Am I the only one that does this?

There is so much talk all the time about sleep training etc. It got me wondering....am I the only one that still rocks her babies to sleep? I let them CIO to get them sleeping through the night, but the initial falling asleep part comes down to me rocking them. I guess I have been lucky and their bedtimes are 1 hour off of each other (nate goes down at 7pm and gabe goes down at 8) so rocking them both hasn't been a big deal. It's kinda nice because I get to spend a little one on one quite time with them. I rock them to sleep for naps too.

Am I setting myself up for distaster later on? All 3 of the boys share a room, and it's just easier for me to get them asleep this way. I guess I could put them both in their cribs around 7-7:30 and wait for them to be done and asleep before putting my 2yo in the room. But nate usually falls asleep during his last bottle (at 7pm) so I havn't really had a chance to CIO on him.

Any thoughts or advice on how to "fix" this...or is it really not a big deal?

thanks

 

There is so much talk all the time about sleep training etc. It got me wondering....am I the only one that still rocks her babies to sleep? I let them CIO to get them sleeping through the night, but the initial falling asleep part comes down to me rocking them. I guess I have been lucky and their bedtimes are 1 hour off of each other (nate goes down at 7pm and gabe goes down at 8) so rocking them both hasn't been a big deal. It's kinda nice because I get to spend a little one on one quite time with them. I rock them to sleep for naps too.

Am I setting myself up for distaster later on? All 3 of the boys share a room, and it's just easier for me to get them asleep this way. I guess I could put them both in their cribs around 7-7:30 and wait for them to be done and asleep before putting my 2yo in the room. But nate usually falls asleep during his last bottle (at 7pm) so I havn't really had a chance to CIO on him.

Any thoughts or advice on how to "fix" this...or is it really not a big deal?

thanks

 

I don't rock mine every night as part of the routine, but if my girls had separate bedtimes ya never know...I might! I DO, however, rock them if they seem to have difficulty settling for whatever reason, not feeling well, teething, or just plain overstimulated. I could tell you that, yes, you are setting yourself up for disaster later, but I don't really believe that. Even if you were, I say so what! As you said, how often do you get that one on one time with them? They will grow so fast and I just don't see anything wrong with it. Sure, my girls are 10 1/2 months old and they just started sleeping through the night, but I don't regret one single night time snuggle...they are my last babies after all! If you get to a point where you don't feel you should do it anymore you can break the habit, but until then enjoy it!

 

I always said if I had one baby I probably would have rocked them. I say if you dont mind then the one on one time is probably nice. I will add though that my sister rocked her son until he was too big to be rocked!!! He loved it and needed it and it was definately a habit that if she felt the need to stop, it would have taken some time!

 

After we give them baths, we each take a baby and feed him then rock him for a few mintues until they fall asleep. I thought babies were made to be rocked, so... rock on sister!

 

I agree with pp, even if you're setting yourself up for failure later one, so what! If I'd had my babies one at a time I'd probably rock them a lot more.

I wish I could remember where I read this, but I read recently about a scientific study done about the benefits of rocking babies & they found it actually does something to their brains. Something good....just wish I could remember what it was! I say, rock on!

 

I rock mine to sleep (if they don't fall asleep while drinking their bottle)...I rock them for naps too (although they are more apt to fall asleep on their own if I lay them in the crib and close the door...

hey after working all day I enjoy the 10 minutes of snuggle time I get...I don't think its a disaster - its not like you'll be rocking them when their teenagers!

 

I rocked or nursed all of my babies to sleep, and when it finally came down to letting go, it really wasn't bad. Around 1 or so (maybe 15 months), I weaned them of rocking to sleep. At first I sat in a chair beside them and held their hand. Then in a week or so, I just sat beside them (in a chair beside the bed), and then they were all fine.

 

If I had had a rocking chair, I probably would have! I let the swing do it quite a bit till 9 mos. then quit cold turkey! I have good sleepers!

 

If you like it, do it. If it turns out to come back and bite yo uin the butt, who cares! You are having these irreplaceable (sp?) moments with them. You might have to train them differently later, but enjoy your rocking time now! IMO

 

i rock my twins. everyone told me not too with my first one, so I didn't and now I regret it. he's getting so big and never wants to cuddle unless he's sick. I want cuddly kids so these babies are getting rocked. Of course, right now that is all i do is rock but that is the only one-on-one time i get with them.

Enjoy the rocking! I'll be rocking right there with you.

 

Rocked my oldest, he sleeps fine! And these guys get the glider downstairs when they won't go to sleep! You are doing a good job Mommy! And you should continue to enjoy every minute of that bonding time! They will be in school before we all know it.

 

Rock, rock, rock. You will never regret it and your babies will be blessed by it.

 

I am glad you asked this question. One DD could take or leave the rocking, but the other thrives on it. For naps and (as of recently) bedtimes, I cradle them and very slowly walk upstairs while I rock and sing to them. By the time I get into my one DD's room, she hears her fan, she goes limp, I put her down and she goes right to sleep. My other DD loves when I hold her until she is asleep. She does pretty good falling alseep on her own, but she has to play for anywhere from 20 mins to an hour first. Sometimes I need her to get to sleep in order to keep their meals on the same schedule, so I just go in and pick her up. She always falls asleep in about 1 minute. I have to say, her naps usually last longer when I rock her to sleep!

Anyway, all I was trying to say was thanks for bringing it up because I thought I was being a weak and bad mommy for rocking, but it seems many don't think so. I also love it, but get torn between my needs and ruining the babes! Stephanie

 

When I fist met my next door neighbor, his first comment to me was that he would never rock another baby to sleep. Their daughter was 21 months old and would only go to sleep if being rocked. Where it really hurt them was when they moved out of a crib. She had no strategy for putting herself to bed, so in the end they had to close the door and let her scream and pound on it until she went to sleep--this lasted an hour and took almost 2 weeks.

If you want to rock, I would do it for 5-10 minutes, but be sure to put them down before they are out, this way they can learn to self soothe and put themsleves to sleep.

 

It took me too long and way too much money not to share every special moment with my twins. I definitely rock them to sleep and spend as much time with them as possible. My one daughter is more insecure and loves it when I rock her, however, she is very capable of going down on her own for a nap if I need her to.

 

I think Weissbluth says that cuddling down is fine! So don't worry about it. it is always good to try drowsy but awake just so you could have someone else do it for you, but not required,
My son wyatt was cuddled down up until recently when he decided he didn't need it anymore.

Teri D

 

Before my babies go to sleep they get bottles and they get rocked. Here is my opinion on it. Jacob learned to sleep through the night and was rocked TO SLEEP. Mia couldn't learn to sleep through the night when being rocked to sleep. Instead I had CIO. I think the key for those tricky sleeper like Mis is to put them down drowsy but not asleep, then bad habits won't start. But there are kids like Jacob who can be rocked to sleep but won't wake up all night long looking for mom.

 

Our bedtime routine - I nurse 1, Dh gives the other a bottle (we switch off each night)then burp, bath every other night, diaper, jammies, miracle blanket, then hold until asleep. I do put them down for naps anywhere from fully awake to sound asleep. They fall asleep fine for naps even when put down wide awake so I figure eventually they will too at bedtime. I think I worried too much with my older DD about starting bad habits. These are my last babies & I'm enjoying the cuddle time.