Call it what you want

But I call it sleep training. We were so spoiled with Isaac and sleeping. He was sleeping through the night and took two 2hr naps from about 8 weeks and on.

Lucas is another story. He was a good night sleeper when he first came home from the hospital but has never been a good napper...at least for us...30 minutes tops. And was waking up two times at night, usually around 2:30/3:30am and then again at 4:30am and then wake up for the day around 7am. So, weighing in at 21lbs at 6 months, there is no reason or need for him to eat at night.

A friend referred Good night, Sleep tight...or the Sleep Lady Shuffle to me. I read it, ok skimmed it, the parts that pertained to us, and it was basically doing cry it out but staying in the room. I really didn't understand the point and sitting there and watching my child cry and yes, sometimes scream, and look up at me and think why the hell aren't you picking me up! So, I decided to basically do cry it out. It sounds so harsh but it worked for me. I would time it and let him fuss starting at 5 minutes and then go back in there and then leave while increasing the time out of the room. I think this is a real method but don't know what it's called.
I would say us, but Nick pretty much left it to me. I was ok with that because then I could do it my way and not be mad at him when Lucas wouldn't go down for him. Since it was me, I was in control...if that makes sense. And since his stint in the hospital and not being able to eat for the night, Nick put in his time listening to him cry.

So, the book says to put the baby down drowsy but awake. We got into the habit of basically feeding him to sleep. I stopped this last week. And why I decided to do it on a Sunday night it beyond me! I wasn't as strong during the night and did break down and give him a bottle at least once.

But then this past Friday, I did it! The whole thing of going down w/o a bottle has become pretty easy...but I don't want to jinx it. And he started at being awake from 2:22am to 4am Friday night/Sat am, awake from 3:22am to 4am Saturday night/Sunday am, 5:45am sunday night/Monday am, and today he slept all night--went down at 8pm and woke up at 7:15am!!!

He does have a cold and I have giving him some Motrin but hopefully I didn't totally drug him!



Hopefully the trend will continue!