Sleep training after a trauma is it possible?

amother

OP ↓

Sat, Dec 28 2024, 10:15 pm

Has anyone sleep trained after a trauma happened to their baby/toddler?
A trauma happened when my baby was 7 weeks old. He is now 15 months old, But I am seeing the repercussions till today in the form of anxiety, separation anxiety, fear of others and a terrible sleeper. We have been cosleeping out of necessity since then.
But he won’t go to sleep without nursing or rocking. Sometimes will take an hr or 2 to get him down. Also will not go to sleep with anyone else. Not for naps, not for night and not in middle of the night. Unless it’s me putting him to sleep he will scream and scream with no end.

I’m at my wits end. I know I need to sleep train but most sleep trainers say that with a trauma they don’t recommend sleep training. I just don’t know what to do.

We tried Craniosacral therapy but he wouldn’t let the therapist touch him. And Iv tried emotion code which helped every so slightly but not with sleep.

Has anyone been through this and can guide me on what I can do?

amother

Maize

Sat, Dec 28 2024, 11:29 pm

...you know your child best but im not sure if the 'trauma " at 7weeks has to do with the 15month old sleep training issues. 15 month olds can have separation anxiety and from post this baby has always skep with momma. None of these issues necessarily are from the 7week trauma

amother

Wheat

Sat, Dec 28 2024, 11:31 pm

I would try craniosacral therapy again. Maybe with someone else or someone specifically skilled with babies.

amother

Chambray

Sat, Dec 28 2024, 11:38 pm

What kind of trauma?

amother

Acacia

Sat, Dec 28 2024, 11:54 pm

My cst didn’t really touch my baby
There are also more ways to move trauma through a child’s body
I don’t sleep train, trauma or not
I teach them how to go to sleep but I’m with them the whole time

amother

Almond

Sun, Dec 29 2024, 12:24 am

Is it possible that the trauma and anxiety are affecting things on your end and you are then transferring that to your child? This could be explored in therapy

amother

DarkRed

Sun, Dec 29 2024, 12:31 am

Please do not let your already anxious baby cry it out. How terrible. You can sit with them on floor and rub their back and rock them and commit to a week or so doing that until baby learns it’s safe.

amother

Dustypink

Sun, Dec 29 2024, 1:03 am

Do you see this attachment issue with other things or only with sleep?

amother

↑ OP

Sun, Dec 29 2024, 12:12 pm

amother Acacia wrote:

Can you elaborate? What other ways are there to move trauma through their body?
And how did you teach them to sleep?
I would never do the full cry it out sleep training. Not my style, trauma or not.
But what are other options I can explore?

amother

Cornsilk

Sun, Dec 29 2024, 12:15 pm

Have you worked through your trauma from this incident? Babies are extremely resilient and get their emotional cues from their caretakers.

amother

Gardenia

Sun, Dec 29 2024, 12:17 pm

amother OP wrote:

Seven weeks is pretty young yo say they experienced trauma. Are you sure you're not projecting your feelings onto the child?

If you've been cosleeping since 7 weeks until 15 months then of course he's going to have trouble falling asleep any other way. It's hard to break the habits you created.

amother

Clematis

Sun, Dec 29 2024, 12:18 pm

amother OP wrote:

Probably depends on the trauma.

amother

Raspberry

Sun, Dec 29 2024, 12:19 pm

amother Almond wrote:

Is it possible that the trauma and anxiety are affecting things on your end and you are then transferring that to your child? This could be explored in therapy

This.