Dear Kate, My heart goes out to you, but I don't have any real answers I'm afraid. I would certainly back up contacting Pinky, also William Sears (in USA) has just written a new book on sleep and James McKenna has done a lot of work on sleep. A search for either of these names might bring something up for you. My own 3 (now grown up but less than 3 yrs between the 3) didn't sleep through the night till they were 4, but when they woke only needed a breastfeed or cuddle - I just spent the night "bed-hopping" or they came in with us (in a regular sized double bed in those days). I was at least able to get back to sleep between wakings. It was normal to be up to them around 6 times a night in total, but nothing like you're experiencing. I do feel for you and am amazed that you're still sane. Take care, Joy
Joy Cocks RN (Div 1) RM CBE IBCLC BRIGHT Vic 3741 email:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kate &/or Nick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 7:44 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Older Children's Sleep > Can anyone point me in a direction for 3yo sleep issues? > > Mine has always been a bad sleeper but she has got worse in the last year > (with the transition from a cot?). Between the 2 of them (6yo, but 90% Miss > 3), I would consider it a good night if I am up 4 times for 20 mins each > time. Bad nights are at least every hour. I'm starting to find that by 6pm I > am exhausted and far too crabby - and so are they. Going to bed isn't a > problem. > > Sometimes I go to the crying (last night was 7 times in one hour, plus four > other blocks) but mostly it seems to have no effect. At times I don't think > she even realises I'm there and I can't get through to her. Others she'll > settle, but within 3 minutes, she starts again. Others she'll insist on > coming to my room. Sometimes I don't go in, and she will eventually come to > me. > > We have a mattress on the floor right next to me, which is used every night. > It usually doesn't alter the wakenings (but it makes my life a bit easier). > I have slept in her room, with no effect.While my eldest was away in the > school holidays (6 nights), I slept in her room, right next door to Miss 3. > The last couple of nights I was only woken briefly 2-3 times a night, but > that has happened in the past and wasn't enough for me to think it was > anything more than a temporary aberration. It returned to normal with her > sister's return - even though I slept on a mattress outside their rooms. > Being close to me (and she is a definite Mummy's girl) just doesn't seem to > be the solution. > > The issue is coming to a head because my husband has had an amazing ability > to sleep through it. He will sometimes wake at 4 or 5 to find me in tears > and has no idea why - usually that I have been up all night and haven't yet > been to sleep. However, for the last month, for some reason, it has been > waking him. So he is at breaking point and telling me we need to do > something. > > I'm concerned about heading off to a sleep guru because I have no intention > of locking her in her room - and that's what it will take to keep her in her > room. But it won't stop the crying which I know can go on for hours (and I > can't sleep through it). > > The sleep discussion has focussed on infants - but what about older > children? Can anyone give me ideas/point me towards something? > > Many thanks > > Kate > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Barbara Glare & Chris Bright" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 9:46 PM > Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Infant Sleep - UPDATE > > > Hi, > > If you are interested in Elizabeth Pantley's No Cry Sleep Solution, you can > hear her speak at ABA seminars in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and > Adelaide from March 2nd-7th 2006. It's going to be fabulous - heaps of > other great speakers, too. I'd love to be able to direct you to the website > so you can register straight away......but I can't. It's not finished yet. > The brochures will be out soon, so I'll keep you informed. For ABA > subscribers and LRC subscribers, you will get information in Essence and > Breastfeeding Review. The seminars are open to all midwives, mothers, > health professionals of all types, esp those with a passion for > breastfeeding. > > Barb > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "JoFromOz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 3:21 PM > Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Infant Sleep - UPDATE > > > > Thanks so much to everyone who replied with advice and well wishes. > > > > Just thought I'd write a short update on our progress. I have 3 days left > > of my non-dairy diet ... I haven't really noticed a change in Will's skin, > > or daytime naps, but the nights have been a little better the last 2 or 3. > > I have read "The No-Cry Sleep Solution" and began implementing strategies > > on Friday. I logged our wakings Thursday night, and they equalled 13... > > 11 of which I had to actually do something about. > > The strategy basically involves removing the suck-to-sleep association > > ever so slowly, so that they get used to not having to suck to sleep, and > > therefore don't expect to still be sucking on anything when they slightly > > rouse in the light sleep phase. I have been waiting until he is almost > > asleep and removing the dummy, so the last thing he remembers before going > > to sleep is not having anything in his mouth. > > It has been working for night sleeps - he goes from about 10:30/11:00pm > > till 3. HEAVEN! He then joins us in our bed, where we sleep fairly well, > > on and off the breast, until about 7am. He feeds till almost asleep, then > > pulls off himself and turns his head away. > > Daytime naps need work, but I need to be patient :) > > > > So, things are looking up, and there is no CIO or any other horrible mean > > or nasty strategies. As Pinky says, Gently With Love. > > > > Thanks again people! > > > > Love Jo > > > > -- > > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > > > > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
