Sleep Training 101

So I just HAD to start ST Nate b/c he just wasn't sleeping. I blogged about it before and never continued with it cause it wasn't working with our busy schedules but then I got smart and realized that my life is revolving around Nate's now. Sleep is VERY important, it helps them grow (physically and mentally) and makes them happy. I knew Nate's attitude had to do with his lack of sleep so I finally did something about it. A friend of mine (thank you Kim) lent me her book on ST and that's where it all started. After gathering my tools and strength I dove in head first.

Nate did really good right from the start and by the 4th night he was sleeping almost the whole night without waking for a feeding. At his age, he is very capable of not waking for a night feed and at that time he was just eating, to eat. Now, 2 weeks into it he's a superstar sleeper and hardly cries when I lay him in bed.

As for the approach that I took, it was on the stricter end of the CIO method. I figured out right away that Nate did NOT do well with checks so I slowly pushed them further and further away b/c when I'd check on him he'd start all over again and be a complete mess. I can't tell you which is better b/c every baby and parent is different but what I can tell you is, whatever approach you take, I wish you the best of luck and stay strong and positive!

Just Something to Read on ST

UPDATE: Sleep Training

Last night was amazing! Nate slept from 9pm-6:30am, that's 9.5 hours of greatness. He's been so much better to handle since sleep training (ST) and he's not cranky anymore and I feel like a brand new person. I can't believe I didn't start this sooner. I always thought co-sleeping was the solution to getting more sleep but that wasn't the case for us. Instead he'd just roll over and start searching for the jackpot, he'd get so upset and start crying b/c he wasn't getting his way. But ever since ST, he's been sleeping in the bassinett and soon he'll be in the crib (I haven't cleaned it out!) I still need alot of practice with Nap Training cause he sometimes just doesn't want to go down and I really haven't let him CIO for a nap, maybe twice but only b/c I knew he was at the point of passing out. I'm just thrilled for sleep!

Let the Sleep Training BEGIN

Last Month I mentioned that Nate was waking up alot but was starting to improve on his sleep, well that went down hill and has gotten worse. It got to the point that he needed to nurse or comfort suck all night to stay asleep. He was waking every hour looking for my nips and wanting to pacify on me. I tried the pacifier and he HATES it now, I tried the bassinett and he SCREAMED for me so instead I was just dealing with it and my arms, shoulder and nips were in pain. So the other day I tried NAP training and that really stressed me out, to the point that I threw in the towel after 1/2 a day, it was very stressful and I couldn't do it. So last night I said, THIS IS IT! I can't do this anymore, I don't sleep, I'm hurting and Nate isn't getting his full rest either so I started sleep training.

Here is what happened
10:30pm He fell asleep in the car and I left him in his carseat cause I was cleaning up and doing things around the house.
12am Decided to go to bed and took him out of his carseat and attempted DF (dream Feeding), its when you feed them in their sleep so they stay asleep longer, well it backfired. He wanted to stay latched on after he was done eating and the drama begins!!

12:15am: he was done but he wanted to keep sucking, I layed him in his bassinett and I offered paci but didn't want it. I walked away and I let him CIO (Cry it Out) for 5 minutes.

12:20am- (PUPD-Pick up, Put Down) Picked him up without talking to him, calmed him down and put him right back in the bassinett. CIO for 5 minutes

12:25am-PUPD, CIO for 6 minutes

12:31am- PUPD, CIO 8 Minutes---here he was already doing the Mantra cry so I knew the end was near, that is why I went longer with the CIO

12:39am-PUPD CIO for 4 minutes before he clonked out.........AAAAAAHHHHHHHH I was hearing the fall asleep cry and I knew this was it! and I'm glad it was

HE SLEPT TILL 6:30AM, I was surprised to see the sun out when he started to cry!!

Like I told Naty, it broke my heart to let him cry but it worked, we both rested and we're both happy today, it's really worth it.

Also, he's napping right now as I type. He's been out since 8:55am and it's 10:26am, it'll be 2 hours soon--

I'm NOT giving up! I already suffered the first night and I'm not going back, I just can't. I've been a walking zombie and its not fair to Bubbs and Audrey either. So, after success I feel like an expert! LOL just wait till he cries for HOURS-----uuuuuhhhhhh, I know it can happen, I just pray it doesn't happen to us.
So tonight he'll be sleeping in his crib for the first time, he was supposed to sleep in it last night but I still hadn't got it ready so I put him in his bassinett. But the bassinett is leaving now and that makes me sad, he's growing so fast :-(