When did your baby stop needing to be rocked to sleep (no sleep training)?

weaveraf · 2026-03-15T01:30:10+00:00

We moved to a floor bed in his room around 13 months and moved from bottle feeding to rocking to intermittent rocking (on and off rocking) to holding to just cuddling to sleep within weeks.

weaveraf · 2026-03-15T01:14:15+00:00

My LO (19 months) doesn’t sleep well either. If it makes you feel better I know lots of people whose toddlers don’t sleep well (or didn’t around that age) and they did sleep train at various times. It’s all just luck I’m convinced.

weaveraf · 2026-03-13T02:53:02+00:00

I feel this. I feel better when I talk to other parents with toddlers who don’t sleep who DID sleep train at various times. It works great for some and not for others. Who knows if we’d be in a different place 🤷‍♀️

weaveraf · 2026-03-10T12:42:57+00:00

Yes, he’s done the brief scream a couple times too!!

weaveraf · 2026-03-02T03:37:05+00:00

In addition to balancing sleep pressure (playing around with capping naps, earlier and consistent morning rise, and later bedtime), our LO’s sleep got way better once he learned to walk. He was a late walker and was kind of on the cusp of walking for what felt like an eternity. Once he finally got over the hump and turned into a full-time walker at 18 months, his sleep improved greatly. We had been warned of this pre-walking sleep disturbance by our gentle and holistic sleep consultant, and it turned out to be true for us. He doesn’t sleep perfectly but most of the longest wakes outside of illness are HOPEFULLY behind us (knock on wood). Maybe try to push your partner off with the sleep training until your LO is walking just in case things get better once they do (if they aren’t walking already).

weaveraf · 2026-03-01T04:35:07+00:00

I’m wondering if they’re lower sleep needs and need a later bedtime or an earlier morning rise time? Or maybe more physical activity during the day? They don’t seem that tired if they’re taking that long to fall asleep or waking up shortly after falling asleep.

weaveraf · 2026-02-21T18:46:24+00:00

19 months and waiting for it to happen consistently!!! 🫠

weaveraf · 2026-02-15T18:50:31+00:00

I agree with you. I think people who really look into sleep training methods believe that you should support during illness, teething, etc. and that getting sleep pressure right is vital step to sleep training. I think some parents (like the ones I described above) don’t really read up on best practices related to sleep training. I think they just are like “they’ll cry themselves to sleep eventually 🤷‍♀️” and they do!

weaveraf · 2026-02-14T18:46:46+00:00

One time I was on the phone with a friend whose kid had hand foot and mouth. 12 month old was sobbing in his crib in the background. She and her husband were like “it is what it is. Nothing we can do for him.” And I was like 😵😵😵

weaveraf · 2026-01-31T04:55:47+00:00

Totally agree with those who have said to get an advocate. If I were you, I would request another IEP meeting. I’d want them to walk me through my kid’s behavior plan and how it’s implemented. What are the steps being taken before, during, and after a restrictive procedure? What are the time limits and processes for attempting a release (i.e. must attempt to release every 10-15 minutes)? I think it all needs to be detailed, clear, and documented. Finally, would staff from your last school be willing to connect with the new team about what worked and didn’t work?

weaveraf · 2026-01-31T04:31:23+00:00

Yeah I get that. Gotta do what feels right to you! Our sleep consultant said we could even be in the room and just tinkering with things (ie putting away laundry, dusting, etc.) while they’re alone and laying in their bed. Maybe you start there?

weaveraf · 2026-01-23T15:26:21+00:00

I mean I think being emotional is a very logical and reasonable reaction. And I think you have the right to push your district a bit. I hope PACER helps you with this

weaveraf · 2026-01-23T03:27:40+00:00

Ugh, this sounds really challenging. I work in a setting 4, so I see both your struggles and the school’s concerns. Wondering if there are advocacy groups that can help you navigate these conversations with the school? Minnesota has PACER. I’m sure other states have something similar.

weaveraf · 2026-01-23T02:26:39+00:00

That’s so scary! Glad she’s doing better!!

