Poll Discussion: Sleeping Through the Night

 

In our sleep deprived states as parents with newborns, we are often anxious to get back to sleeping through the night. Perhaps one of the hardest things about it is not knowing when it will happen for sure. It would be easier if we knew it would be 9 weeks, right? Then we could mentally prepare ourselves. This poll is intended to help people see what is typical, and also that there are situations that are not in the range of typical.

 

It is very helpful for me when compiling answers if you at least number the answers you give. You can also copy the questions and answer them. If the question does not apply to you, simply put “N/A.”

  1. What age did your child start sleeping 7-8 hours uninterrupted consistently?
  2. What age did your child start sleeping 9-10 hours uninterrupted consistently?
  3. What age did your child start sleeping 11-12 hours uninterrupted consistently?
  4. Did baby sleep through the night on his/her own, or did you do something to expedite the process?
  5. If yes to 4, what did you do? Was it successful?
  6. If you tried cluster feeding, do you feel like it helped baby sleep through the night?
  7. If you did the dreamfeed, do you feel like it helped baby sleep through the night?
  8. If you did CIO at night, how many nights did it take to get to sleeping through the night?
  9. What helped baby sleep through the night?
  10. What hindered baby sleeping through the night?
  11. Any words of wisdom or encouragement for parents hoping to have their baby sleep through the night?

7 thoughts on “Poll Discussion: Sleeping Through the Night”

  1. 1. What age did your child start sleeping 7-8 hours uninterrupted consistently?Around 4 months2. What age did your child start sleeping 9-10 hours uninterrupted consistently?Around 8 months3. What age did your child start sleeping 11-12 hours uninterrupted consistently?Around 10 months4. Did baby sleep through the night on his/her own, or did you do something to expedite the process?Sort of both. We gradually merged night feedings, and baby adjusted to the new schedules.5. If yes to 4, what did you do? Was it successful?We adhered to our nighttime feeding schedule so baby was used to waking up when we woke her. This enabled us to move her feedings by 15 minutes either earlier or later to end up where we wanted them, eventually only before bedtime and after waking in the morning.6. If you tried cluster feeding, do you feel like it helped baby sleep through the night?N/A7. If you did the dreamfeed, do you feel like it helped baby sleep through the night?N/A8. If you did CIO at night, how many nights did it take to get to sleeping through the night?We didn't have to use CIO to teach baby to sleep through the night, but we used it to teach her how to go back to sleep once awoken. On the night that we dropped the pacifier, baby woke up twice and cried for about twenty minutes then fell asleep, so it only took that one night.9. What helped baby sleep through the night?Consistent feeding times, the pacifier for months 2-5, crying it out, and being in her own room10. What hindered baby sleeping through the night?We assume gas kept her up during the first two months. Around six months, the pacifier would wake her up when it fell out of her mouth. Also around that same time, she would wake up when we turned over in bed and made noise at night.11. Any words of wisdom or encouragement for parents hoping to have their baby sleep through the night?The benefit of teaching your baby to sleep far outweighs the stress of the training period and hearing baby cry. The training period feels like forever when you're in it, but afterwards, you'll look back and think it wasn't that bad and you can't imagine not having done it!

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  2. What age did your child start sleeping 7-8 hours uninterrupted consistently? I don't rememberWhat age did your child start sleeping 9-10 hours uninterrupted consistently? I don't rememberWhat age did your child start sleeping 11-12 hours uninterrupted consistently? 5 monthsDid baby sleep through the night on his/her own, or did you do something to expedite the process? On her ownIf yes to 4, what did you do? Was it successful? n/aIf you tried cluster feeding, do you feel like it helped baby sleep through the night? During growth spurts it helpedIf you did the dreamfeed, do you feel like it helped baby sleep through the night? I did not do a dreamfeedIf you did CIO at night, how many nights did it take to get to sleeping through the night? When we took away the paci motn, it was three nights (this was after the 5 month mark of sleeping through the night so I'm not sure if it counts in this poll though)What helped baby sleep through the night? I feel adequate food and sleep during the day helped.What hindered baby sleeping through the night? After she was sttn awhile, she would wake for the paci.Any words of wisdom or encouragement for parents hoping to have their baby sleep through the night? Stick to your nap and feeding routines so you have confidence their needs are taken care of during the day. As long as baby is eating and going right back to sleep, it's most likely a necessary feeding for them and in the long term, it really isn't forever :)Child 2What age did your child start sleeping 7-8 hours uninterrupted consistently? I don't rememberWhat age did your child start sleeping 9-10 hours uninterrupted consistently? I don't rememberWhat age did your child start sleeping 11-12 hours uninterrupted consistently? 5 monthsDid baby sleep through the night on his/her own, or did you do something to expedite the process? We expedited the processIf yes to 4, what did you do? Was it successful? cio, yesIf you tried cluster feeding, do you feel like it helped baby sleep through the night? I only cluster fed during growth spurts and it helped not increase the number of wakingsIf you did the dreamfeed, do you feel like it helped baby sleep through the night? I did not dreamfeedIf you did CIO at night, how many nights did it take to get to sleeping through the night? 3 nights (to go from 3 feedings to one at 15 weeks)What helped baby sleep through the night? Consistent feedings and naps during the day, and not responding to hunger cries the first 4 hours of the nightWhat hindered baby sleeping through the night? He kept waking earlier and earlier after bedtime for his first feeding. He wasn't taking full feedings and his first morning feed was much smaller than it used to be so we decided not to respond to his first cry in the evening. He reset himself and eventually sttn all on his own after that first cio session.Any words of wisdom or encouragement for parents hoping to have their baby sleep through the night?

