Really hoping this doesn't jinx things, but I'm so stinking excited/happy/well-rested...I can't not talk about it! We finally bit the bullet & let Abigail cry-it-out. Actually, it was more ME doing it solo, which somehow made it a lot easier? I don't know why - for some reason when Brandon & I are sitting there, staring at the monitor together while the baby cries, somehow I feel like he's judging me for letting it happen. So, when Brandon was sickly on Friday, I took the opportunity & stayed upstairs & let the baby cry. I used Dr. Ferber's method, which involves waiting 5 minutes, going in & checking on her, without picking her up, staying only 1 minute & leaving again - this time giving her 7 minutes...repeat.
The first night I couldn't take it, so I told myself I'd give up after X amount of time. I checked on her after 5 minutes, then another 5 minutes (I couldn't wait the full 7), then 7 minutes, then I was like, "Ok, I can't take it! If she's not asleep within 10 minutes, I'm giving up!" and she fell asleep within 7 minutes. She slept all night - 10 hours straight. It was amazing. It was so, so, SO hard, but after the 1st night, I knew she would eventually fall asleep, so that made it easier for the following nights.
Each night, I put her down & then went in our room & laid in bed, just staring at the monitor & clock simultaneously. Brandon stayed downstairs. Somehow this made it easier, because I didn't feel judged. After the 1st night, I used this time as an opportunity to take a shower. Which helped not sitting there, obsessing over how hard she was crying, or how long it was taking.
Saturday night she only cried for 13 minutes. I checked on her twice.
Sunday it took 10 minutes. I checked on her once.
Monday was a step back - she was crying before I even laid her all the way down in her crib & it took 20 minutes - I almost gave in. She was especially cranky that day anyway, hadn't napped well, didn't eat well, etc. But she did fall asleep finally after 20 minutes & slept 11 hours that night.
Tuesday it took 1 minute! Like not even a full minute! I was like NO WAY!?
Last night, I put her down without her pacifier & she only cried for a minute & then laid there kinda groaning & was asleep within 5 minutes. I wonder if this means we can get rid of the paci now?? I don't know if she's ready for that or not - I might hold off on that just because we've done so much recently - weaning, crying herself to sleep...I don't want to make too many changes at once.
So it's been 6 nights now & she's doing great. I'm really hoping by the weekend she doesn't cry at all when I put her down. If she's still crying, even if it's for 1 minute, I'm going to look up the "help" section of the book & see if there's something else I can do.
I will say, we tried for 5 months to do it the no-cry way. And after 1 night using the cry-it-out method, I was already thinking, "Why didn't we do this sooner?" I think some babies sleep great, some sleep with just a little encouragement, but our baby was a bit more stubborn. It still feels weird that once she's down, it's for the night. I keep expecting her to wake up crying after 45 minutes, as usual...but she doesn't. Eventually I'll get used to it I'm sure. Ah, it is so nice to have my evenings back & I'm glad we are finally getting some rest! And crossing my fingers it lasts :)
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