So we are trying our own form of sleep training. I searched and googled and couldn't find anything I was comfortable with doing. My daughter is a nursling. She LOVES to nurse. I have being a human pacifier. It was cute at first, but having an 8 month old attached at the boob all day and night, well...its getting a little old.
I really hate the thought of letting my daughter lay there and cry for hours because of something that was my fault. I let her become dependant on needing the breast to sleep. So why should I punish her by forcing her to cry it out!
My sleep training method...
Dinner, bath, nurse, hugs and kisses, lay in bed. I lay down beside her bed and sing to her and talk to her.
So night one...
Terrible! I never thought it would end! She only cried for about a total of 20 minutes or so...but it was mostly whimpering. I laid there and sang and we "talked" she crawled around in her bed. Towards the end is where it got rough. She rubbed her eyes, yawned, cried, did the sign for milk...it was breaking my heart. But after an hour and half laying there, my voice hoarse from singing so much I was NOT going to give up! So she finally did. She laid her beautiful little head down and fell asleep! I was shocked!! I knew right then it was possible! She ended up sleeping 8 hours that night! Another first!
Night 2...
A little better. It took an hour this time. She slept for about 6 hours.
Night 3...
Hubby was home, he held her and sang her to sleep. She only slept 4 hours then was in bed with us :/ FAIL!
Night 4...
I nursed her, she didnt fall asleep! Score! She didnt use me as a pacifier! I laid her down, then laid down next to her bed. She rolled over on her tummy, sighed...and fell asleep! One minute! Shew that was easy. But it gets better! She slept.... 11 1/2 HOURS!!! Wow!
Night 5...
Not so good. She wasnt feeling well. So what do I do when this happens. It is all just being made up in my mind, have NO clue! Laid her down, not happening! She wailed. She wants mommy to cuddle her. So after 20 minutes of blood curdling screams I gave in. If it was a normal night, she felt fine...I would have let her cry a little - but not that kind of cry and not when she doesn't feel good. I nursed her for a little while and laid her back down. She fell asleep right away, but only slept for an hour. Boo. Teething and reflux together, does not mix well with sleep training! So gave her medicene. Then my husband held/sang her to sleep. She slept a few more hours (2) then was right back in bed with us. Where did she only not sleep at all, she was crawling all over us wanting to play. So night 5 I will have to conclude, was an EPIC FAIL!
This is all trial and error, of course there will be plenty of set backs. But my ultimate goal is of course to get her to sleep on her own. Not need to pacify herself all night long with my breast. This child will wake up from being sound asleep when the nipple leaves her mouth!
So, on to night 6! Details to come!!
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