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  3. I am very interested to hear everyone's experiences with the above poll. I have a 7.5 week old son who is breastfeed and has done babywise since 2 weeks old. his day time routine is 3 hours and naps well. he feeds at 7pm, 11pm (dreamfeed), wakes us up at ~4am to eat and again at 6:30-7am. (ideally we'd like first feed to be at 7 or 8am). My husband and I are wondering when and how to drop the 4am feed. our son weighs more than 10lbs. thanks for all advice!

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  4. 1. What age did your child start sleeping 7-8 hours uninterrupted consistently? 5 weeks2. What age did your child start sleeping 9-10 hours uninterrupted consistently? 8 weeks 3. What age did your child start sleeping 11-12 hours uninterrupted consistently? 10 weeks Did baby sleep through the night on his/her own, or did you do something to expedite the process? We did babywise, and cry it out.(as long as we knew everything was ok.). We also started to not rush in at night when he would wake up and realized that he usually fell back asleep. We started did cry it out at 6 weeks. I also supplemented my evening feedings some days with breastmilk that I had pumped in the morning. I think this really helped. If yes to 4, what did you do? Was it successful?5. If you tried cluster feeding, do you feel like it helped baby sleep through the night?Baby demanded cluster feeding. I do feel like tanking up helped. That's why some days I'd give him an ounce or two of stuff that is had pumped earlier in the day. I was just so empty in the evenings I didn't feel like he was getting enough. 6. If you did the dreamfeed, do you feel like it helped baby sleep through the night?I tried dream feed, and sometimes it helped. Other times I don't think it did. He always woke up when I did it and he's not usually a happy waker upper unless he wakes on his own 7. If you did CIO at night, how many nights did it take to get to sleeping through the night? Probably 4-5 nights 15 mins at a time when he was young. He had a sleep regression at 8 months and we let him go 30 mins. 8. What helped baby sleep through the night? Cry it out, he's usually take 5-15 to cry it out, whereas when is try to rock him or sooth in other ways, even nursing to sleep it would take 45 mins! We finally realized I think his cries were "get out of my room I'm trying to sleep!!!"9. What hindered baby sleeping through the night?10. Any words of wisdom or encouragement for parents hoping to have their baby sleep through the night? Sleep training is an investment in your marriage (one of the best things you can give your child is a healthy marriage) and in your child's health. You are not selfish for trying to help your child sleep through the night. Think of how much better you feel when you get good sleep? I believe these are great habits for your child. They will be more alert and happy during wake times thus more able to learn better during wake times. Hang in there! You're doing a great job! Just try to be consistent with naps during the day and remember generally sleep begets sleep. Don't think u can wear them out to getting a good night sleep! Set a timer if you CIO so you know when you have an end and get to go in and comfort. I also would pray that God would lead me to go in if I really ought to. I can't tell u how many times My son would roll over and fall asleep just as the timer went off. I really think it's harder on mom than anyone else. It is an investment in the family to do the work necessary to help your child develop healthy sleep habits.

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  5. 1. 3 months2. 4 months3. 5 months (10 hrs- our baby s 8 months and hasn't made it to 12 hours yet)4. She just kept sleeping longer and longer as she got older.5. N/A6. Yes7. Yes, at 8 months I still do a dream feed at 9 p.m. I'm about to start trying to drop this though I'm worried about my milk supply (breastfeeding) anyway…8. N/A9. Being in her own room, scheduled days and early bedtime (6:15 for months 3-6) and 6:45-7:15 for 7-8 months)10. Not really sure… I didn't start Babywise until she was 6 weeks old so that have been a factor.11. It is definitely worth the discipline to keep to a schedule during the day. And I agree that it is so key for peaceful home and a happy marriage. ❤️ Thanks, Valerie! Great pioll questions. Love your site!

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  6. What age did your child start sleeping 7-8 hours uninterrupted consistently?8 weeksWhat age did your child start sleeping 9-10 hours uninterrupted consistently?Not sureWhat age did your child start sleeping 11-12 hours uninterrupted consistently? Around 3 monthsDid baby sleep through the night on his/her own, or did you do something to expedite the process?On his ownIf yes to 4, what did you do? Was it successful?NAIf you tried cluster feeding, do you feel like it helped baby sleep through the night?NAIf you did the dreamfeed, do you feel like it helped baby sleep through the night? Yes definitely. I do the dream feed after the night naps are skipped and then dropped it.If you did CIO at night, how many nights did it take to get to sleeping through the night?I started CIO pretty early on (around 1 week) for night time.It was the only time I had no problem doing it with my first baby since I was so tired!What helped baby sleep through the night?Swaddling and pacifierWhat hindered baby sleeping through the night? Me! I had to move him to another room I would wake with every little sound he made and get him up too soon. Any words of wisdom or encouragement for parents hoping to have their baby sleep through the night? Hang in there, be consistent. And as much as it stinks wake up at the same time every day to start your schedule!

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