Self settling

Okay so, I might be wrong, so I just wanted to check... self settling is putting bub down for a sleep after their feed and / or play time etc, whether or not they are awake, and just leaving them to it for a bit if they start to cry - right ? (Then going back in, settling, and leaving them to it again... and repeat etc)

I mean, she's been having a bit more generally 'awake' time during the day which is fine with us, but we want to make sure she gets enough daytime sleep on the days she does this. The sleeping through that she's been doing isn't regular (yet! LOL), so I can't count on that.

So, any advice is greatly welcomed, in case I've missed anything

I'm not 100% she is ready for a routine just yet, but we'll see... I'm not actually entirely sure how to implement one We have a rough 'cycle' going though, which is the feed / burp and change nappy / finish the feed / put down to sleep or play for a while THEN sleep... *usually* happens four hourly, but not always.

I'd like to get a routine going, but don't want to force it, it's just that it would be useful I suppose once hubby goes to work and maybe allow me a bit more time to get a few things done. But again, I'm still not too worried yet... well actually, I lie, if I wasn't worried I wouldn't have posted LOL It's just hard to know sometimes, isn't it?

we have basically the same thing, but its 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm and 2am again. Hopefully it wont be long till we drop the 2am feed. She is often awake for a while after the 6pm feed and sometimes after the 10am one but otherwise she is feed, burped, changed, rest of bottle then quick cuddles and play then back to bed all within an hour at the very most.

Mind you, I like your routine cycle too Robyn, but not so keen on the idea of being up at 2am *and* 6am... hmm... we shall see ! Something will work eventually

By the way, can you tell Erin is finally asleep now ?

I think maybe mommy also just needs to make sure she has her own nap during the day too...

Ok - here's my question....I am trying to loosly follow the Contented Little Baby routine which is very similar to what you mention Aimeejoy BUT what happens if your baby doesn't self settle after 10 minutes??? What should the next plan of attack be... any suggestions would be appreciated?

at the age your bub is jax i think that their total awake time should be approx 1hr. and they will prob want to feed every 3-4 hrs. i found in the beginning with both my boys that they just fell into a routine. well toby i had to wake him 3 hrly for a couple of days to get him started. so i think it was sleep, wake up, change, feed and burp, change again and a little play and then back to bed. and then do it all again 3 hours later.
and yeah self settling is letting the baby settle himself. i did it with my boys, just put them into bed and leave them to it. i knew if they cried for more than a couple of minutes then there was something else they needed...

You know, everyone says self-settling is a great idea - and we still make sure Taine is awake when he goes down, but just read that babies who are picked up at EVERY cry, and supposedly more secure as adults. How they know this I have no idea as I lie on surveys all the time - but it just gowes to show that we should just do whatever we want and screw experts - unless they work for us, then it's okay!

We had Taine in a routine from about 1-2 months I think, but took about two weeks of following hard-core til it was second nature. Even now, he doesn't sleep at set times, but I know he'll get up around 6-6:30. he'll need a sleep between 9 and 10...and so on.

edited to correct my crap mistakes that even i couldn't understand

Edited by lizzle

Hi
I've been trying to self settle Cameron, and going in after 10mins but its just not working, he has just been awake through his whole sleep this morning and its time to get him up again. He does stop crying but just lies there with his eyes open. He used to be a really good sleeper but its gone down hill in the last two weeks. I'm wondering now if he is not getting enough in his feeds. But when I pick him up (when he should be asleep) he doesn't give any hungry signs. Im not sure what to do, any advice would be great.