Sleep Training

A few months ago, I wrote a post on co-sleeping. And, while that worked for a small while, two kids, two adults, a couple of cats on the end of a queen bed just wasn't working anymore. I never slept. There was no room. Not to mention that I nursed throughout the entire night. Isla only slept when she was attached to me. As cute as this little lady is, she is the worst sleeper ever. Always has been, since day 1. Screamed every time I tried to lay her down in the hospital cradle, since co-sleeping at the hospital was against the rules, Ja and I had to take turns holding her while the other one slept.

After nine months with everyone who lives under our roof in our bed, I couldn't handle it anymore. But, at the same time, I was not looking forward to staying up even more at night and dealing with lots of crying. I am not a fan of the cry it out method, and had no idea what to do. I read a few books and articles and realized that there were more methods than just cry it out. Why these methods aren't talked about and used more, I don't know, maybe I just haven't heard much else, but we chose a little bit from each of these methods and it's working! As expected, it was tough the first few days, but got easier as time went on. First was actually lying her down at night for bed. She used to only fall asleep nursing, and if she woke up when I laid her down, it was all over. She would be up for another couple hours and end up going to bed when we did. She also hated her crib and only slept in our bed. If I tried her crib, she would sleep for maybe an hour. In our bed, she would sleep for almost four. So, for months, we never even used the crib.

We started with beginning a bedtime routine. Brushing teeth, a couple books and a few snuggles. Then, we simply laid her in the crib, and stood above her, patting her back until she fell asleep. She cried, but I didn't feel nearly as bad since I didn't leave her. She knew I was there, and after a while, she stopped crying and just laid there and closed her eyes and fell asleep. And, she slept for almost four or five hours in her crib! That might seem like nothing, but to have an entire side of my bed to myself was incredible! So, we continued this and it became easier and easier. She began going to sleep at 7:45 and Sahara going to bed at 8. This gave me a couple hours to myself, which I never had since Isla was born. I was content with this for a couple months. After a few hours in her crib, she would come into bed with us, and most of the time, Sahara would follow. But, I wasn't complaining since I got half a night to myself. I mostly wasn't complaining because I knew what had to happen if I wanted the whole night to myself. So, I made myself content. But, when you give a mouse a cookie, he's gonna want a glass of milk to go with it...

We house sat for my cousin last week. A few days before they came home, I fell asleep downstairs while Ja graded papers. I woke up at three and headed off to bed. I went upstairs to get ready and as soon as I was going to climb into bed, Isla woke up. I decided right then and there that sleep training would begin. The sleep training that would keep me up at night for a while. The training that would make me get out of bed and not climb right back in. The training that was work. At night. When I'm exhausted. But, since I was up already, it was a bit easier to just stay up even longer. So, instead of nursing her to get her to go to sleep, I rocked her. And, rocked her. And, rocked her. While her tiny, adorable face screamed into mine. For one hour. But, we did it. And, she did go to sleep without nursing, for a few more hours in her own bed. It's gotten better since then. It doesn't take nearly as long for her to fall back asleep, although she is still waking up every night. Except for last night. She woke up at 10pm and went back to sleep quickly and then didn't wake up until 6am. That is the best so far, and I can only hope that it continues to get better. Cross my fingers. Knock on wood. Etc... Of course, the night that she does sleep all the way through, Sahara was in our bed with a horrible cold. Had almost half of the bed to myself. So, obviously we are not there yet, but I feel hope. I feel like we are close to sleeping through the night. Close to having my half of the bed to myself for the entire night. Without having to leave it during the night. Close to getting an entire night of sleep. Ahhh, a dream...Someday.