So, I know I messed up with getting Madison to learn to fall asleep on her own. Things kept coming up that some how prevented me. Obviously it was more that I didn't discipline myself to stick to it! Well now is a perfect time to start that; frankly 6 months ago was a perfect time to start that, but right now we still haven't set up her bed and only have the port-a-crib in her room; well she won't have anything to do with that; especially since she is so well adjusted to our bed! Obviously the biggest mistake of all! Not to mention we never established a good night routine! We just waited until she was tired or it was time for bed and rocked her to sleep. Well, we've been pretty consistent with that except now I'm wishing I would have sat down and actually engaged in things to calm her down, like reading a book and laying down with her or just having her lay down to go to sleep! Well, one way or another I am determined to change that! Especially, if I change it now, in like a year or whenever I'm pregnant with our next child, I'll have that set up so that even while I'm pregnant that baby will be used to reading a book each night and then calming down and sleeping and then once it's born and gets to the age to learn on their own it will go a lot more smoothly! Right now we've gotten to the point where rocking her doesn't quite do it anymore and we have to take her for a drive! Although I have also figured out that I think it's being snug and sitting and having it all calm and quite is really the key! When she was really sleepy one morning a few weeks ago I had her snuggled up in my arm on the couch watching cartoons and she was so tired she just sat there until she fell asleep! I've tired it a couple more times and it works; of course as long as it's dark enough and no distractions! :) So, this week I am going to get her b
ed all set up in her room and get it all situated and do the whole letting her cry until she learns how to go to sleep on her own thing. If anyone has ANY tips; please, please, please let me know! I am open to suggestions! I know this isn't just frustrating for us; I know she is so frustrated b/c she gets so tired and just doesn't want to give it up or just doesn't know what to do! I've also tried laying with her in the bed and "showing" her what she needs to do to get to sleep but I don't think it works as much. Okay, well, again any tips, please let me know. Take care! ~Ashley
ed all set up in her room and get it all situated and do the whole letting her cry until she learns how to go to sleep on her own thing. If anyone has ANY tips; please, please, please let me know! I am open to suggestions! I know this isn't just frustrating for us; I know she is so frustrated b/c she gets so tired and just doesn't want to give it up or just doesn't know what to do! I've also tried laying with her in the bed and "showing" her what she needs to do to get to sleep but I don't think it works as much. Okay, well, again any tips, please let me know. Take care! ~Ashley
Hi Ashley- You don't know me but Jason does. We went to school together from elementary school to high school. I totally understand your delimmea. My oldest (now 3) didn't learn to sleep through the night let alone settling herself until she was one. We did the cry it out method. It is rough but within 3 days she had it. You just have to stick to it and not get discouraged. Now she has to have her routine everytime she goes to sleep including naps. It is a little annoying but as long as she sleeps I don't mind. My other daughter (5 months) is a much better sleeper. She still isn't sleeping through the night but she does give me a couple of stretches but she puts herself down. I watch for her sleepy cues (rubbing her eyes, fussy) and then just go lay her in her bed with her blanket and paci and she does the rest. We do the same thing everytime she goes to bed. Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteHey! Curious to hear how it's going...
ReplyDeleteMy advice is to stick to your guns. She'll get the hang of it :) Become the broken record, lay her back down if she gets up... repeat that it's time for bed and give a little rub on the back.
She needs a schedule with naps included. Trust me! Atticus and Violet had *no* schedule for the first couple years, they'd fall asleep at the dinner table!