Eyes Wide Open

I can't remember when I snapped these pictures of Linley staring at me through the baby monitor, but I thought it'd be a good chance to update the whole sleep training saga.

Things are going good, not perfect ... but good.

Linley is going down at night a lot easier. She rarely cries, and if she does it's not for very long at all. Some nights she sleeps through the night. It's heavenly. Other nights she wakes up once or sometimes even twice. I get up, feed her and put her back to bed. If she wakes up after 6 AM, I bring her back to bed with us.

I think it's probably time for me to mentally prepare to let her cry herself back to sleep in the middle of the night. But honestly, I kind of like that night feeding when it happens. That's probably the next step though.

Sleep Training Update

I am so amazed that sleep training works. Linley still cries a little when we put her in her crib ... like maybe 5 minutes, and it's not that screaming cry thankfully ... and she sleeps through the night. I put her down at 8:30 PM last night and she woke up at 8:30 AM.

I am loving all of the extra time I have at night to get things done. And, I think she's happier too. She's got to be loving how much solid sleep she's getting.

It's definitely been the most miserable experience ever, but the payoff is pretty good.

Yay!

Sleep Training Update

I lost track of rounds. I was starting to get really depressed keeping track of every moment.

But ... Monday night was great!

My parents and Matt came to town Monday night, so we got to bed a little later than normal. And, she hadn't gotten a good afternoon nap. Darin put her in her crib about 9:30 PM and she hardly fought it. Cried for a few minutes, that's all. She woke up an hour later. I hadn't fed her. I nursed her, and put her back to bed. She hardly cried, and fell asleep almost immediately.

Then ... the best news!

She slept the entire night!

She's always been a good sleeper, but she'd toss and turn a little during the night and I'd nurse her on and off. Not a great habit.

Anyways. I don't want to jinx myself, but I do hope it's working.

Sleep Training: Round 7

Documenting every round is getting a little old, so I'll stop soon, but I wanted to make sure I remember how it went. Maybe it will give me more desire to start earlier with future children.

We've been working on getting Linley down earlier, and we had the Bishopric coming over at 7:30 so we got her in the bath before that. I think you're technically only supposed to have a 30 minute bedtime routine, but she didn't get put down until 8:30 PM. Still earlier than normal though.

She cried for maybe 5 minutes with Darin in the room. And, she's still asleep. Just hoping she doesn't wake up multiple times through the night.

Being mentally prepared is the most important thing, and reading up has been helpful too. It's not a fast process. I'm learning that, but hopefully it will be worth it. It's already paying off.

Have I mentioned how nice it is to have a few hours to myself (or with my husband) at night? I can get used to this!

Sleep Training: Round 5 and 6

We were at church when it was time to put Linley down for a nap. She got really tired during Relief Society, but I kept her awake because I wanted to put her down when we got home.

Darin took her into her crib when we got home, and sure enough she fell asleep within minutes.

We had to wake her up after about 45 minutes to go to Salt Lake to see the new store. She slept in the car.

We got home, and put her down again. She fell asleep within minutes since Darin put her down. She slept for about 45 minutes. It was late, so we went and got her.

This really is getting easier.

Sleep Training: Round 4

We got Linley to bed earlier than normal. I've been making Darin actually take her into her crib and sit in there with her. Amazingly, she goes right down with him. She cries for maybe 5 minutes.

She woke up three times last night. The first time, we let her cry herself back to sleep. The second time, I got up nursed her and put her back in her crib. And, the third time she woke up and fell asleep on her own.

She woke up at 7 AM ... a little earlier than normal, but hey we're making progress.

It's getting a little easier each time!

Sleep Training: Round 3

Round 3 started great. She wimpered when I put her in her crib, but no screaming. I was excited. I sat in the rocking chair and she just smiled at me. She reached a little, but was pretty content. I decided it might be better if I left the room. When I did, she started screaming.

I went back in. Content. Smiling.

Leave the room. Screams.

I decided to stay out. She screamed for about 45 minutes. Now, (as I'm typing this) she is asleep.

I couldn't help but take pictures. Again, they pretty much tell the story.

That's the last picture I took before leaving the room for good. Haven't been back in. All I know is that I don't hear anything. Crossing my fingers this starts to work!

I was hoping Darin would be here to help with this Round since he made it so easy last night, but he's not so I'm dealing.

Sleep Training: Round 2

I felt liberated after Round 1, but I knew Round 2 wasn't going to be a piece of cake. Although, it was easier than I thought it was going to be. Darin didn't get home until late so I started Linley's bedtime routine about 8 o'clock. The Sleep Sense Program suggests you have your kids in bed much earlier, but baby steps. Darin got home as we were just getting her out of the bath. We put lotion on, got her jammies on, read a story, then I nursed her. She didn't eat a lot so I was worried it wasn't going to be a good night. I could tell she was tired, so I went into the nursery and put her in her crib. She immediately started crying. I sat in the rocking chair, but hollered for Darin because it's supposed to go easier if the husband is the one in the room. Sure enough, the minute I left the room Linley had a few last cries and drifted off to sleep.

She woke up at 11:45 PM. I nursed her in her room, and put her back in her crib. She cried. Darin came in. She fell back asleep.

She woke up again at 2 AM. I woke up startled and a bit out of it. I picked her up, and she ended up in bed with us.

Not a perfect Round, but again we're taking baby steps.

Sleep Training: Round 1

First off, thanks everyone for your comments of support. I keep telling myself, if other people can do it so can I. Isn't it funny how when you're in the middle of something it feels like the biggest thing ever?

So, I had two failed attempts before I geared up and got mentally prepared to really give Sleep Training a valiant effort. I read about The Sleep Sense Program when I was pregnant. I totally bought into the whole thing, and then life happens and baby comes and I kind of forgot everything I had read.

I re-read it with Darin and decided we'd try the 'Stay in the Room' option. I decided not to wait until night time when I was tired, so I went for Round 1 for Linley's 1st nap of the day.

It didn't start off very good. She screamed the minute I even stepped toward the crib. But, I stayed strong. I sat in the rocking chair and with a soft voice told her over and over it was going to be okay, that it was sleepy time. I'd reach out and touch her hand occasionally. I walked up to her and laid her down several times. I even took her out of the crib, held her and put her back in. She cried for about 40 minutes ... but eventually she gave in and fell asleep. It felt so good to stay strong. I was surprised it only took 40 minutes. That's still a long time, but I really felt like there was no way she'd ever give in. It was good that she did, because now I know that eventually she will. I needed to see it happen.

The pictures really tell the whole story. I've got to be the worst mom for taking pictures during the whole ordeal. She would not let go of that dolly. I'm sure that's not part of the plan, but oh well at least she didn't have her pacifier. That's really off limits.