Sometimes I feel like this sleep training is not working, infact, the lack of sleep has even affected our schedule! So I’m going slightly back to the drawing board.
First I’ve re-read the sleep training books I’ve been following by re-renting them from the library! Both books say to keep track on paper (or phone) for 10 days at a time so that you can see progress when it feels like there is none!
We have been sleep training for a few weeks now and it feels like progress is beginning to flatline on me! I didn’t start keeping track until about 6 days ago, because I need to see the progress to make sure I’m not just fooling myself! I’ve noticed some differences, but I’ve noticed that our schedule has gotten way off track!
I’m not going to completely stop and start a new method of training but I am going to take a step back and reevaluate what needs to be changed.
- Our morning and bedtime hours have shifted and not in a good way! So starting tomorrow I am setting the alarm and we will be following a pretty strict schedule next week!
- I’ve purchased (at a consignment store for $10) a sleep machine, it plays 6 different sounds and has a night light and projector (it’s so cool and the rain is my favorite sound!) I’m going to add this to our nightly routine! So, during our wind down before bed time I’m going to start taking him in his nursery and turning on the projector and noise while we cuddle and calm down. Once he falls asleep the music will play for a set time and turn off and then it will activate whenever he cries!
- By next Friday, I will be getting more strict (with myself, because I fall asleep during our middle of the night nursing) and make sure he stays in his crib! I’ll be following the Tracy Hobbs baby whisperer advice for putting my baby to bed and to keep him there.
For the most part things have improved, slightly… a little… maybe barley at all, but it’s still progress!
For example, 3 weeks ago he slept the entire night in our bed, and now he only sleeps there from like 2 am til we wake for the day! However, he is still waking frequently and really doesn’t want to stay in the bed. Sometimes he will wake up every 15 minutes until I can’t keep my eyes open and I fall back to sleep and he ends up staying in our bed. So, while there is progress we still have a lot of work to do! I’m not up for the cry it out method at all, which also means that sleep training is going to take a long time and a lot of persistence (me not falling asleep with him would really help us out)! If you’ve been through this what system worked for you? How did you sleep train your baby? What’s your evening routine look like?
My biggest question is will I ever be well rested again?
lovingthemarriedlife 