So, here's the deal. I read Babywise and everything was going great in the sleep department. At 2 months, Remi was sleeping through the night and I was amazed! Then something happened, and he started waking up like 6 times a night. I have been trying to figure out what happened ever since January. Lately, he has been waking up every 3 hours on a good night and every hour on a bad night. As you can imagine, We have both been very tired. When he would wake up, he didn't always want to eat, but that was the fastest way to get him back to sleep. So I'm a bit guilty of sometimes feeding him just to get extra sleep. Anyways, this past Sunday I decided something had to be done.
I am a wimp when it comes to Remi. I can't stand for that boy to be upset for one second, so anytime he is upset I usually drop what I am doing and tend to him. So you can understand how hard this decision was for me.
The more I thought about it, I realized that Remi can't put himself back to sleep. Anytime he wakes up, he wants mommy to rock and nurse him (a lot of times, I would not let him nurse I would just make him fuss it out while rocking him- this sometimes would last up to an hour and a half.) At almost 9 months old, he should be way beyond this. I think I helped him form these bad habits...oops!
I figured, that Remi will never learn how to put himself back to sleep if I never give him that chance. So, I decided that starting Sunday night he was on his own for the night. I have a video monitor, so I could keep an eye on him from our room. I have read (and tried) where you are supposed to let them cry for 5 minutes- go check on them, cry for 10 more minutes- go check on them, cry for 15 more minutes- go check on them....and so on. However, this does NOT work with Remi. Every time I go in his room he just gets more upset that I am not picking him up. So, this is what I was going to do...
Rock/ nurse him right before bedtime and put him down. Once he woke up, I was just going to let him cry it out. Not go in his room at all and see what happened. Keep in mind, that most of the time when he started crying in the night and I went in to get him, he was sitting up and still asleep... he would eventually wake himself up though.
Night 1: Woke up for the first time and cried it out for 20 minutes and then just went back to sleep. This was the hardest time, but I was so proud. The second time he woke up he cried it out for about 45 minutes to and hour. He woke up a third time and was able to cry himself back to sleep in about 20 minutes. I didn't go in his room all night and it was amazing at how much more rested I felt not having to get out of bed all night- even though I was still awake when he was.
Night 2: This night was even better! He only woke up twice and was able to cry himself back to sleep in under 10 minutes both times!
Night 3 and Night 4:
Remi got a little fussy at one point in the night but never woke up. Around 4 he cried himself back to sleep- it took about 30-45 minutes.
Night 5 (last night):
The best so far. He only woke up crying one time at 3. He cried himself back to sleep after about 20 minutes. Didn't wake up again until morning!
I feel like a new woman! I haven't had this much uninterupted sleep in 6 months! I'm not sure if Remi will keep this up or maybe even get to where he doesn't wake up crying at all, but I do know that this week has been amazing! I will keep you updated as we see how this sleep situation pans out!
Happy Friday!
12 comments:
Way to hang in there! It is so hard to let them cry it out! It makes such a difference when you feel rested too!
You go girl! Hang in there! I am also not one for the "cry it out". I'm a wimp, I admit it. However, at nine months, if he is waking you every 1-3 hours, you NEEDED to make a change. It will be better for you BOTH. You need rest to chase after a busy 9 month old, and he needs rest to grow and play. Keep us updated!
Way to go! I HATE it when I have to let Emma cry it out. It's the worst! But I'm so glad that it seems to be working & you are getting some SLEEP! Hope it continues to go well & that you will all feel more rested & happy! :)
AHH its hard! Elliot's always been a great sleeper but around 6 months she started waking more during the night {because of teething} and it was so hard! One thing we have always used {since she was an infant} is a white noise machine {got ours at Babies R Us}... I SWEAR this is why she is such a great sleeper! We keep in all all night and during nap times. It works like a charm... i think because the noise is constant- when they wake up- the noise puts them back to sleep- plus it does a great job of just drowning out noises from the house during nap time. If you don't have one I would highly recommend it! GOOD LUCK!!
Sorry Correction:
we keep the sound machine on all night
Good job!! We had to do the same with Kylee. But I nursed her once in the night until she was 9 months, and the patyrak said i didn't have too. I think we could have ended that around 6 months. It was just a habit for her to nurse in the night. We went through the same process with the crying. It gets easier as they get older because you know they can move around and not get stuck somewhere in their crib. Or maybe that is just my "psycho" mind thinkging all these bad things!! :)
Love reading all the stuff Remi does!!
That's exciting! Keep it up.. I've heard it's worth it in the long run. :)
I'm so proud of you!! Crying it out has been the HARDEST thing I've had to do with Lofton. We just started it for nap time 2 week ago (he's been doing it at night since 3 months old) but I can already see an improvement in his napping. I promise it's worth it at night, even when you want to run in there and rock him back to sleep!
Glad you are getting some rest. Hang in there! :)
keep it up girl! i am still unsure when to start the whole sleeping bit. Lincoln sleeps 3.5-4hrs and then wakes up to eat and be changed. i hoping in July we wiil be sleeping a little longer.
Wow! Way to go! You deserve a good nights sleep and so does Remi. That's the thing with babies not sleeping through the night, they are suffering too. You are doing the best thing for both of you, hope it keeps going well!
You did it! I am SO proud of you {and Remi}. I can't wait to play with him again. I bet he'll be even more fun now that he's better rested! You're a great mommy. Love you!
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