Its time.
With Leah hitting the 5 month mark this week I knew it was time to move her to her own room. Friday marked this transition. Up until now she has been sleeping in her bassinet in our room. I knew it was her time to move to her own room, but I wasn't sure if it was my time for her to move. Im still not sure if its time for me to prance across the house to nurse a baby every 4-5 hours in the middle of the night.....
Really.
I was trying to think how we weaned Ayla off of night feedings. She moved to her own room right before the 4 month mark and was only on 1 feeding a night. Id be Loving that right now! I remember getting up with her often to stick her paci back in her mouth. Thus, her love for the thing now. Ha. See neither of our children have been great sleepers. Ayla didn't sleep through the night consistantly until she was close to one. And has gone through many cycles of night waking to sleeping? Im determined to help Leah sleep better. Id love to do sleep training, but won't do CIO method. Its just not for me as a parent. I know I have Many friends who do/done this. I know it has worked for some. It just works on my anxiety, not to mention heartstrings!
I know most of you have been in this situation. What did you do? What should I do? I, of course, can live getting up through the night. BUT I don't think I have to. Be honest.... hit me with it!
Italy Day 3 {Cinque Terre}
1 year ago
14 comments:
Well Cortney, Karson was what they called a "trained night feeder" and like your little leah, got up every 3-4 hours to eat.. no matter what!!! (he still gets up every now and then and a small drink will do the trick) Until he was about 1 1/2 I just went through life with NO SLEEP and figured really I haden't had a full night of sleep in like over 2 year, (including pregnance) Doc said we had to do the CIO and it would work in 3 days..:( finally I went through with it.. and yes it hurt momma way more than him, but he got over it.. (but like I said I think it's just in the kids, because he still will get up every now and then) Pierce on the other hand sleeps like a baby (should)! I know this is probably not what you wanted to hear, but just throwin in my 2 cents!
(we are having trouble getting lillie transitioned to going to bed on her own, without mom/dad laying with her..:( and advice for that one?)
Courtney
I am feeling your pain sister. As first time parents with Maggie we jumped at every whimper she made. Needless to say she was pretty old before we got a real night sleep. Connor started the same thing only it was much worse. When he would wake up he would just scream because he was still so tired. We finally got tired of fighting him and we didn't get up with him anymore and he is an excellent sleeper. Now with Sam he does pretty well because he knows that we are not going to get him. He sleeps through the night all night (almost every night). Our trick is to turn off the monitor and set our alarm and turn it back on an hour later. If he is still crying then we get him. We really have only had to do this a couple of times and are luck our house is big enough that they are upstairs so we don't really hear him crying. I know it is so hard. I didn't think I was strong enough to do it either but it was the best thing I have ever done. A momma needs her energy for the next day and that is what I tell myself. Even though it always makes me feel like a child abuser (LOL) I have to think I am doing the best thing for him.. Geez I think I just told you my life story. Anyways best of luck. As you know it will always gets better with time she is still pretty young. Take care!!!
You know what I think about it :) Meredith did much better once we moved her out of the bassinet and into her own crib. When they are right next to your bed anytime they wake I think they can smell momma. We did the CIO at 9mo and it only took 3 nights also. She still wakes up in the middle of the night usually at least once and cries out, but calms down usually w/in a minute. If she cries longer than that, we know that something really is wrong. Its hard, especially when you are nursing becase you always think they are hungry because you never know how much they are eating. If you gradually cut back your night feeds, it will force Leah to start consuming more calories during the day, and then you know you aren't starving her at night. I know you don't wanna do it, but Baby Wise was what helped us a ton (although we didn't do everything it said- especially not making her go 8hrs at 8wks. Personally I think that is crazy for a breast fed baby to go that long at that young of age).
I have to agree with everyone else..the CIO seems very effective. Fortunately, I never had to do it. Koen started sleeping on his own at 8 wks from about 10pm-7am. A few times he's tried to wake up, but putting the paci back in usually soothes him. I'm guessing that after Leah gets over the ear infection she'll be more likely to sleep better, too. Sorry I'm not much help:(
I'm so sorry that you're dealing with sleep deprivation! I don't know the CIO method, but I think the fact that I co-slept with Claire is why she has been sleeping through the night in her crib (p.s. I don't indorse this as a better alternative, I just have felt more comfortable having my infants close when they are so young. I have always followed the strict guidelines that the AMA [American Medical Assosciation] has set for safe co-sleeping.) At about 2 months old Claire would sleep through the night with co-sleeping... I really think that is what started her sleep habits in that direction.
You are such an incredible Mom!!! I hope that Leah starts transitioning on her own shortly.
