Sleep Training, Day 2

This is probably one of the most controversial topics of parenting out there. You wouldn’t think you would need to train a baby how to sleep. On one hand you have Dr. Sears telling you to feed your baby on demand and to “co-sleep” in the family bed -- and on the other extreme you have Dr. Ezzo of “Babywise” fame (infamy?) telling you to put your baby on a schedule and “train” them how to fall asleep on their own.

Because I’m tired of being the human pacifier (we still haven’t used the plastic variety yet) – and I don’t want Ellie dependent on me to nurse her/rock her to sleep every time, I’m trying a hybrid approach.

The New Rules:
1. No snacking – the goal is a full meal at every feeding. (Mama gets NOTHING done when you snack/cat nap all day.)
2. Eat, play, sleep. (Instead of eat, fall asleep, play.)
3. If baby is awake for more than two hours, put her in her crib for a nap -- or if she shows signs of being tired earlier than two hours. (This way we strategically avoid the overtired state we affectionately refer to as Grumpy McFrumpy.)
4. Establish a bedtime routine. (Ours consists of swaddling and then rocking in the glider while I sing her a lullaby.)

So, how’s it going so far, you ask? It’s actually going better than expected. It’s definitely hard to let her cry – but it’s usually only 5 minutes or so and then she falls asleep. And she went to bed at 9pm last night on her own without crying at all! But the best part is, I realize now that I no longer have to offer her the boob every time Grumpy McFrumpy makes her appearance. That she might just be tired, and not hungry. And hopefully she’s on the road to happy and healthy sleep habits – that will allow us have happy, healthy sleep habits as well.