Sleep Training

Sleep Training: two words that mean such different things to everyone who attempts to do 'sleep training'. There are so many methods out there, it is hard to choose one. I think most parents who decide to sleep train end up taking bits and pieces of multiple methods and doing what they think is best for their little one.

Brooks has been waking 3-6 times a night for about a month. I switched his sheets to flannel sheets, and that helped a lot- since doing so, it has consistently been about 3 times a night. I have nursed him each time, but he was never really eating. After he stayed at my parents we learned he was eating about 2 oz each time. That is 6 oz total a night- so one full feeding spread over 3 times. With this knowledge and the slow loss of my sanity, we decided to sleep train. I have no problem getting up once to feed him- if the kid is hungry, we will take care of him, it is the snack instead of meal thing that was going on that was an issue.

Pre- sleep training a typical night was going to sleep around 6:45-7 and then feeding around 11, 1:30, 4:30. Also- he did not go down if he was awake, he would need to be rocked from feeding or fall asleep at the breast. Bedtime has not really changed.


So- here is how it has gone

Thurs: Night 1
woke at 10:30. Did cry it out, 1st interval 20 mins. Did not end up going in until 12 b/c of quiet/cry cycles.
After I went in he was in worse shape. Did one more check at 12:20. At 12:40 I fed him (I figured instead of going cold turkey from 3 to 1 feedings, eliminating the 1st one would help) He slept until 4:30ish. Fed him, slept until 8 (cried out once or twice around 6:30 but didn't wake)

Fri: Night 2
Woke at 11. Did cry it out, he cried, a lot (not as much on and off as the night before where he would be quiet for 5 or 10 mins at a time- tonight was lucky if he was quiet 30 seconds). B fell asleep immed after 2nd soothing session at 12:30. I had picked him up, shushed him, gave him paci & lovey. He slept until 5am. Fed him at 5, put him down drowsy, slept until 7:30. Heard him cry out around 2:30 but he didn't wake fully. YAY!!! 1 feeding :)

Sat: Night 3
He woke at 10:30. Cried for 3 mins, quiet for 5, then on and off again. Finally went in at 11:30. Picked up, shushed, paci, and quiet. Cried out at 11:36- but otherwise out. Woke crying at 3:30. Gave him 5 minutes, went in- nursed him. Put him down eyes open. He babbled and called out for about 10 mins, then asleep. Woke at 7:10 for the day crying :(

Sun: Night 4
Woke at 2! Was great- didn't cry, was just randomly crying out or babbling. Then the dog came upstairs at 2:18 and he must have heard creaking because immed the waterworks started. Every time I was ready to go soothe he would get quiet. Then would whimper, quiet, whimper. (but he was never quiet for minutes, just about 30 s- 1 min) I didn't go in for 40 mins. I felt horrible b/c it had been so long, but he seemed so close and I felt like going in would work him up all over again. When I went in, picked up soothed him, laid him down- he started crying, gave paci, and he went to sleep. I heard a few coos 5 mins after the fact, and 5 mins after that, but he didnt get up (does that mean paci fell out). Waited another 10 mins, went to bed, about 2 mins after that he started crying, but I could tell he was asleep and moaning. It was on and off again for about 5 minutes. He fell back asleep, and about 20 mins later woke and cried. I fed him b/c it was almost 4 at this point, and I didn't think that negated the whole crying jig. I just assumed he woke again b/c he was hungry. After feeding, I put him down drowsy with no paci, he fell asleep. Woke for the day around 7:15

** After all this I decided to try it for a nap- put him down drowsy with his paci. He spit the paci out, cooed, babbled, whimpered, babbled for about 10 mins, then must have fallen asleep b/c all has been quiet for about 20 minutes. I really want to get a video monitor :)

So- that is how it is going.

Questions if you feel like answering
1) Do you think we are making progress? I feel like it is, and yet it is still a 1.5-2hr adventure each night.
2) Do you think I am training him to rely on the paci to fall asleep (I think he is spitting it out since he cries out at times after being given it, and that really it calms him down after a long crying jig. It just makes me wonder b.c the ferber method calls for no paci. It also calls for no picking up- but hey, I know he will soothe much better if I hold him. If this doesn't work then we can do some more extremes later)