How Baby Leo Went From All-Night Nursing to Sleeping Long Stretches Without Doing Cry It Out

When Katie and Emily reached out to me for help with their second child, they were running on fumes. Baby Leo was five months old and still waking almost hourly through the second half of the night—nursing the entire time while cuddled next to Emily in bed.
It wasn’t sustainable.

Also, Leo’s daytime feeds were problematic. He was so entertained by his older sister that he preferred to snack throughout the day and load up on his calories during the night. While he didn't mind this, Emily was exhausted and certainly not capable of returning to work in just a few short weeks.

But how could Emily and Katie get Leo to sleep all night if he was legitimately hungry at night? 

They couldn't let their baby cry from hunger all night, even if it would eventually lead to better sleep. It just felt wrong to them. 

I hear this concern all the time.

I get it. You want to do what’s best for your baby, and the idea of withholding comfort—or food—feels wrong.

Here’s the truth:

The idea that babies should eat when they’re hungry isn’t wrong.

But the idea that night waking for food has to continue indefinitely? Or that the only way to improve sleep is to let them “cry it out”?

Also wrong.

And the truth is, helping your baby sleep better doesn’t have to mean ignoring their needs or your instincts.

The Gentle Solution

Because Emily found Leo’s cries especially hard to hear, we chose one of the most gradual, responsive approaches I offer: a method called the Soothing Ladder.

The Soothing Ladder helps babies learn to settle with less help, one step at a time. It’s ideal for younger babies and highly sensitive parents because it allows for closeness and responsiveness while still creating change.

Here’s what happened:

• Within 9 nights, Leo went from nursing every 60–90 minutes at night to just two night feedings, spaced 4 hours apart.
  
  
• Leo started taking larger feedings during the day now that he isn't snacking all night long. This sets the stage for a further reduction of night feeds and sleeping through the night when his moms are ready.
  
  
• Leo self-soothes to sleep at bedtime and for the first two naps of the day. 
  
  
• Leo sleeps all night in his crib, rather than most of the night in his mothers' bed (and displacing one of them).
  
  
• And most importantly—Leo is now rested, happy, and thriving. He has started daycare and is even napping beautifully there, starting on his very first day!
  
  

Katie and Emily can’t believe the transformation.

No crying it out. No mom guilt. No hungry baby.

Just a rested baby and two parents who feel like themselves again.

You deserve this too. 

As a pediatric NP and certified sleep coach, I combine medical knowledge, developmental insight, and deep respect for your parenting style. You don’t have to choose between your baby’s needs and your own well-being—and you definitely don’t have to do it alone.

I'd love to talk to you about whether this might be a good path forward for your family. Schedule a free consult call here.