Sleep Update
Well, we're two days into our sleep program... not exactly how I had planned it out. We are following most aspects of the book, much to the babe's dismay.
This book! I must destroy it! Along with the little makeup-wearing coverbaby!
This book! I must destroy it! Along with the little makeup-wearing coverbaby!
W had his six-month appointment with the pediatrician this week and I brought all my cry-it-out vs. attachment parenting baggage with me. I think there is good information on all sides and it has just really been hard for me to make up my mind about this. But, I really trust the pediatrician and she is a sensible, sensitive person who really matches with our parenting style in general.
She recommended we get started with the sleeping schedule, ahead of the usual 7-month-old bout with separation anxiety. She also suggested we just put him in his crib straightaway, without sleeping in there with him. She said we can go 8:00 p.m. at the latest for a bedtime, and that we start with a wakeup time of no earlier than 4:00 a.m. to feed. (That stretch should get longer.) Something that helped convince me (along with all the other good feedback and comments) was that she mentioned how hard it is to do this when they're old enough to bang their heads and hurl themselves out of the crib.
So, Thursday night was the night. To me, the anticipation was one of the worst parts. To see his innocent little smiling face, knowing he would soon be crying alone in his bed
We did our ritual: nursing (frequently interrupted by my "wake up!!! it's not time to sleep yet!!!"), diaper and pjs, bedtime story, giving him his lovey (one of those tiny blanket/stuffed animal hybrids), cuddling, praying, affirming him and turning on the trusty Sleep Sheep. (Affirming him was Fran's idea — that's where we tell him how much we love him, what he has done to make us proud and how we know he can sleep through the night.)
That first night he fussed for about 15-20 minutes, then cried for another 20 or so, then fell asleep. It was not easy but we did it, checking in on him once he started crying, after 5, 10 and 15 minutes. He slept all the way through to almost 4:00 a.m. (I made him wait till 4 on the dot), ate, went back to sleep with minimal crying and slept until I woke him up at 6:30.
Last night, we repeated the whole thing, but this time he got straight to crying, and subsequently fell asleep faster. He also slept until slightly after 4:00 a.m. and went back to sleep after crying for only a couple minutes, and he slept until after 7:00 a.m.!
I know we have several more nights until we get this down, but I feel happy that we've started and optimistic about not being a zombie anymore. Thanks to all for your advice, prayers and good vibes!
She recommended we get started with the sleeping schedule, ahead of the usual 7-month-old bout with separation anxiety. She also suggested we just put him in his crib straightaway, without sleeping in there with him. She said we can go 8:00 p.m. at the latest for a bedtime, and that we start with a wakeup time of no earlier than 4:00 a.m. to feed. (That stretch should get longer.) Something that helped convince me (along with all the other good feedback and comments) was that she mentioned how hard it is to do this when they're old enough to bang their heads and hurl themselves out of the crib.
So, Thursday night was the night. To me, the anticipation was one of the worst parts. To see his innocent little smiling face, knowing he would soon be crying alone in his bed
We did our ritual: nursing (frequently interrupted by my "wake up!!! it's not time to sleep yet!!!"), diaper and pjs, bedtime story, giving him his lovey (one of those tiny blanket/stuffed animal hybrids), cuddling, praying, affirming him and turning on the trusty Sleep Sheep. (Affirming him was Fran's idea — that's where we tell him how much we love him, what he has done to make us proud and how we know he can sleep through the night.)
That first night he fussed for about 15-20 minutes, then cried for another 20 or so, then fell asleep. It was not easy but we did it, checking in on him once he started crying, after 5, 10 and 15 minutes. He slept all the way through to almost 4:00 a.m. (I made him wait till 4 on the dot), ate, went back to sleep with minimal crying and slept until I woke him up at 6:30.
Last night, we repeated the whole thing, but this time he got straight to crying, and subsequently fell asleep faster. He also slept until slightly after 4:00 a.m. and went back to sleep after crying for only a couple minutes, and he slept until after 7:00 a.m.!
I know we have several more nights until we get this down, but I feel happy that we've started and optimistic about not being a zombie anymore. Thanks to all for your advice, prayers and good vibes!
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