Sleep

Many of you know that Nicole has never really been a good sleeper.  When we first got her home from the hospital, she would only sleep for any substantial amount of time if we were holding her.  Shaun and I took turns sleeping on the couch with her on our chest for a few weeks.  Then we were able to transition her to sleeping in her pack n' play next to the bed and eventually we got her to her crib.  Then we moved...sigh...that was the end of that.

When we first moved into the hotel in Germany, she would only sleep 30 minutes in the pack n' play and I ended up bringing her into bed with me, so we could both get some sleep.  We have been co-sleeping ever since.  Co-sleeping isn't a bad thing (although many people will tell you it is and that it is a terrible habit to start).  Well it worked for us for awhile.  We spent so much time in transition between houses, that we were able to both get some much needed sleep.  I've always known that I would need to transition her back to the crib, but I was really worried about it.  Everyone kept telling me how hard it was going to be to do since we had started co-sleeping.  I read all the sleep books...No-Cry Sleep Solution, Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child, The Sleep Easy Solution, and I've started another one by Dr. Ferber on sleep problems.  Well a month ago, I heard about the Sleep Easy Solution and decided I would read yet another book.  That one had a DVD as well.  (Note: The DVD is super appealing because that helps me get Shaun on board.  As with the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD, it got him up to speed on the methods we were going with without him having to read the book.)  We watched it a few weeks ago and I was ready to start.  The Cliff Notes version of the method is: Step 1: Follow nighttime routine doing the same things in the same order each night to signal that it is bedtime.  Step 2: Lay baby in crib awake (essential, so that baby learns to fall asleep in the crib rather than in your arms.  Step 3: Say goodnight and leave (despite crying).  Step 4: If crying persists, go and check in 5 minutes.  Reassure her with kind words and without touching, then leave within 30 seconds.  Step 4: If crying persists, do the same thing at 10 minutes, then repeat every 15 minutes after that until sleeping.  When I was pregnant and for the first 6 months or so, I had said I would not do the CIO (cry it out) method because I had read the negatives about it.  This is a modified CIO. 

Well Nicole was apparently really ready for this transition because 3 nights in and she is already sleeping like a champ.  Night 1: The total time took 43 minutes.  Night 2, the total time was 16 (without any checks because she had calmed herself down and didn't need me going in and upsetting her).  Night 3, the total time was 13 minutes.  She is out like a light.  She still wakes once to eat, but then falls back asleep.  I hate to be so optimistic that all our sleep issues are solved, but this is significant progress and I'm super excited about it.  Once the doc says we can night wean her, we will cut out that feeding (he said to keep it up until her weight increases a little more, if she wants to).   

Reflecting on the process, I'm disappointed that I didn't start it sooner.  It bothers me that I let other people's judgment and "advice" scare me into avoiding this process.  I'm a little sad that my little cuddle bug doesn't need me to get to sleep anymore, but I know we are both better off this way.  My advice to others, "do what works best for you in your situation."  Co-sleeping worked for us and it didn't do "permanent damage" to her as some people told me it would if I let it go on too long.  To my friends that have been so supportive through this process, thank you.  Hopefully in a few weeks, I will no longer be the walking zombie that I have become due to lack of sleep :oP