So, I know I said I'd write yesterday, but I started and there was too much to write and too many pictures I wanted to post that it took me till today to finish.
Let me start with #2 from "know this" (Sunday's post).
WILL IS NOW PUTTING HIMSELF TO SLEEP AT NIGHT:
I've described the Ferber method briefly in a previous post, but here is a recap.
-Dr. Richard Ferber: leading scientist in the field of sleep training/disorders in children
-Holds that if babies are not "settled" (sleeping through a good portion of the night on their own) by 3-4 months of age they need to be taught new sleep associations through the "progressive waiting" method.
-Consistent day/night napping/sleep schedules help set rhythms that encourage nighttime sleep
-Bedtime/naptime routines also help
-All sleep should be in the same place as much as possible
So here's the "progressive waiting" method in a nutshell:
-After bedtime routine, put baby sleepy but awake in crib
(commence crying)
-Leave nursery and wait 3 minutes before returning
-Return after 3 minutes, reassure baby you are there (pat, tell them
you are there, you love them but no picking up)
-Leave nursery (crying continues) repeat above steps by waiting:
5, 10, 10, 10 minutes (until baby falls alseep on his own)
-Second night starts at 5 minutes, third at 10, etc.
Here's what happened for us:
baby cried for total of:
Night 1: 3 1/2 hours
Night 2: 13 minutes (wow)
Night 3: 1 hr. 40 minutes
Night 4: 21 minutes
Night 5: 8 minutes
Now he cries for 2-5 minutes tops when we put him down and sometimes not at all. When he wakes in the night he's usually back to sleep before it's time to check on him (about 10 minutes) unless it's been 7 hours since our last feeding. With such an early bedtime, that means we're up around 3 am for that feeding. I have been trying to brainstorm how to work with this. Should I wake him around 11pm and feed him and get up at 6 so that it's more like a full night? Or, do I keep it the way things are and eventually push that 3 am feeding to 6 and then 7? I'm kind of inclined to do option two because it seems more naturally locked in to his hunger rhythms. How did the rest of you moms and dads work with this? I would love some advice/feedback.
I guess the best thing is that he's actually sleeping on his own. Thank God for Ferber!!! Thanks to all who suggested their favorite sleep book, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby". This book also got a great rating in "Baby 411" (A) and I'm sure I would have used it if I hadn't already purchased the Ferber book. I would love to hear more about your sleep stories and how your methods worked for you. This has been one of the biggest challenges (along with breastfeeding) we've been faced with since little Will has entered our lives.
On to other things:
Here is the "undeniably" cute picture we took of Will at Eckerts last weekend (and some other pics from the same trip). Also, I added a cute picture I took while he was hanging in his crib.
a>
4 comments:
Really cute pictures. I have typed two messages on here and both have been erased. So this one is short until I figure it out. Crystal
O.K. I think my computer likes me for now. Sleeping through the night take 3. David started sleeping through the night when he could eat cereal. That would make him feel full enough that he would not wake up hungry. But like all good things, it came to a end. Just recently David has decided to be up any time between 12:00 and 3:00. He cries and fusses. I try to ignore it, after all he is 1and 1/2 and has been sleeping through the night for many months now, but Eddie thinks this time is for snuggling. So he brings David to our bed. This only had to happen maybe 3 times and I think David is hooked because it has now been going on for over a week. I really think if we would have let him work it out himself and Eddie didn't cave in and get him I would still be getting a good nights sleep, and as a mother you know how importatnt sleep is . So anyway it sounds like you are doing a great job. Concistence is the key to most parenting problems, whatever you want to happen do the same thing always! Or you may have a almost 2year old kicking you while you sleep:) We must remeber to be thankful for the blessings of our beautiful,healthy baby boys and remember all the joy and laughter they bring to our lives.That's all for now, I hope you are having a good day and I really enjoy reading your blog and seeing the new pictures. It really makes me feel closer to you. Love Crystal
That diaper job cracks me up! Will is adorable . . . glad things are going well for you!
sara (wietholter) luke
Gina, you inspired me! We let Maddox cry Saturday night and Sunday night! Both nights he slept just over 9 hours. It was the best sleep I've had in 13 months. Now if only I can keep him from throwing his pacifier and stuffed dog out of the crib, I'll be in good shape.
Post a Comment