u/MermaidMyDay_8

We’ve been sleep training (modified Ferber)and I it’s been 8 nights and I don’t feel like there’s been significant progress.

5 month old. Our schedule: 2/2.5/2.5/3 wake windows, 3 naps. Total sleep is about 13.5–14 hours depending on the day.

Consistent bedtime routine, same order every night (made sure bottle is 30+ before bed, no rocking etc). Bedtime lands around 7:30–8:30 depending on the day and nap lengths.
I’ve tweaked the schedule a lot trying to find the sweet spot and I think we’re close, but she is still crying a decent amount each night.

Here’s our data from the last 8 nights (put down → asleep):
• Sat: 7:34 → 8:15 (41 min)
• Sun: 7:26 → 8:08 (42 min)
• Mon: 6:46 → 7:46 (60 min)
• Tue: 8:17 → 8:50 (33 min)
• Wed: 8:21 → 8:42 (21 min)
• Thu: 8:17 → 8:19 (NO crying) …then up ALL night with 8 wakeups
• Fri: 8:39 → 8:53 (14 min, some fussing, no major crying)
• Sat: 8:25 → 8:29 (4 min) — woke back up 5 min later, cried 8:33–9:05, ended up rocking for a few min because after 8 nights my heart can’t take this anymore.

At this point should I accept failure? I know sometimes certain babies temperate just don’t do well with training? Please help.

Signed, a sad defeated mama 💔

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u/MermaidMyDay_8 — 12 days ago

Need advice from parents who’ve done gentle Ferber with a 5-month-old because I’m really second guessing if this is working.

Check-ins: 5 min, 8 min, then 10 min max (I don’t go beyond 10 because I feel too bad).

Bedtime so far:

Saturday: down 7:34, asleep 8:15 (41 min)

Sunday: down 7:26, asleep 8:08 (42 min)

Monday: down 6:46, asleep 7:46 (60 min)

Tuesday: down 8:17, asleep 8:50 (33 min)

Saturday–Monday I was doing mostly 1.5 hour wake windows, with about 2 hours before bed. On Monday she refused her cat nap, so her last wake window ended up closer to 3 hours, which may explain the rough night.

Tuesday I switched to 2 / 2.5 / 2.5 / 2.75 wake windows, and that was our best night yet.

Does this sound like normal early Ferber progress, or more like a schedule problem? Should I keep going or stop? I feel terrible hearing her cry and I’m worried I’m making this harder instead of helping, with that said some slight progress today on day 4? Thoughts?

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u/MermaidMyDay_8 — 16 days ago