +0000 http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/?p=3107#comment-18607 Our routine is somewhat similar except that my little guy (a couple weeks older than Monkey) goes to bed later because my husband and I work until evening and want at least a little time with him in the evening! We do a bath (or shower which, strangely, he loves) every night for consistency starting sometime between 9:30-10:30 depending on when he gets fussy. After bathtime, I give him a lotion massage unless he's crying, then dress him and read him a story. After storytime, he takes a bottle of breastmilk to make sure he gets enough at night (he'll take anywhere from 1-8 oz at this feeding before dozing off). Once he's settled down, I swaddle him with his arms in and put him in his crib. He was sleeping 6-8 hours at a stretch when he was 6 weeks old but a cold, plane trip, and then the flu threw things off and now he's back to only 3-4 hours at a stretch. As you can see, we're less schedule driven than many families but it worked well for us until chaos hit. We're just sticking to the same routine and hoping he gets back to sleeping better. I think I'm going to try the lullabies and see if they make a difference! Our routine is somewhat similar except that my little guy (a couple weeks older than Monkey) goes to bed later because my husband and I work until evening and want at least a little time with him in the evening! We do a bath (or shower which, strangely, he loves) every night for consistency starting sometime between 9:30-10:30 depending on when he gets fussy. After bathtime, I give him a lotion massage unless he’s crying, then dress him and read him a story. After storytime, he takes a bottle of breastmilk to make sure he gets enough at night (he’ll take anywhere from 1-8 oz at this feeding before dozing off). Once he’s settled down, I swaddle him with his arms in and put him in his crib.

He was sleeping 6-8 hours at a stretch when he was 6 weeks old but a cold, plane trip, and then the flu threw things off and now he’s back to only 3-4 hours at a stretch. As you can see, we’re less schedule driven than many families but it worked well for us until chaos hit. We’re just sticking to the same routine and hoping he gets back to sleeping better. I think I’m going to try the lullabies and see if they make a difference!

]]> By: Megan R. http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/3107/monkeys-nighttime-schedule-3-5-months-old/comment-page-1#comment-18595 Megan R. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:47:33 +0000 http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/?p=3107#comment-18595 I could follow a routine EVERY night...and still end up with different results EVERY night. Wait...that is what I do already! ha! At just about three months old, my Peanut has slept through the night twice...after being put down at 10pm. Most nights, she sleeps in two to five hour increments (the first increment being the longest...and the second being pretty short). Last night? Well, last night I put her down at 10pm. She wanted her pacifier at 10:30pm. Fell asleep on her own, per the usual. Woke up at ONE AM!! WTF? Then after a small formula "snack" and a diaper change and vertical time...she went back down for 3.5 hours. Not ideal, I can tell you that much. However, at just shy of three months old, my Peanut only weighs about 10 pounds. She was a month early and suffers from reflux. I can't expect miracles from her right away, I guess. I hope that in the next month or two, though, that she does start sleeping more. Longer sleeping baby equals happier mommy! I could follow a routine EVERY night…and still end up with different results EVERY night. Wait…that is what I do already! ha!

At just about three months old, my Peanut has slept through the night twice…after being put down at 10pm. Most nights, she sleeps in two to five hour increments (the first increment being the longest…and the second being pretty short). Last night? Well, last night I put her down at 10pm. She wanted her pacifier at 10:30pm. Fell asleep on her own, per the usual. Woke up at ONE AM!! WTF? Then after a small formula “snack” and a diaper change and vertical time…she went back down for 3.5 hours. Not ideal, I can tell you that much.

However, at just shy of three months old, my Peanut only weighs about 10 pounds. She was a month early and suffers from reflux. I can’t expect miracles from her right away, I guess. I hope that in the next month or two, though, that she does start sleeping more. Longer sleeping baby equals happier mommy!

]]> By: Jenny http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/3107/monkeys-nighttime-schedule-3-5-months-old/comment-page-1#comment-18588 Jenny Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:39:27 +0000 http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/?p=3107#comment-18588 Thats almost exactly the same as our bedtime routine, except we also have a story and a few lullabys thrown in. (and boobies instead of bottle). Unfortunately - (and this is for all you expectant mama's who thing that it will work out just fine if only you do a bedtime routine) - despite doing this every single night for the last 4months, putting her down drowsy but awake, our baby still wakes up every 2hrs overnight. Just goes to show that you can do everything "by the book" and still not get a full nights sleep. for what its worth, I don't even feel tired during the day despite only sleeping in 1-2hr increments. The body just adjusts! Thats almost exactly the same as our bedtime routine, except we also have a story and a few lullabys thrown in. (and boobies instead of bottle). Unfortunately – (and this is for all you expectant mama’s who thing that it will work out just fine if only you do a bedtime routine) – despite doing this every single night for the last 4months, putting her down drowsy but awake, our baby still wakes up every 2hrs overnight.
Just goes to show that you can do everything “by the book” and still not get a full nights sleep.
for what its worth, I don’t even feel tired during the day despite only sleeping in 1-2hr increments. The body just adjusts!

]]> By: Jill http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/3107/monkeys-nighttime-schedule-3-5-months-old/comment-page-1#comment-18587 Jill Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:35:27 +0000 http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/?p=3107#comment-18587 Our routine is similar. G is 17 months old. We usually don't eat dinner til 6, and after dinner comes a bath, lotion, and some play time. At 7:45ish, we brush teeth, find binkie and "face blanket" and then settle in the rocker to read 2-4 books (depending on how patient I'm feeling:)). She gets one last drink of water, we go into her dark room, I flick on the night light, start the lullabies (we have Disney Lullabies 1 & 2), give hugs and kisses, and then I lay her in her crib. Sometimes this gets pushed back a whole hour if we're doing something and I think she can handle it, other times she's so tired and cranky that she's in bed by 7:30. Usually, she sleeps until 7:30-8:00am, straight through. We used to have BIG problems with her only falling asleep if I was holding her, and so we started the routine to help with that. Even now, if she whines when I put her in bed, she's usually quiet by the time I get back to the living room - so less than 30 seconds. Having a nighttime routine also helped with nap time. And I really think for us, the lullabies do the trick. The music means it's time to rest, so they go on during nap too. Our routine is similar. G is 17 months old. We usually don’t eat dinner til 6, and after dinner comes a bath, lotion, and some play time. At 7:45ish, we brush teeth, find binkie and “face blanket” and then settle in the rocker to read 2-4 books (depending on how patient I’m feeling:)). She gets one last drink of water, we go into her dark room, I flick on the night light, start the lullabies (we have Disney Lullabies 1 & 2), give hugs and kisses, and then I lay her in her crib. Sometimes this gets pushed back a whole hour if we’re doing something and I think she can handle it, other times she’s so tired and cranky that she’s in bed by 7:30. Usually, she sleeps until 7:30-8:00am, straight through.

We used to have BIG problems with her only falling asleep if I was holding her, and so we started the routine to help with that. Even now, if she whines when I put her in bed, she’s usually quiet by the time I get back to the living room – so less than 30 seconds. Having a nighttime routine also helped with nap time. And I really think for us, the lullabies do the trick. The music means it’s time to rest, so they go on during nap too.

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