I've taken some of the advice from it and I'm quite happy and would recommend it to anyone to read and consider because Bruin has gotten on a pretty consistent schedule now. I even know what to expect at night almost on the dot. He'll sleep from 9:15pm-12:45am then 1:15am-4am and then 4:30am - 6:15am (when I try to hold him off for another half hour or so with his pacifier while I get my last winks in) and start the day between 6:30 and 7. During the day he eats about every 3 hours and takes 3 to 4 naps. Once he's 3 months though it talks about letting him cry it out when going down for naps and I just don't think I can do it! I hate hearing him cry and that look he gives me when I come in to get him is so sad! Right now I rock him to sleep and then hold him until he passes from the REM sleep to his deeper sleep to put him down. I know I can't always do this because he needs to learn to put himself to sleep but it works for now.. and if I don't do it this way he usually wakes up early and is cranky from not getting his full nap! Has anyone else used the "cry it out" method, and what advice would you give? I am all about hearing how different mothers do things because it helps me to take bits and pieces and try them on to form my own way that fits. My friend Joy, and all my sisters, know this because I'm always texting them with questions of "How did YOU do this?" Anyways, if you have methods for anything that you've liked about raising babies please share, I would love it!
Other news..
Well I went to the doctors yesterday for my 6 week postpartum check up and all went well. Unfortunately the doctor had no idea what my chills were from. Her only thought was maybe the making of breastmilk was like how after you eat a big meal you get cold because a lot of your blood goes to your stomach to digest... oh well. I haven't gotten them the past few nights so maybe they're gone.. hope so! Anyways, she gave me a prescription for the mini-pill and holy cow it was $35 a pack! grrr I'm willing to pay it though because I am NOT getting pregnant again for a long time! As wonderful as babies are, my body is shot and needs time to recuperate for the next!
11 comments:
We did the cry it out method with Kenna. The first few nights were tough, but since then she is the best sleeper. We put in her bed and she goes right to sleep. It is the best. The only down side with her is she won't go to sleep in our arms at church or else where and car rides are tough. I am still going to do it with the second one though. Good luck!
How old was she when you started?
My technique has changed through each kid. With Ty I really did the cry it out thing. With Brans, I kinda did it. And with Cason, I never nursed him to sleep, but I would rock him til he got really drowsy, then I would put him down, so he was awake but not alert. He'd fuss for a minute or two and then go to sleep. When he wakes during a nap though, I always give it at least 10 minutes before I go and pick him up, cuz usually he'll fall back asleep.
We let Belle cry it out at around 3-4 months. The first two nights were so tough, we both just layed there wide awake waiting for her to go to sleep. After two nights though, she just went right to sleep on her own without any crying. She liked to be swaddled until she was about 5 or 6 months old, so that probably helped a little, too. Now she is a great sleeper for naps and bedtime! Good luck figuring everything out, its tough and takes time, but once you do, you and the baby will be sooo happy!!
I did the crying out thing with noah when he was 6 months. He was sleeping threw the night at 3 months and then we went on a trip from HI to WA and Co and he was so messed up for 3 months that one night I had totally had it. Because baby's don't need to eat at night it's just a comfort thing. So I did colby left for father sons and i let him cry all night. I think he woke up about 4 times and every night after that he didn't get it. But Bruin is still kinda small I would give it just a little bit longer but thats just me. Now that Elijah is 3 months and 4 months on the 18 I think I'll me trying out soon. I can do it with him for naps but not at night. Im so scared that Noah is going to get up and want out. Even though when we put Noah in his big boy bed he would kick the door till it sounded like it was going to come down. But we had to let him work it out then to. So I totally think that it works even though it breaks your heart to have this cutie pie crying. Some times there is just nothing else to do. So It works great you can do Holly your a strong mommy. And when he wakes up he will always love you and look at you or smile like he loves you:)
To answer phils questions she was 32. And her heart just stopped.
