Q) I have 8 month old twins the boy wakes 8 times a night and girl 5 times I am worn out. Just caught the end of the show Help PLEEEZ!
Tracy) Remove one from the bedroom if they are sleeping together. Involve dad heavily and you will have to refer to the pick up put down method to correct habits.
Q) My baby is 11 months old. She used to go to bed well but now needs rocking, shall I try controlled crying?
Tracy) I do not ever EVER suggest controlled crying as it is the first step to feelings of abandonment. Try the pu/pd method but with older children who have more mobility and can stand up by themselves you let them stand up then put them back lying down again. Introduce some sort of security object like a toy or 'blankie' that she can start using for comfort. Talk to her, saying "hey it's okay, you're just going to sleep. I'm not leaving you, I know you're frustrated" she'll understand more than you think.
Q) Do you think it is a good idea to get baby used to sleeping in their cot from birth?
Tracy) This is one of my philosophies - all children should be sleeping independently. Please refer to my book for any advice on amending accidental parenting.
Q) My daughter will only sleep at night if she is wrapped in a blanket with her arms in. She's one year old.
Tracy) Don't worry about this, lots of children feel safe and secure when swaddled or tucked tightly in bed.
Q) My six-month-old son will only settle with a dummy in his cot and with us in the room.
Tracy) I would suggest that you slowly cut off the end of the nipple of the dummy - every three days cut a little piece off. He will cry and get upset so please refer to the passage in my book for the 3-day magic.
Q) My baby used to sleep through the night until I started her on solid food. She now wakes up two or three times to feed during the night. We are sure it is hunger. Shall I feed her?
Tracy) It appears that your baby has started to eat on a 24 hour basis because you are not giving her enough food during the day. You need to increase her daily calorific intake. A good idea is to keep a log of her feeding so you can see easily where you can increase it.
Q) Is it ok to put my 4-month-old daughter in her own bedroom with a movement sensor monitor?
Tracy) All my babies go straight into the crib from coming home from hospital.
Q) My five-week-old sleeps every 4 hrs in the day but won't settle between 6pm and 11pm at night.
Tracy) You are robbing Peter to pay Paul and your baby is sleeping far too much during the day. This myth about never wake a sleeping baby is hogwash. By 6 he is ready for up and playing, good bath, massage, bottle and sleep. Do not let him sleep for more than 2 hours every cycle during the day - refer to my book for more help and advice.
Q) My seven and a half month son is still waking twice (at least) in the night despite eating three meals and snacks during the day.
Tracy) You need to add at least two 8oz bottles during the day to increase his calorific intake. He is currently having insufficient calorie intake to get him through the night.
Q) I have a 14 month old who until now has always slept well, however he needs me to stay until he falls asleep
Tracy) This is what I call parent hostage situation. Make sure that you slowly retract yourself from the room by saying mummy is leaving now, we love you, goodnight. If he cries go back in the room and commence pick up put down method. Do not leave him to cry it out!
Q) My son is 20 weeks. He sleeps in own room but wakes 2/3 times and feeds once. How do we get out of the cycle?
Tracy) You need to increase his calorie intake during the day from between 4&6 oz in the day. You then need to retrain his sleep patter by reading the section on pick up put down in my book.
Q) My 17-month and 3-year-old are now sharing a room. The little one will not sleep now!
Tracy) Separate them if you can as of course it is exciting to have someone else to sleep with.