Oh! I would also LOVE LOVE LOVE to get together soon! I will have Kevin full-time starting in two weeks... you were right, I'm home and it's good to get the time in with him before he's in school full-time! Plus we were able to put some of that money towards a new van... yay!
Courtney, I agree with Brittany. Bryce slept in my room until he was a year old because we had rented a two bedroom apartment while Travis was in school. I finally put him in his own room and he never had a problem again. Also, maybe you could try a little cereal before bed? She might sleep longer if her belly is a little more full. I will call you tomorrow...
i agree that everyone in our house slept better once both girls went to sleep in their own room... we only lasted about a month in the bassinet... but that sleep only came in 2-3 hour chunks until we stopped nursing 9 or 10 months later!!! but as soon as we stopped they were sleeping all night!! not that i recommend stopping, i'll do it again this time and just maybe i'll get a good sleeper!! btw, i think i have one of leah's paci's.... i'll see if it's yours if your at pg on wed!
Courtney - the CIO method works and I did my own version of it and still do. I always go in after Jack starts crying (if it's more than 4-5 minutes), pat him on the back, sshhh to him, etc. Then while he's still awake say nigh night. then he would continue to cry and get mad. I'd wait 10 minutes, then go in again if necessary. The most we ever got up to was 15 minutes of crying. we still have to do this occasionally after a week of traveling and getting out of the routine.
what in the WORLD is CIO? haha
I did not want to do the CIO thinkg either with my girls. It killed me to hear them cry, but I was so tired when Addy was a baby because Hayleigh would still get up in the middle of the night and come to our bed. I talked to our Peditrician about it and he told me to this. He told me to do it for four days straight and that it would be over. Guess what he was right. The first two nights were pure He** because she cried so much. But night three was better and night four was even better. Now she does so much better there are still times that she gets up, but it's not near as much as she used to. I am actually thinking about doing it to Addyson now because she is getting out of bed all the time.
Well, don't take advice from me. We have "company" in our bed every night and have for about 8-9 months. Before we had "company" in our bed, I had a queen sized bed to myself while Austin hosted the "company" in the LazyBoy the first 7-8 months. Austin nor I could stand the CIO method and we were willing to do whatever it takes to get sleep even if it means having "company" each night. Perhaps in the next week or two my hubby will find time to take down the crib and put up a big boy bed and we will transition that way - but who knows!
And, when Camden grows out of the boots, we should be in good shape because we have another pair in the next size. The boots are monkies instead of dinosours!
Ok, so here's my honesty for you. :) At 5 months, I wouldn't be worried about getting up every 4-5 hours. Every 2-3 maybe, but at her age, I don't think it's abnormal at all for her to get up after 4-5 hours...which in my world translate to only getting up once during the night. ?? If you want to continue nursing, going more than 6 hours really hurts supply needs...which is why I've never understood breastfeeding moms letting their babies go 8+hours at night at 8 wks?? (Sorry, just being honest...I'm with Britt on that one.) As for just waking up to cry (perhaps, say an hour after you just nursed her), I would try the CIO method. I know I'm not much help. I do think moving her to her own room will help you both, but as for totally getting rid of the night time feeding, I'd wait until 9-10 mo.
sorry no advice from this mommy :( brycen has always been and still is a great sleeper... i'm hoping for the same w/ the next one! if not i'll come to you for some advice!
Courtney - Since everyone is giving you their honest opinion here goes mine... I am not a perfect mommy and I don't try to act like I am, but here is what worked for us. I tried the CIO/Babywise with Emma and I just couldn't stick to it. I am like you it made me feel so bad each time I would hear her cry...now I look back and think that was just my first time mom instinct. With Josie I put her in her bed and let her CIO. I felt like I had to because I already had one that needed to be rocked to sleep every night and I just didn't have the time or the energy to that EVERY night. I was a little selfish and wanted to spend an hour or so with my husband before bed. :) Josie is as close to a perfect sleper as you can get...goes to bed at 8 and wakes up at 7:30 EVERY morning...no fussing or fighting. I repeated this with Jax and he sleeps VERY well for a 3 1/2 month old.
I know Brittney mentioned Babywise and I REALLY like that book. It is good not only for a sleep guide but also for introducing foods, etc.
I never used a bassinet I always put them in their crib from the very first night I brought them home. I am sooo glad I did that. I guess I have to give Scott credit for that one...his idea. What a great daddy and a life saver for me. I hope you have luck and can use someones advice. It's not fun for anyone when you are sleep deprived. BTW, Emma at 4 still likes to be rocked or wants someone to lay with her until she falls asleep...we r workin on that one! :)
Post a Comment