Dear Valued Users,
It's with a heavy heart that we announce the permanent closure of StepTalk.org on August 31st, 2025.
This decision wasn't an easy one. For over twenty years, StepTalk has been a source of support for stepparents around the world! However, over the years, the costs associated with maintaining and upgrading the site to remain secure, meet current standards and maintain availability have become unsustainable.
We are incredibly grateful for your support, contributions and the community you've helped us build. Your engagement has made StepTalk.org a special place and we cherish the memories and connections made here.
We would especially like to thank Aniki for volunteering to be a moderator and for caring so much.
Thank you for being a part of our journey and we wish you all the best.
Sincerely,
Dawn and The StepTalk Team
Comments
I have no advice, but your
I have no advice, but your question did make me chuckle.
We have members on this site who can't get their teen skids to sleep alone!
You can use a gentler version
You can use a gentler version of the "cry it out" method, which I did with both my own daughters when babies - because really, there is no other way. Put them in their cot, reassure and leave. If they cry, go back in after 5 minutes, pat them, verbally reassure them, but do NOT get them out of the cot. Keep doing this every 5 minutes until they fall asleep.
You will find they will cry for a long time on the first night, then for slightly lesser amounts of time every day till they realise that being put in their cot, means sleep time! For me it was half an hour the first night, 20 minutes the second night, then reducing till after 1 week they were going down no problem. If you weaken and get them out of the cot once, you will have to start from the beginning again.
This method absolutely works.
This method absolutely works. Did it with mine if they started to get wakeful.
I used this same method with
I used this same method with my son - 12 years ago now! But it really does work. You just have to be strong! IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER to just scoop them up and put them in bed with you for the sake of sleep. But just stand there for a minute or 2 patting their little diaper butts reassuring them and slowly but surely the walks into the nursery get fewer and then stop. If my memory is right, it took right at about a week to get a full nights sleep but each night was better than the one before.
This is what I did with my
This is what I did with my son as well.
I tried
i tried this last night & every time I would go in she got hysterical. Took 30 min & she went to sleep. But 20 min later she woke up, went through the process again & took 20 min and she was out. 20 min later she was up again. 5 min she was asleep, 10 min later she was up .. I gave up after a few hours lol
Don't stay in there until she
Don't stay in there until she falls back asleep. Just go in for a minute or 2. Tell her you love her. Try and lay her back down- BUT DON"T TAKE HER OUT OF THE CRIB. Then walk away. Go back in after another 5 minutes and do the same thing- then leave. Go back, so on and so on. It is just reassuring her that you are there and aren't leaving forever.
I am afraid it will not work
I am afraid it will not work if you give up on the first night.
Her bed
Took about a week but she is in her room and sleeps through the night
I did the old fashioned
cry it out method. Check to make sure diaper is clean and dry, make sure baby is well fed and hydrated, assuring pat, etc. My daughter is still a nightowl but at 8 mos she needed to get on the day schedule. Also increase play time activities, fresh air during the day.
Its not easy but the crying lessens during the week. If you stick to your guns baby will sleep through the night within the 1st week or two.