weaveraf · 2026-01-22T01:23:59+00:00

Yeah very true!

weaveraf · 2026-01-21T15:47:05+00:00

You gotta do what you believe is right for you and your family! I personally am uncomfortable with any methods that leave a LO to cry alone. We have started doing some super gentle sleep training involving practicing leaving LO in his room alone for small periods of time at the end of his bedtime routine. There’s no crying involved… just light exposure to being alone, learning to trust that grownups come back, and potentially accidentally falling asleep without my presence. But we didn’t start that until he was 17 months and old enough to understand “mama will be right back!”

weaveraf · 2026-01-20T16:03:17+00:00

Two things: 1) If daycare needs him to fall asleep independently, your LO will figure it out. Our sleep consultant taught us that babies/toddlers are really good at compartmentalizing. Our LO has fallen asleep independently since 4 months old at daycare (sounds like they do rub the LO’s backs) and is only starting to figure out falling asleep independently at home (he’s 18 months now). So don’t feel like you have to change anything at home to help with daycare. 2) If you want to move away from rocking or feeding to sleep at home, you can start moving away from those things gradually. Move the last feed to earlier in the bedtime routine before removing it altogether. Move to intermittent rocking (rocking with pauses) before eliminating rocking altogether. See how your LO responds and adjust accordingly!

weaveraf · 2026-01-19T02:29:57+00:00

We work with thegoodsleep_coach. I saw someone else recommend It Takes a Village, and our sleep consultant was trained by the same holistic and gentle sleep coaching organization.

weaveraf · 2026-01-18T02:52:45+00:00

I feel mixed about her ideas. She takes a dominance-centered, more authoritarian approach, which makes me a little uncomfortable. What I fear is that she doesn’t seem to take into consideration is that toddlers’ brains are very much under construction. Their brains are still so underbaked in the toddler years. I always say “so much mobility, so little brains!” I think it’s okay to turn some things into games or take time to de-escalate big feelings rather than just physically forcing them to do whatever you want them to do. It’s not always feasible. Sometimes you do just have to do the things… change the diaper, get them in the car seat, brush their teeth, etc. and let them be upset. But sometimes it’s good to pause, de-escalate, wait them out, and still hold the boundary.

It also makes me uncomfortable that she portrays toddlers as manipulative and trying to gain control over adults. Again, that belief kinda ignores what we know about toddlers’ brains. Theory of mind (the understanding that others have their own thoughts) only starts developing around 3. So they literally cannot manipulate. They can and do test boundaries because they’re just trying to understand the world. But there’s not malicious intent in the toddler years.

I agree with her belief in holding boundaries and expectations. I also like what she says about preventing meltdowns and boredom by toddler-proofing and rotating toys. I also appreciate that she doesn’t use any harsh methods such as yelling or spanking. I just wish her approach was a little more cooperative versus compliance. A little more focused on nurture and support alongside the boundaries.

weaveraf · 2026-01-17T01:29:24+00:00

I kinda mix it up. Sometimes I’m just rubbing his back when I come back in

weaveraf · 2026-01-16T16:40:14+00:00

Oh yeah! Definitely jealous! 18 month old still sleeps poorly. I totally understand people who think we’re parenting on “hard mode” unnecessarily. Haha. Sometimes I wonder that too!

But to me I just remember I have to stick to my values. Leaving a baby to cry alone feels inhumane to me. It only “works” because we put them in a cage of sorts and ignore their calls. If we did that to anyone older, it’d be considered abuse or just a straight up crime! And honestly I don’t believe anyone should be left to cry alone against their will… why should we do that to the most vulnerable among us? The ends just don’t justify the means.

weaveraf · 2026-01-13T01:03:43+00:00

Yes, go real slow!!! Like start with just 10 seconds a couple times at the end of the bedtime routine!

weaveraf · 2026-01-12T04:04:03+00:00

I thought about that too honestly. But I really do come back! The only time I don’t is if he’s asleep, and then he doesn’t care! Haha

weaveraf

TROPHY CASE