Hey Holly- I hear ya about wanting advice I'm still that way with everything! Olivia is 10 months now. You know I think you just ask tons of questions and read as much as you can then just do what you feel is best. I did not do the cry it out method, I wanted her to know that I was going to be there for her when she really needed something. I did try and keep her on a good schedule with feeding and naps that seemed to really help her as well. I do still rock her but not totally to sleep just until she is calm. We did this when she was little too, so she would get used to falling asleep on her own. She's been sleeping great, and we have our rough nights but usually it's something, teething or whatever. Have you read the book "the happiest baby on the block"? I really loved this book, it just had a lot of stuff I could relate to. Goodluck to you. Parenting is quite the adventure, I am often overwhelmed. Sorry I wrote a book. I hope all is well for your little family.
Hey Holly, this is Heather, Amy's friend/MTC comp, and congrats on cute little Bruin! I had to tell you that Kalia (who is now 1) really went through a rough phase of sleeping. I swear I read 10 books (Babywise being one of them.) She was not ready for "crying it out" at 2 or 3 months, but I read another book that recommended 4 months old, and I just knew that it was a good time for her. I was getting desperate though, because it was taking longer and longer to bounce/rock her to sleep, and it was also every nap during the day. And she was getting heavier. :)
It was SOOO hard to hear her cry, and she was so persistent, sometimes she would cry for over TWO hours. There were at least five times that I had to leave the house(when my husband was home) because it was so hard. Other times I would turn up my ipod loud so I couldn't hear it. I was not consistent at first, which just made it worse. (If you're going to do it, be 100% consistent! Otherwise it takes them twice as long to figure it out!)
Anyway, I read two other books that REALLY helped, and I combined it all into what felt the most comfortable for me. The other two were Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child (I learned a ton from this one) and then the Sleepeasy Solution. I especially loved the last one because it was written by two women/moms and it is a kinder, gentler approach. It especially helped me wean Kalia off night feedings, which I did at 4 months as well, and it involved very little crying.
I have to say, it was TOTALLY worth it, she has been a great sleeper ever since and now sleeps from 6:30 p.m. until 8 a.m. and she can put herself to sleep anytime.
I know the feelings you will have (totally torn, and like you're not being a good mom) but one of the things I read in one of those books is that some studies showed that hard crying (in babies) actually helped them forget what they were crying about (if that makes sense) and Bruin will not hold anything against you, he won't even remember it, but you will have it easier forever. Anyway, good luck and try those other books too, and come up with your own individualized plan for him.
I read Baby Wise first and found a few things helpful, but I hated that his method never allowed you time to hold your baby--you were either playing to keep them awake, feeding, or putting them in their crib to sleep.
I much preferred Dr. Weissbluth's Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child. So so so imformative and didn't give a rigid methodology.
We, like most of your commenters, let Louesa cry it out. It is the most difficult thing you will ever do as a first time parent--it is so hard to listen to your child scream. She's been going to bed at 7:30 pm ever since and it is the greatest thing to know that you'll have a few hours in the evening to yourself.
Still, in my opinion, Bruin's still too young to start.
I read and used parts of that book with Hunter. It was wonderful. He was struggling with sleep and I was willing to try anything. At eight weeks I let him cry through the night and it only took two nights. Ever since then he is an excellent sleeper when we are at home. I agree with Sha that church was a struggle because they want their beds but Hunter now knows that I just hold him tight and today he fell right to sleep in my arms. At the beginning I would have to go in there to help him find his pacifier until he was able to get it himself. But I left him alone for about 15 minutes and then would go in and let him know I was there and help him find it and then walk out. It is hard until they figure it out but worth it. Both my kids have go to bed so easy. I just put them in their beds and that is the end of it. I will definitely try this method on my next one and see if it works because the only sleep deprivation I have is because of my obsession with checking peoples blogs after the kids are in bed.
Holly,
This is Mackenzie (Lawrence) Ware. I just wanted to give my official endorsement of BabyWise. My sister and I and our sister in law, Jamie, all have done the program with our kids and we are so into it. It makes for very good babies. We have ALL had our babies sleeping through the night by (at the latest) 8 weeks. It also sets the stage for very good sleepers later on. My kids are still very good sleepers and that makes a huge difference in your experience as a young mom! Good Luck and congrats on baby Bruin!
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