The Sleep Lady Shuffle. Have you tried it?

Question

Hi my daughter is 13 months old and still wakes up at least twice a night. I have heard of the "sleep lady shuffle" but don't know what it is about. I have tried controlled crying but all that happens when I do this is that everyone in the house yells at me and makes me out to be the bad parent.
I was wondering if anyone had tried the SLS if it had worked for them and is it controlled crying? I have to order the book from America so I don't want to waste money on something I've already tried. Your help on this would be greatly appreciated, thanks from a very tired mum

Answer 1

Never heard about it until your ?, but I searched for it and it appears to be the same technique that Jojo uses on Super Nanny (although if you're not in the US I don't know if you would have heard about it). This is from a question and answer session with her:

Q: My son is 11 months old and has never slept through the night. He tosses and turns. We have tried everything; he only sleeps okay if he comes in our bed, but even then he is not sleeping soundly. He moans and grunts in his sleep like he is uncomfortable. We have tried everything. Please help.

The Sleep Lady's Answer:

Speak to your pediatrician and make sure he/she has ruled out any underlying medical problems. If your son does not know how to put themselves to sleep, I would start at bedtime placing your son in his crib drowsy but awake and start the Sleep Lady Shuffle -- sitting by his crib and offering physical and verbal reassurance until he is asleep. If you don't want him to sleep in your bed, respond to each of his wakings the same.
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It doesn't appear to be controlled crying, but rather a succession of gradually getting further and further from the child as she falls asleep (i.e. first night next to the crib, then a few feet away, etc).

Here's the site I got the interview from: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=2629152&page=1

Answer 2

I havent heard about this book but have you tried putting a clock that ticks in her room or music. I use music on the 18month old and then when shes finally asleep i turn the light off and then she can still hear the clock ticking. It has worked a treat for me and she's been sleeping through for over 8mths now... Good luck

Answer 3

Never heard of it but I am strongly against letting a baby cry it out. I think that is cruel because they cant do anything for themselves and rely on us. I wish I could still hold my babies and cuddle with them but they wont have that anymore LOL to big. I did what I needed to do to get sleep and if that meant climbing in the crib, having them come to bed with me whatever worked I did. They dont do it forever and they dont want to sleep in same bed with mom forever either. Not normal kids anyway. My kids outgrew all of it and I never let them cry excessivly for long periods of time.

Answer 4

try putting a mattress on the floor right next to your bed and put pillows against her back while she 's sleeping. when she wakes up in the middle of the the night it's jus her trying to find u for warmth and comfort.