As I post this, I am hearing sweet silence from the monitor. However, for the past 45 minutes I have heard crying, actually what kind of sounds like a very mad scream.
We have decided that Kylah is ready to start sleeping through the night...well, WE are ready for Kylah to start sleeping through the night. I think our sweet little girl has gotten smart. I'm pretty sure here is what goes through her little mind: if I cry, mommy will come nurse me, and even though I'm not hungry, I'm going to nurse for maybe 5 minutes, fall back asleep and MAYBE sleep for another hour before I want that comfort again. Ok, maybe she isn't thinking all of that, but we think she's gotten too used to being comforted when she cries.
We believe in the cry-it-out method...well, we believe in the cry-it-out while Joe holds-me-back from going into the nursery. I'm sure you mommies out there feel for me. It breaks my heart to know that they are in there crying. Here's the thoughts that run through my head: what if she has a tummy ache? what if she's scared? she's going to feel totally abandoned. she is going to be insecure for the rest of her life. what if she somehow turned herself over and wedged herself between the mattress and the bumper ...No, no wait, no, no, an eagle flew in. Landed on the stove and caught fire. The baby, seeing this, jumps across the apartment to the mighty bird's aid. The eagle, however, misconstrues it as an act of aggression and grabs the baby in its talons. Meanwhile the faucet fills the apartment with water. Baby and bird still ablaze are locked in a death grip, swirling around in the whirlpool that fills the apartment. That's for you Aaron...a little "Friends."
So, anyway, I've been reading up on the Ferber method so I can do this thing right (and so I feel a little reassurance that what we're doing is ok.) Ferber says it should take 3-7 days to get the baby to sleep through the night, so I'll let you know how it goes! We are officially starting tonight...last night doesn't count because in my exhausted state I gave in and let her sleep in the rocking swing all night. oops! :)
Here goes...
We have decided that Kylah is ready to start sleeping through the night...well, WE are ready for Kylah to start sleeping through the night. I think our sweet little girl has gotten smart. I'm pretty sure here is what goes through her little mind: if I cry, mommy will come nurse me, and even though I'm not hungry, I'm going to nurse for maybe 5 minutes, fall back asleep and MAYBE sleep for another hour before I want that comfort again. Ok, maybe she isn't thinking all of that, but we think she's gotten too used to being comforted when she cries.
We believe in the cry-it-out method...well, we believe in the cry-it-out while Joe holds-me-back from going into the nursery. I'm sure you mommies out there feel for me. It breaks my heart to know that they are in there crying. Here's the thoughts that run through my head: what if she has a tummy ache? what if she's scared? she's going to feel totally abandoned. she is going to be insecure for the rest of her life. what if she somehow turned herself over and wedged herself between the mattress and the bumper ...No, no wait, no, no, an eagle flew in. Landed on the stove and caught fire. The baby, seeing this, jumps across the apartment to the mighty bird's aid. The eagle, however, misconstrues it as an act of aggression and grabs the baby in its talons. Meanwhile the faucet fills the apartment with water. Baby and bird still ablaze are locked in a death grip, swirling around in the whirlpool that fills the apartment. That's for you Aaron...a little "Friends."
So, anyway, I've been reading up on the Ferber method so I can do this thing right (and so I feel a little reassurance that what we're doing is ok.) Ferber says it should take 3-7 days to get the baby to sleep through the night, so I'll let you know how it goes! We are officially starting tonight...last night doesn't count because in my exhausted state I gave in and let her sleep in the rocking swing all night. oops! :)
Here goes...
7 comments:
Ferber...sounds like good old fashion parenting to me. It also sounds like my Kylah is very much like her mommy. Wow now the whole world knows.
I vote for 3 days (rather than 7 days!)
I think Deacon is getting a little to used to us shoving his Nuk back into his mouth when he makes the slightest peep in the middle of the night. Josh has said since Mackenzie was a baby, "Let's put an elastic on it around his head, so he can't spit it out." =)
Good luck Ferberizing! I hope it goes quickly.
You'll be able to tell pretty quickly if it's just a Mommy thing if after a night or two, the crying time gradually gets shorter and shorter. It sure does sound like she's crying for comfort if she doesn't nurse very long & goes right back to sleep...you're doing the right thing. Also better to stop the swing thing now before it becomes too ingrained in her nightly routine.
Oh, and hang in there! This, too will pass (your Grandma's favorite saying).
Good luck, Joe!! :)
Good luck Michelle! Here's my unsolicited advice (from recent personal experience). Have Joe sleep somewhere close to her room and you go sleep somewhere else with earplugs and the door shut. Set your alarm for whatever time you think is right and enjoy the night! Dad's (at least ours) have a much easier time just laying there barely conscious listening to them till they go back to sleep. And wouldn't you know, at least in our house, when Daddy is listening they miraculously never cry. :)
That's great advice Amy! How's it going Michelle?
I found this post very inspiring to read!! I remember trying the same with Aden, but with nothing holding me back, I gave in about every other night. I finally realized that this was NOT what Ferber was talking about, and decided to go at it again. I would put him down, and sit on my front porch, trying to breathe calmly listening for the screams to go silent. My parents thought that I was crazy, but in the end-it worked! Congrats for being strong and sticking with it!
Post a Comment