spinoff to sleeping through the night

I saw that many of you have children who slept through the night at 7-8 weeks. I have a 3 week old now, but I'm trying to plan ahead. Did you do something specific to get DC to STTN, or did it just happen naturally? TIA!

ETA: Where was baby STTN? Bassinet? Crib? RnP? We have my LO in the bassinet, but will probably transition her to the crib at about 6 weeks. I feel like she sleeps better in her swing or bouncy seat, but don't want to get in that habit.

Message edited 7/8/2012 12:00:51 PM.

Re: spinoff to sleeping through the night

DS started sleeping from about 11-6 around 8 weeks. He did not like to sleep in his bassinet at first. He would sleep great in his swing but MiL told us her chiropractor said that could cause back problems. I'm not sure now that there is any truth to that, but it worried us enough to try and stop. Plus, we had been dragging the swing into our room every night and back out to the living room every day and it was a PITA.
We decided to give swaddling another try (we had tried when he was first born but he didn't seem to like it so we thought we'd just forget about it.)
But we tried again and he started sleeping for 7-8 hour clips at night. We kept him in it when we moved him into his room in his crib at about 4 months and we used it until he was about 6-7 months old.
But, all that being said, I think some kids, it doesn't matter what you do, they just aren't ready while other kids will STTN early.
Good luck!!!

spinoff to sleeping through the night

DD started STTN around 3m in the rock n play. then around 4m she stopped STTN. then around 5m back to STTN most of the time. 6m STTN maybe 4 nights a week. she was in the RNP the whole time. right before 8m we put her in the crib. knock on wood but she has STTN every single night since going into the crib.

every kid is different so i wouldn't have any expectations, just !!

Message edited 7/8/2012 12:19:56 PM.

Re: spinoff to sleeping through the night

I moved DD into her room (out of RNP) at 7 weeks...2-3 nights later she started sleeping through the night. But of course, there were still nights she woke (sick, teething, etc)...but that is when we could expect to get a full nights sleep. I did nothing special, she was only getting formula, no cereal or anything yet. Though I do think this was the same time where we really started establishing a bed time routine...and I think that helped a lot!

Re: spinoff to sleeping through the night

Starting at 5 weeks we would feed him at 9p and then wake him up at midnight and do another 4 ounces. We wouldn't change his diaper and we kept the lights off. He would sleep straight until 630am. At 8 weeks we dropped that feeding and he continued from 9p-630a. He still does the same now at 6 months but he has two very long naps during the day and this works out best since DH works late and wants to see him. All of this was in the R&P though, and we are starting the transition now

Re: spinoff to sleeping through the night

My boys STTN and at 3 weeks and 5 weeks, respectively. Both were in their cribs in their own rooms from the beginning. We swaddled them (with the Woombie- one of the best inventions ever!!) and played white noise all night (heartbeat/womb sounds in the beginning, then rain or ocean sounds later). We also gave them a pacifier when going to sleep, but at that age, it was rare that it stayed in for very long. Before they STTN, when they would wake up during the night for a feeding, I'd go in, keep the lights off, and keep them swaddled, and talk very softly. I'd nurse them (changed diaper in between sides if needed) then put them right back down. Also, we have always sung to them at bedtime.

ETA: I remember hearing that babies who are held more during the day tend to sleep better at night because they feel more secure.
Another tip I learned is to never let them fall asleep at the breast or bottle. This can be very unsettling for them because then if they do wake up at night they will be alarmed that you aren't there and likely get upset.

Message edited 7/8/2012 10:03:16 PM.

spinoff to sleeping through the night

We moved DD to the crib at about 8 weeks and she started sleeping 7 hour stretches. She's not STTN consistently yet at 11 weeks but she sleeps 12 hours a night and often does 7 hour stretches. She was growing out of the bassinet since she likes to turn herself sideways and her kicking was waking us up in the morning. We started with her afternoon nap and then started putting her in the crib at night within a few days. We use white noise and a sleepsack.

Re: spinoff to sleeping through the night

If we r giving her a bath we do bath, then put on pj's & I BF. The lights r dim & I try not to talk to DD or stimulate her in any way. While im feeding her, DH "sets up" the bedroom- he turns lights off, lays her swaddle blanket out on the bed. Once DD falls asleep on my boob, I take her off & hold her on me as if burping her & gently pat her back. She usually goes right to sleep on my shoulder. After 5-10 min I walk into bedroom & hold her for 2-3 more min so she is accustomed to bedroom (diff air conditioner sound, tv on low, flashing lights of tv... Although I stand in the corner so if she did open her eyes she wouldn't see tv). I walk over to bassinet & turn on white noise machine (from the inside of the sleep sheep) Then I lay her on the bed & put her in her "swaddle me" blanket .. Sometimes she wakes up a little bit but I quietly "shhhhhh" her while I'm doing it to soothe her back to sleep. Once she is velcroed In, I place her in bassinet & then turn on angel care ,monitor thAt is on my dresser. DD is in bassinet close to the side of the bed but not close enough that she can see me... If she does wake up a little, I make sure to keep out of sight bc I feel like if she sees me she will wake up all the way rather than going back to sleep. She sleeps thru the night & once of my favorite things is unwrapping her from her "baby burrito" every morning.. She is always so stretchy & smiley when I take her out! Omg could eat her up!

Message edited 7/8/2012 3:02:51 PM.

Re: spinoff to sleeping through the night

Re: spinoff to sleeping through the night

Re: spinoff to sleeping through the night

RnP. But if he only slept in the bouncer or the swing, that's what I'd do. I believe in keeping baby comfy and not be afraid of "bad habits".

spinoff to sleeping through the night

My daughter is only 2 weeks old but im having a lot of trouble with her at night. Dont know if this is normal since she is only 2 weeks. She doesnt like to sleep flat so i cant use her bassinet anymore. I had to purchase a rnp to get her to sleep but she will only fall asleep on either my chest or my husbands. We have to leave her on our chests for like 30 minutes before putting her down in the rnp. Some nights shell stay asleep for 2-3hours nd others 1 hour tops. Im scared im gettimg her in a bad habit and im not sure how to break it. When can i try to break her out of this? Im reading everywhere they cant self soothe yet. And she screams bloody murder if i leave her on the rnp or swing or anything else.

Also she wears footie pjs not a swaddle. She hates having her hands swaddled and with.the rnp it has a latch thingy to strap her in so i cant swadle her anymore.

Any advice to get her on a schedule or routine would be helpful.
Shes fed breast milk but by bottle and shes up every 2-3 hours to eat. Anyway to slow this down? Weve just introduced formula because im not making enough milk.

Message edited 7/8/2012 11:17:24 PM.