A positive sleep-nurture story <3

This is for mamas like me who don’t want to sleep train and need some inspiration ❤️

My LB was the worst sleeper ever. Since he was born he wakes every 1-3 hours, needs to be guided to sleep every time, fights naps and bedtime to death, and breastfeeds all night.
For 5 months I thought I might die.
Everyone told me to sleep train, but I refused. I truly believe babies need us and will learn to self settle and sleep well when they’re confident and ready.
I powered thru, crying a lot, but gave him what he needed. We co slept since day one, and around 4m I introduced his floor bed (I’d sleep in it with him).

So a few weeks ago things changed 🥲 First he stopped fighting sleep. Then I started to put him down sleepy but awake, and then pick him up as soon as he fussed and rocked him. Eventually, he just lay there next to me playing with his hands and getting comfy, and would fall asleep! Now, I put him on his bed and he falls asleep all by himself! Now we’re getting 4-5 hour stretches at night 😀
Last night, I saw him wake up, roll around happy and play on his bed alone for a bit, then just self settled himself back to sleep! Without me at all! It’s incredible 💙
He sleeps on a floor bed next to our bed for reference, and is still breastfed.

I know we’ll have regressions and bad nights, but his learning to sleep independently all on his own, no sleep training at all. The constant touch and support I gave him worked.

So keep it up mamas!! When they’re ready they’re ready 🥰

I do miss co sleeping tho 😢

Read more on Peanut

The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.

Learn more about our guidelines.

Add a comment

this gives me hope! how big is the bed? can he roll both ways? my son rolls onto his belly then cries bc he cant roll back

This is so great! I am happy for you and happy to hear that this is possible.
I was recently thinking to do that- instead of putting my baby in a crib, to just skip to a mattress on the floor.
I have the same question^
What size mattress?
And what are some tips to get my baby to do this? As of now,
I have to breastfeed, rock, put to sleep in carrier or recently the stroller in order to put my LO to sleep.

That is so beautiful to hear!! I love co sleeping but I can’t wait for the day we try putting him in his own bed 💕 not quite ready for that yet!

it’s a single mattress like for a child, not a crib. But he doesn’t roll too much at night, so a baby mattress could probably work!
He can roll fully, and sometimes he gets on his belly and gets stuck lol but with a bit of rocking he’s back to sleep again.

I still support him to sleep, rocking and breastfeeding. I then put him down sleepy. Sometimes I do have to pick him up and do it again.
I used to have to do a lot more, but now it’s like he learned sleep isn’t scary! We always bring him back into our bed in the morning, and for naps he’s a bit more cuddly so I have to kay next to him as he falls asleep. But nights he’s gotten independent!

I replied to Lisa above 😊 keep it up mama! You’re fostering wonderful mental health in your baby this way ❤️

sounds like it’s coming together! thank you

they’ll let you know when they are! Our LB suddenly became a huge bed hog and suddenly liked his space at night 🥲

that is good to know!! Gonna soak up every moment of sleep cuddles while I can before he becomes my little independent man 😭

yesss!! I miss co sleeping so much! And when he was a newborn he only wanted to sleep on my chest so I would have to sleep with him on the couch after making a little pillow fort thing so we be snug and safe. I remember back then thinking how much I couldn’t wait til I could sleep with my fiancé in our bed again and now all I wanna do is go back in time! 🥲

awww, mine never really cared for the chest snuggles. But he does love his face right next to the boob all the time. Sometimes he will even wake up just to make sure the boob is there and then fall right back asleep 😂. I will definitely enjoy the time I have with him and try not to rush into the future too much.

😂 so cute!

I have a similar story. It’s so bittersweet when they start self soothing themselves back to sleep. It’s so cute 🥰

yes! Like I’m so proud of him and it’s nice to have bedtime cuddles with hubby again, but on the other hand I miss cosleeping so much and I’m sad he’s so independent already :(

Glad to hear Xx

in our community

Sleeping bag

8 week old in sleeping bag for first time as big enough! Do you feed your child in the night whilst in the sleeping bag or taken them out, feed then transfer back to sleeping bag before putting down?

Rant/WWYD

My sister (youngest, 24) has two kids, 4 & 1, and i (oldest, 30) just have my one who’s 6mo old right now, so i ask her for advice or call her to vent about things sometimes. Well im tired of her turning around and telling my other family members that I’m “losing my sh*t.” Literally have not lost my sh*t nor have i ever freaked out to her about my baby, i just call her to talk and tell her what stage my baby is in or talk through how im feeling, but she chooses to tell people that im like a complete nutcase or something which worries me that my family is going to start being judgmental about me as a mother or looking at me funny like I’m some fragile ticking time bomb.

What would you do in this situation? I’m already pretty much decided that I’ll stop telling her anything about my struggles, but I’m almost at the point where i feel like it should be confronted because she, of all people, should understand what I’m going through.

Not drinking

I’m going crazy. Baby born at 2.26kg. Slow to put on weight. This last week hasn’t put on any. Been trying to feed him at night and he’s not interested at all. Fast asleep. During day he will have 5 minute gulps and that’s it. He don’t cry for milk. I’ve got to keep offering to him. I try to offer it every hour but I don’t know what I’m doing. HV said nutrition comes after 5 minutes so I should pump first and then give him. I find it so hard. I tried to pump one boob nothing came. The other abit came. Tried giving him express he’s not interested in that too. Sometimes he will go for a longer a feed but not long at all. He’s 4 months and is currently 5.46kg. I have no family or friend support here and wish I had a cook, cleaner and nanny to help with everything so I can concentrate on the little one. I don’t know what’s wrong with him but I’m loosing it. It doesn’t help that my also stressed generally about my relationship and life circumstances. Any advice that will work. Any comfort you can give. I’m fed up. Is this regression - not feeding. He’s fast fast asleep. I’ve been trying to push the nipple in but that mouth is closed shut. I took some clothes off. Changed his nappy but he’s still asleep. Please help

Leaky nappy help

What nappies are you using to stop leaks?? We use pampers ultra dry size 5, and for the past few nights he has lashed through and we’ve had to completely change him during the night. Last night he leashed through twice!! He sleeps on his front and stays leaks through at the top of his leg where the tabs connect. Didn’t know whether to size up, he has a bit of a belly on him but he’s smack in middle of weight guidance so shouldn’t need too

My little one is struggling with sleep

Hey! I'm in need of some advice please girls! My little boy is 20 months turns 21 months in 2 half weeks. He use to sleep through the night now he is waking up every single night in the early morning, I've had to transition him to a toodler bed as he kept climbing out his cot. Just need some advice on what I can do to help him get back in to a sleep pattern?

5.30am wakeups 😫😴

My 15 week old has started waking up about 5.30am and is really hard to settle back down - it’s like he thinks it’s time to wake up for the day. He used to go to bed at 9pm and was up at 8am but now he goes to bed between 7.30-8pm as he’s knackered by then but waking up at 5.30am😴. Any advice to get him to sleep a little longer in the morning?! Even an extra hour would be lovely 🤣