We did it. We did what I didn't want to do. We made my sweet baby cry. it. out.
Gasp. I know, I know. It doesn't really mesh well with my quasi- attachment parenting style.
Do you remember my post though? Where I was worn out, worn down, and a little defeated by my barracuda baby? Where my baby was just plain ole' wearing my out? Well, I think part of that exhaustion, loneliness, and boredom was me. I think part of it was E weaning himself from me. And I think part of it was just being really, really tired. For the past eight months, I hadn't slept more than about 4 hours a night, give or take.
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I decided, (out of desperation) that it was TIME. Time to teach my baby how to soothe himself. Time to MAKE him get a full night's sleep that he desperately needed. And time for ME to rest.
So, we did it. Three nights was all it took. I would lay awake at 4 in the morning listening to him wail, and I would want to wail myself while my
On a normal night, it's 8:30- 8:00. Sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. But my baby's getting sleep, and he wakes up well rested and happy. This momma's getting sleep, and wakes up well rested and happy. Which makes a happy husband too, since I'm not a big ole' grump come afternoon.
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Do you know what else happened through all of this? Instead of needing to be bounced for 30 minutes while he got sleepy, he started pushing us away from him and wanting to fall asleep by himself in his crib...without us. He sucks on the trunk of his elephant lovey, or the corners of his favorite giraffe blankey and drifts off to sleep...by himself. Somehow he decided he didn't need us at all. Excuse me while I cry over my big boy growing up. :)
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Oh wow! Congrats! That's awesome! Proud of you!
ReplyDeleteoh im so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteBless your heart. I know when we made Joshua cry it out the first time (at ten months...I know, don't judge) Pat had to literally put his hands on my shoulders while I sat on the bed, glued to the monitor. Now that I have three kids, I look back on that and think, "Wow! I have changed so much!"
ReplyDeleteGood for you for biting the bullet, and for accepting the fact that you will do many things as a Mom that you said you's "never" do.
Way to go Jane! I know this is one of the hardest things for a momma to do, but it is sooooo worth it. I know you have figured that out. Isn't amazing how they wrap us around their finger so easily. Both of my girls went thru weird periods where they would wake up in the night after sleeping all night, but that is when you know something is wrong. Yeah for rested mommas! Isn't it soooo much better now? I was thinking the other day how I love the stages the girls are in right now (sleeping thru the night, feeding themselves, etc.), but in 3 months that is all going to change! Ahhh! :-) I am looking forward to it, but I do like getting out of the "I am a baby and so dependent on Momma" stage. Love you guys!
ReplyDeleteYay for sleep!! It's true- we all do things we said we would never do as mommas. BUT we do what we feel is best for us and our babies. I let all 3 of mine cio and I cried the first time. It also only took 3 nights for mine and it was blissful sleep from then on. Babies learning to self-soothe is such a wonderful thing for the babies and parents alike. All 3 of my kids have consistently slept 12-14 hrs/night and still do and are happy and confident. I believe establishing good sleep patterns early on really has a lot to do with it.
ReplyDeleteHappy for you!!!
Yay!!! So glad you (and Eli) are getting some much needed sleep!! You are such a great mommy!!!
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