Avery started sleeping through the night at 3 months old and that lasted until she was 4 months, when she started waking up again to feed. The doctor suggested rice cereal, so we added that to her diet. It helped a little bit, but she still wasn't sleeping 9p.m. - 7:30 a.m. anymore. She would wake up around 3 or 4 a.m., I would try to get her to go back to sleep using various methods, but if she didn't go back to sleep, I would just feed her and that always worked!
Now, she is waking up at sometimes 12:00 a.m. or 1:00 a.m., but she's not hungry. I can tell by her actions and her cry. After I put her pacifier back in her mouth and walk away, she starts this "I want attention" cry like she's mad at me for leaving her. I've tried to just let her 'cry it out' but I won't go more than 15 minutes before I go back in her room. I don't want to feed her just to get her to go back to sleep because I don't want her to think she has to eat at night. She's almost 6 months already (this Sunday). Soooooo.....
What I've been doing now, which I never thought I would, is bringing her back into the bed with Michael and me (GASP!! How could you???) I know, I know....I've always been against co-sleeping. But at this point, it's either co-sleep...or NO-sleep. As soon as I lay her down beside me in the bed, she rolls over and grabs my face, and falls right back to sleep. It works every single time. It's like she just needs to know I'm there, and will sleep the rest of night (and so will I).
I don't want to keep doing this because I want her to sleep in her own bed, and I don't want her to form a habit that continues until she's 4! Any advice you have from your own personal experience, I will welcome. We go for her 6 month check up tomorrow and I'm going to ask the doctor about this, but sometimes their advice is weird. I'd rather here it from some moms who've been there, done that...or been there, CONQUERED that.
Anyway...here's some pictures of Avery standing up with the help of a prop. She's not pulling up yet, but will balance once I place her there.
This was our first attempt. Can you tell she's on her way down!
Check out that fuzz!
You would have thought she was grabbing onto a static electricity ball with that hair:)
"Are we done now?"
aunt jessie will be there in a few days to fix the problem :)
ReplyDeleteoh please..you can get up with her every 15 minutes then:)
ReplyDeleteIt always worked for me to let them cry it out. My husband and I would sleep downstairs and after 3 days, my kids would be happily sleeping throught the night. Its tough for those 3 days but it is always worth it. Don't worry, she won't be traumitized and she won't even remember it.
ReplyDeleteWe have been going through some horrible sleep nights with Mason...He had been sick so anytime I heard him cry I was in his room holding him. Then when he was better he would still wake up just for me to come be with him. And he would scream and scream if I didn't come.
ReplyDeleteFinally my husband went in and laid on the floor next to the crib until he fell asleep...he did this for 3 nights and then I did it the fourth night and we are now back on track.
I know how hard it is to listen to them cry it out so if you can't this is a way to "be there" for them until they go back to sleep but keep them in their bed.
Hope it gets better for you!
-Amber
My baby is almost 8 1/2 YEARS old and she still sleeps in my bed. Never thought I would want her there, but Ash had a heart problem at birth, and she has been in our bed ever since. Most parents won't admit it, but Ash has several (like at least 6 friends)that I KNOW that sleep with mom and/or dad each night. They are only little once ...Just love to watch a sleeping baby...even if she is in my bed.
ReplyDeleteHey Paige, I'm with the mamas who say let them cry it out until they go back to sleep--or if you simply can't stand it, lay down beside their crib until they fall asleep. It's the only thing that I ever found that worked to make them learn to go back to sleep in the middle of the night. As long as you rescue her, she will expect it. It sounds terrible, I know, but it works--usually within 3-4 days. If I ever put mine in our bed, it was only for a short time for some love and reasurance, then back to their bed. Good luck! Kathy in G'ville
ReplyDeletePaige - My advice would be to let her cry it out! We tried the going in there and patting her (or him) every few minutes but that made it worse for us. We finally just let them cry. It was horrible though! Dennis and I would take turns going outside so that we could not hear them. He would sit out there ten minutes and then I would go out for 10 minutes. It really was horrible but I was so happy after that 3rd day. I promise they are not thinking all those things that you think they are thinking....like, my mother has abandoned me! She won't remember it! I remember the next morning Lindee (and Luke) were so excited to see me and I was so happy to know they still loved me. I think it is something you have to do if you want them to sleep through the night in their own bed. You're a great mom! Tina
ReplyDeleteI hate to tell this story but at 8 months old my son was still waking up several times a night and against my husbands wishes he was in our bed most of the time. i did do a moderated version of the cry out method. honest it was not as bad as it could have been. he did cry for about 45 minutes. which about killed me. but guess what he slept through the night from then on. i could not believe it. ahhhhh i will never forget how bad i felt that night. but three kids later i would do it all over again
ReplyDelete