Mommy Means Business Sleep Training

I think I have complained about it a couple of times but I will say it again. Vivian's sleep habits at night for the past couple of months have been EXHAUSTING. She has been getting up every 2 hours for no reason. Well, this momma is over it and ready to do something serious about it. I have tried a couple of different sleep training methods but to no avail. I am not a fan of cry-it-out so I bought the book No-Cry Sleep Solution. I tried it for a couple of nights but after just those 2 nights I felt even more exhausted. We took a couple of days off as I researched other methods including the Baby Whisperer and the Sleep Lady Shuffle. I also found helpful information and tips from a post on Baby Center; I especially liked the section on the Types of Cries. I gathered bits and pieces from the three methods and created my own sleep training method. I had my plan in place, I even wrote it down. When Derrick got home from work I quickly went over the rules I was going to follow to make sure he understood and agreed. I wanted to make sure he knew what was going on so that he could not only support me through the tears but also keep me in check and make sure I don't deviate from the plan.

The Plan:
1. Continue with our bedtime routine. Derrick gives Vivian a bottle (dinner). Bath, lotion, diaper, jammies. I top her off as we listen to her lullabies. Sing 'I See the Moon'. Lay her down sleepy, NOT asleep. *This is the first major change. I usually rock her or nurse her to sleep.*
2. Leave the room. I do this because if she sees me there is no chance of her settling down.
3. Let her be. If she begins to complain, let her for 5 minutes.
4. Go into her room and pick her up. No talking. Only shushing or humming. (Depending on her mood or how upset she is, she likes one over the other.) Hold her for 2 minutes and lay her back down even if she is still fussy. If she is past fussy and will not calm, hold her for one more minute and lay her down.
5. Repeat 2-4 until she is asleep.
*Exception: if she is peak crying and on the verge of being distressed, immediately intervene and pick her up until she is calm. My goal is to make this nonthreatening for Vivian, after all, my first rule before starting my research was that I will NOT let her cry-it-out or feel that she can't trust me to come to her rescue.*
So that's it, pretty simple rules I think.

One of the things that was repeated throughout my reading was 'Sleep begets sleep. Don't let your baby get overtired, she will not sleep well at night.' I really believe she is overtired. Right now I have her last nap around 4:00 and then bedtime routine begins at 6:00/6:30 so she doesn't actually go to sleep until around 7:30. Tonight we are taking out the last nap and beginning her bedtime routine around 5:00.

Night one started us off good. I layed her down at 6:00 and had to go in only three times. She was asleep by 6:40. She was still up about every 2 hours tonight but I did not nurse or rock her to sleep. I imagine she would have to get used to that first. I look forward to restful nights soon! Stay tuned for updates! And wish us luck!



Resources:
Baby Whisperer
Types of Cries
Sleep Lady Shuffle
No-Cry Sleep Solution