Newborn sleep advice

[Ellie H]

Can someone explain the PU/PD method for me please?

I need to get Elodie to sleep somewhere other than on me or Mr H otherwise I might actually turn into a zombie.

Ta.

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[JulieBannon]

i think you start by putting them to bed as normal and leave, wait 10 min before going back in, this is to give them chance to go to sleep on there own.

pick them up when they cry, shush them but dont do any other stuf like bouncin or walking around cos thats just make them rely on that instead. the moment they stop crying, put them down. even if they start crying on the way down, go through with it. them once they have beeen put down, if still crying you can pick them back up. if they stop crying but are still awake/ upset, put one hand on chest and the other on top of head and reassure them. wait until they are well asleep before leaving.

i used this on ellen at 4 months when getting rid of her dummy. the first day, it took 1 hour 30 the second an hour and on the third she was asleep on her own. the crying is supposedt o be them confused as to where there normal "thing" is, in ellens case her dummy got her to sleep.

i think thats right......

[noababy]

Found this for you:

Q) My son is 8 weeks old and will not go to sleep unless held then wakes as soon as he's put down.

A) You need to try the Pick up Put down method (pu/pd). Start by winding down gently to naptime. Sit somewhere quiet and dark with your baby for a few minutes before lying him down.

When he starts to cry, pick him up and calm him down completely before you lay him back down. When he cries again pick him up, and reassure him. Up to the age of three months, you can pat him on the back, and say 'shh-shh', because a child under 3 months cannot hold three thoughts in their mind. So if he is being patted and listening to the 'shhh', he cannot focus on crying as well.

The other thing to remember is that under the age of three months, they have no control over their arms or legs. So the other thing to do is to swaddle him. I would suggest doing that before laying him down.

Put him back in the cot but continue to pat and 'shhh' for at least 7-10 minutes after he has calmed down. Don't stop the minute he is quiet, keep going but gradually slow down the patting and make the 'shhh' quieter. It may take you twenty minutes of pu/pd before you get him to sleep.

Also found this excerpt of a question and asnwer interview with the baby whisperer:


Member: I have tried to stick it out with the pick-up/put-down routine, but my daughter just doesn't give in. I know it must be my fault for not seeing it through, but really I have tried this all night for quite a few nights. I am just wondering if what people say "to let her cry it out" would be beneficial? Or would it more hinder her than help her? We are talking screaming bloody murder, not just a whimper.


Hogg: I do not advocate crying it out, and it's important for you to realize the trust you have built over the 10 months of this child's life has been established by you always going in and tending to her. The only benefit I could see for you in letting her cry would be that a wooden door would muffle the screaming of bloody murder. Yes, she will cry and be upset, but if you don't see it through to the end, you are prolonging the process. I am speaking from experience of working in homes on a regular basis with children -- babies and toddlers -- who I pick up and put down hundreds of times a night. It's tiring and can put you to the point of exhaustion. My suggestion is that you get support in the middle of the night from a friend or family member. On the Baby Whisperer web site there are even moms willing to do this. Please don't leave your child behind a closed wooden door. I will come out and do it!


Parents should think this through: Our children need to trust our word, and that means following through good or bad so as they grow, when mom or dad makes a promise or gives a refusal of something, those children trust your word. And that's the most fundamental building block in any relationship you have with another human being. It also teaches integrity, respect, and it starts in infancy. And that's why in the toddler book I talk about being a conscious parent. You have to think things through and see them through to the end. And to remember that we are all human, and we all get tired and frustrated -- even I get exhausted. But that's the commitment that we make as parents and it's a very serious commitment.

[cole]

You PU your baby when they cry (not moan) and once they stop you PD your baby. You carry on with this until they get the message. I done it with Theo at about 3 weeks old. Also keep talking to a minimum. Like nite nite or sleep time whatever you choose. Theo only took a day or 2. I also use to wake him up before putting him down after a breast feed. Just enough so he would know where he is and go back to sleep. Swaddling helps some to, didnt Theo he hates any covers including sleeping bags. hths xxx

[JulieBannon]

Originally Posted by cole

I also use to wake him up before putting him down after a breast feed. Just enough so he would know where he is and go back to sleep.

yeah, ellen gets upset if she wakes up somewhere else from where she fell asleep.

[Ellie H]

Fanks peeps.

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[JulieBannon]

forgot to say good luck

[Nickit]

Hi Ellie - as Elodie is so young you may find the shh pat method a little easier. It's better for very little ones (up to about 6 weeks I think).

I used it with Oliver and had success. It's very similar to pu/pd and goes something like:

To settle a new baby using shush/pat - shush/shush in her ear and then pat/pat on her back. If she is quiet, put her in the basket and then put one hand on her head and the other firmly on her chest - stay like that until she falls asleep. If she screams when she goes in the basket start the shush/pat again. It may take a while the first few times, but it is really worth persevering.

Good luck; we were there with Oliver and it's exhausting isn't it!

[Claire76]

How I wish I had known you lot when Finlay was first born such great help on here xxxx Good Luck Ellie, hope one of these methods work for you xx

[cathyg]

totally agree Claire, why i didn't find a forum for advice back then, god knows, probably no time i guess & no motivation. any how i agree with everyone. rocking & swaddling worked me for in a quiet darkened room, then once settling, gently into the basket, shhing etc, i used to lay down next to the basket & gently pat his chest to immitate a heart beat or stroke gently in a circulation motion until asleep & beyond. once asleep tip toe out! & keep everything crossed!. xx