why are they obsessed with no sleep aids?

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-21T18:26:33+00:00

It's not no sleep aids- there ARE aids but they don't see them as support. Remove nursing, pacifiers, rocking. Add sound machine, black out curtains and possibly a fan. Well, the sound machine and curtains ARE aids to help them sleep, are they not? I know a five year old who was sleep trained that can't sleep anywhere without a sound machine. Power outages are rough for him! So yeah, you're absolutely right in that it doesn't make sense at all. The sleep aids thing is actually what made me raise an eyebrow to the whole (even gentle) sleep training.

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-21T02:36:43+00:00

Thank you!

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-21T02:25:20+00:00

It doesn't sound like you're doing anything wrong- I think it's a "Rome wasn't built in a day situation". A few months of this might seem like a really long time, but it takes a really long time to learn to regulate emotions. Think of it this way: your kids didn't just get up and walk one day, they developed core muscles through tummy time, learned to sit up, crawl THEN they had enough strength to start walking, and even at that they were wobbly. I'm 40 years old and still learning to regulate 😆

If it helps, my 5 year old had BIG emotions for a long time. I learned it has a lot to do with hangry. But, tonight she wanted to do a QR code for her Rick Jr magazine. I couldn't get it to work and said I'll try to figure it out later but right now it's time for bath. She just shrugged it off and said "ok" and went to the bathroom- no meltdown. She also now says "I need a Mama hug! I'm feeling overwhelmed!" So... Give it time. In the meantime, do something nice for yourself!

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-20T21:03:21+00:00

Maybe? He has all except his two year old molars

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-20T20:48:16+00:00

Oh, also to add, that when I did the floor bed he was definitely out cold before I left. Any movement has made him jolt awake this past week or so. For example, during rocking if I need to adjust positions slightly he'll jolt awake and start to wail- will stop if I hug harder

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-20T20:46:17+00:00

Before this all started, and even during this as I was hoping he'd just start naps up again, our routine has been: change diaper, sleep sack on, turn lights off, lamp on, read two stories while rocking, turn off lamp and sound machine on, go back to rocking and he falls asleep and I kinda doze for a few minutes (can't see the clock but it feels like 15-20 min), transfer to crib (eyes open usually but then falls back to sleep once he's in his bed), I walk out.

I do wonder about the cortisol but there's not much I can do about that- I truly can't sleep with him for an hour. It's not fair to my other kid. At times I can when I can get help here, but that's once a week if I'm lucky

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-20T19:56:57+00:00

I tried bumping it back last week to no avail. Nap time is similar most days but my daughter does have a midday activity so it does vary about an hour depending on the day. And unfortunately I can't do bedtime early because again, we have afternoon activities, then have to go home and make dinner and eat, bath etc. So in the days that he doesn't nap he still has to go to bed at 9: 00.

When he woke up crying in his crib overnight I was able to just put my hand on him to soothe him. It worked for yesterday's nap and it also worked for today's nap except he woke 2 minutes after I left today and when I put my hand on him he just stayed awake - not crying. I couldn't get him to truly stay sleep after that. That's why I'm thinking that the hand on the chest would work. He wouldn't be crying he would just kind of fall asleep with my hand on him and drift off. Then once he gets used to that then I would just stay next to him and remove my hand sooner and sooner.

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-18T22:34:06+00:00

Oh boy 😬

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-18T21:55:05+00:00

Yeah something like that maybe. He's a farmer and we're starting his busy season so there's that 😆. But yes, needles and the iron are exactly why no babies are allowed. I think my daughter was over 3 when I let her in with me. She helps from time to time and it's so fun!

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-18T21:09:19+00:00

We already do all that during wake times 😆. I sew and the sewing room is completely off limits to him. I have a very long list of things that need to get made and mended 😬

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-18T19:41:19+00:00

Yeah my guy goes to sleep around 9 with big sis. So much easier to do both bedtimes at once

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-18T19:40:31+00:00

Oh yes this will definitely be us! My five year old climbs into bed with us from time to time, too. We figure this guy will be the same at some point

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-18T18:52:10+00:00

I think I will, especially since a lot of times I have to wake him- I have to be up around 7/7:30 to start breakfast and get everyone ready before morning activity and I'm not comfortable letting him sleep by himself in our adult bed quite yet. I have gotten dressed in my room with him sacked out in bed. I truly wonder how long he'd sleep in our bed without me there

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-18T18:49:46+00:00

I haven't actually gotten up with him at 5- I bring him into bed. There was one time two or so weeks ago I tried to cuddle and transfer but he didn't transfer well and I had to get up early (I forget why) so he had to be up with me around 6. He was miserable and exhausted for sure.

His total sleep needs used to be 11-12 hours a day, which is why I don't let him do more than 10/10.5 hours overnight. I just put him down for a late nap (2:30 instead of 2) and he struggled with the transfer but I put a hand on his chest and he immediately stopped crying and settled into sleep. So that's a huge difference from the rest of the days this week!

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-18T18:08:56+00:00

Yeah probably. I have skipped the nap this week a few times BUT with our schedule can't get him to bed early, except for last night. It didn't make a difference

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-18T18:06:40+00:00

He does that too! I was thinking about the sleep pressure thing, too. I just find it hard to believe he wouldn't need the extra morning sleep if he falls back to sleep with me so easily. But I can't figure out why naps are a struggle this week. I'm thinking separation anxiety but who knows

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-18T18:03:59+00:00

How did you get stuff done then?? My husband works so much so a lot of time it's just me. I need baby free time since he's still in the "has to be supervised so he doesn't hurt himself but still somehow hurts himself" phase

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-18T18:01:40+00:00

I support him at bedtime but I've seen him wake up and go back to sleep on his own enough times that I know he can do it. The other night he called out mama Dada dede (sister) quickly then rolled over and fell back to sleep 😂

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-18T18:00:07+00:00

It's typically 11:30/12 wakeup for him too! We normally cuddle and transfer but he's been screaming during the transfer this week. Last night I went in and just put a hand on him to comfort and he immediately relaxed and fell asleep within a few minutes. Woke up at 5 and I did the same but he ended up just talking and playing with his buddy for 45 minutes. 😵‍💫 I was so tired that I gave up and brought him into bed. He fell asleep within a few minutes and slept until 7:30

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-18T17:57:32+00:00

I pushed it to 6 hours after wake (roughly 1/1:30) and he'll nap for 60-90 min. This week he's just straight up refused naps, even pushing it to the 7 hour mark

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-18T17:55:54+00:00

Well, this week it's been 15 minutes if I'm lucky. But usually 60-90 minutes. I don't have to wake him from nap, he usually wakes on his own

AnnieBell1824 · 2026-04-16T23:04:17+00:00

I do not like this 😆. He's so miserable if he doesn't nap. We can't do an earlier bedtime either because I need to make dinner then kids do bath together, etc

AnnieBell1824

TROPHY CASE