r/TakingCaraBabies

Planning to start sleep training our newly 5 month old babe using TCB in the next few weeks. Baby is currently still on 4 naps but should we focus on switching to 3 naps before we start? We are also in the magic Merlin.. should we switch to a sleep sack before starting?

Current schedule: wake up between 7-730 am with following WWs 1.75/2/2/2/2 and bedtime is 8:30pm.

At the point where I have to wake from nap #1 to ensure we can get all naps in and we are experiencing quite a few night wakes some nights. Just want to set him up for success before starting! This is my second TCB baby!

Our almost 7 month old has been able to self settle for naps and bedtime since about 4.5 months old. She’s always done a bit of powering down (grunting/humming) for 5-10 minutes, but it was working well. About 6 weeks ago, all of this went out the window whilst on a trip, and didn’t recover after getting home, possibly because she was ill and took time to recover. We started sleep training 2 weeks ago (taking Cara babies), and she has been able to self settle, mostly without any pop ins, and sleep through the night until past 6am with a dream feed. However, bed time has been messy. On a ‘good day’ she will fuss/grunt/hum for about 20-30 minutes, on a bad day she will properly cry for 30-50 minutes (despite pop ins) - the crying has been more of a feature the last few days. She has been fussier in the day too, but does fall asleep for naps within about 10 minutes.

I’m wondering if this is a schedule issue? She has always been high sleep needs, and we’ve literally only just managed to get her onto 3 naps consistently in the last 2 weeks because she doesn’t tolerate long wake windows. At present, we’re doing 1h50/2h/2h15/2h10 and she is always cueing for sleep at least 15-20 minutes before I put her down. I’ve tried to stretch the final ww to 2h30-2h45 but this led to 50 minute settles, and she was very fussy by the time she was being put down. I’d like a 7pm bedtime, but we’re really only managing 6.30pm on this schedule, and if she had her way it would be 6pm (but that feels too early for a 7 month old?). Nap lengths vary but she gets between 2.5h-3.5h sleep a day, which feels like plenty, but she still tires quickly!

Any thoughts/advice on how to manage this? Have I got her wake windows or naps completely wrong?

I have a 5.5 month old and we’re doing the ABCs sleep training right now. Prior to starting sleep training, I was nursing my little guy back to sleep 3-4 times a night. Since starting the ABCs, we’re doing an 11pm dream feed and a 4am feed that I started at 12 minutes and have been cutting back 2-3 minutes each night. Last night I did only 6 minutes for his 4am feed. Is it really worth going in there and interrupting his sleep tonight just to nurse him for 4 minutes? I feel like that may just upset him lol

Has anyone here kept a snooze feed? I’m attempting to wean my 9 mo , he went from three short feedings (more wanted it to go back to sleep) and we have completed cut feeds. However he is waking early around 4am and having a really hard time resettling. I know they say this is the last thing to come but I also can’t help but think he’s hungry and have a hard time not feeding him. Has anyone successfully added a snooze feed? Am I setting myself up for failure if I add one in?