So, my sweet boy has become the worst sleeper ever! As a colicky newborn, he actually did pretty well at nights. He would fall asleep rather quickly after eating and by 6 weeks, he was sleeping 4 hrs at a time and then by 2 - 2 1/2 months, he was hitting the 6 hr ranges (which if you read sleep books, 6 hrs is considered sleeping through the night). However, since the beginning of August, sleep has been brutal! He won't sleep longer than 2 hrs and he wakes up crying, not fussing, not stirring, but crying crying. Plus, trying to get him to sleep is beast! Because he was colicky, I held and rocked him a lot, which I looooved. It was sweet and I adored that time together. However, since the beginning of August, getting him to sleep has become a battle! Every nap, every night, a battle. He's never loved his pacifier, but he used to take it to fall asleep. Nope. Go ahead and throw that out too. Picture me trying to cradle him in my arms, humming sweetly to him, and him flailing his body and clawing at my face. Clawing. I have a scratch.
I have done my fair share of research and there could be many reasons. 4 month sleep regression is a big factor. We were on vacation for the entire month of July. Because he was so colicky, I was in survival mode. I did whatever I could think of to make him happy, which included, sleeping with him, holding him, nursing him whenever he wanted. Basically, he doesn't know how to fall asleep on his own at all.
So. What does this mean? It means, I'm doing the cry it out method. My sanity is fleeting and I would like to be a happy mom during the day. I've been inconsistent the past 2 weeks with crying and what not because it breaks my heart. But, I decided last night that it's time. If it works, it will help him feel more rested and me feel more patient and energetic. I'm doing it with a routine. We read 3 books and I rock and sing to him for about 10 minutes and then lay him down while he's still awake. (P.s., this might seem like I've been doing it for days. I just started this morning but I've been preparing myself for awhile and reading on all of the different methods.) He woke up at 645 this morning and at 740, I started the routine! I laid him down at around 7:50 am and he finally fell asleep by 8:30. It took 40 minutes! But, I waited 10 minutes at first because he was crying at all and then I went in every 5-6 minutes and patted him chest and tickled his face.
Fingers crossed that this works people. Most people say it takes 3-5 days. If things aren't different by Friday, then I'm going to feel like a terrible parent. Let's hope it works!
3 comments:
OMG i totally know how you are feeling. (especially with the flailing and clawing bit lol) Ivy has hated sleep since day 1. even as a newborn she didn't want to nap very often. it really took some serious skills to get her to ever sleep during the day(luckily she still would sleep at night but daytime was always way tricky). Anyways, I say go for it! save your sanity! I'm sure you've learned by now that crying doesnt kill them, lol. And i think it really does work. I started Ivy pretty young because i was just sick of trying to fight with her. For a while she would cry for like 25-30 mins (even putting her bink in every few mins) before i'd go in and pick her up then she'd fall right to sleep and i'd put her back in her bed. Then it gradually got down to about 5-10 mins and I dont have to pick her up hardly ever anymore. She actually still cries for about 5-10 mins but i think it's just her way of winding down. It is super hard at times because you keep wondering if something else is wrong but consistency is key! just keep doing it and he will learn. (i'm starting to sound like my older sisters, lol) good luck girl!!
btw- are you still in utah valley?? we should get together! it's been way too long!
We're about to really, truly start this. We've been trying to ease into it and it hasn't been working very well. I know we just need to do it whole hog, but I've been dreading it!
I'm glad I'm not alone!
This sounds exactly what we went through with our little girl almost to a T. We did the rocking and swaddling. Both are good but we did them for too long. It was quite an emotional struggle for what felt like a very long time but after doing and sticking with putting her down while awake (and getting her on a schedule saved me). Now she puts herself to sleep and if she does wake up we give her a chance to put herself back to sleep. The only reason I share all this is because I felt horrible and so alone at the time. So you are not alone Whitney! And it sounds like you are doing the right stuff! You are a good mom!
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