Letting Olivia cry herself to sleep seems to be working. I originally thought I would do it Dr. Ferber's way, going in and checking on her periodically, gradually extending the time between checks. Well, every time I went in to check on her she would look at me with these sad little eyes and she'd reach up for me to pick her up. Oh, it broke my heart. Really, it made me want to cry ad so I ended up picking her up and rocking her. I did that twice. Bad, I know. I even thought to myself, "Meagan, you are ruinig everything. Be strong. Put her down and let her cry!" But, I couldn't do it.
So, after the second day I decided that I was going with Dr. Weissbluth's "extinction" method. Basically, once you put them down you don't go back in until they fall asleep. I was reading his book and he explained that while many of the other sleep training methods will work, they are hard for most parents both emotionally and physically and so you give in and aren't consistent. It makes sense... which is probably why everything else failed for me.
After a night or two, the crying actually got worse. Not only louder and more hysterical, but it went on for longer periods of time but the only time she slept all night was when she cried herself to sleep! A few nights ago she cried for close to an hour, but I kept telling Tyler, "She only sleeps through the night if she cries herself to sleep." Of course, I wasn't telling him anything new, but just reassuring myself that it was okay to let her cry.
Last night I read her two books and rocked her for a few minutes. Once she started getting sleepy, I kissed her and laid her in bed. Of course the minute I stood up she knew she was going to be put down so she started to cry, I mean, scream. I tucked her in, and turned and walked out. Despite her dramatic protest, she was asleep in less than one minute. And, she didn't even wake up an hour later (as has been the pattern for the last 6 months). She slept a full 12 hours and woke up at 7:30am. When I woke up this morning I went in to check on her and she was laying on her tummy with her little head poking over the top of the crib looking around. It was so cute.
I just put her down for her second nap today. I read to her and rocked her, and once again, she screamed when I stood up to lay her down. Although it's hard for me to walk out when she is crying like that I know that she is getting better sleep and therefore going to be healthier and happier. She was asleep after one minute! This seems to be working not only for bedtime but for naps, too.
Part of me wishes I had done this sooner. But, part of me knows that I couldn't have done it unless I was desperate (the point that I hit about one week ago). I am just glad I am getting it over with now, before she is older.
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6 comments:
Hi. I was blog hopping a bit and came across your sight. I was a friend of Tylers in school. Anyways, I just wanted to tell you that what you're doing with your daughter will work and pay off big time as she gets older. I have 4 kids, the oldest is 8 and my youngest is almost 8 months and this is what I have done with all of them. They cry it out method really works. Continue on with it and you will be grateful down the road. BTW- I did this with my baby 2 months ago and he sleeps through the night now. I love have my sleep back! :)
Isn't it the best feeling to know they can do it themselves!! It took ruining Carson to know that I don't want to do that again so Ellie is wonderful at going to bed and naps, I just lay her down and out I go and she's out, or talks and sings to herself for a minute! If she wakes up now in the night I know she has had a bad dream or is sick and I just hold her for a few minutes and she is fine to lay back down, it is so wonderful!! Congratulations, it is so nice to get a full night sleep, it is weird to think how we did it before with no sleep!
This is so good to know. I just bought Dr. Weissbluth's book yesterday. Hillary swears by his methods, so I'll try it out when the baby comes. I totally remember the party you are talking about (on my blog). I have a home video of that party that would be so fun for everyone to see some day. We're all singing and dancing and Shannon is doing your hair! As soon as you came in to the party, everyone got so excited and came and jumped all over you and hugged you. It's so cute!
I imagine this is so hard for you, but it'll all be worth it in the end. Way to stay strong. Keep it up. You're proving to be a ridiculously awesome mom.
This is so Katie. When I just leave her alone, she really does go to sleep faster and better. She's finally sleeping all the way through the night consistently, and that's because I finally gave in and really let her CIO instead of hopping right out of bed as soon as she whimpers.
Just stopping by to say hi to a fellow bloggie pal-- oh, I feel for you with the whole crying it out thing. Right when we were getting ready to try it, our little one miraculously started sleeping throught the night--all night, 12 hours in fact! And it was Mother's day weekend! This was his gift to us after 9 months (yes, 9 mos) of waking frequently. Ugh! Good luck to you!
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