Anyway, that was the background. Dave has been ready to let her 'cry it out' for a few months now. So I decided I would try it. The reason I am wishy-washy about doing it, is that I'm not convinced it will work. All this crying and lack of sleep and she will not actually learn to sleep through the night, where as when I feed her, she is back to sleep so quickly she doesn't even lose any sleep. So despite my wishy washy-ness, Dave moved the bed to the other room and made me PROMISE I wouldn't go to her. Here's how it happened:
1:37-2:00 whiny and fussy, "I'm up, come and feed me"
2:00-2:15 full blown crying "Can't you HEAR me?!?!"
2:15 - 3:15 screaming "I'm dying can't you help me!!"
(I'm sure at this point she was standing in her crib and not able to get down and actually fall asleep)
3:15 I am wide awake (Dave is sound asleep) so I decide to get online to get something done while I listen to my daughter longing to help her, and praying the whole time that this will be for hers and my benefit in the end.
3:17 Jackson runs out of the room to find me on the computer, "GOOD MORNING MOM!!"
3:20 Sleeping in bed next to Jackson as he eyes me warily
4:00 Try to sneak out to check on Hallie, Jackson anxiously wonders where I am going and if I will come back
4:05 Hallie is asleep, she is dry, no blood, no vomit, breathing, but with that sad little hiccup when you've been crying WAY too long. I want to pick her up and tell her sorry!!
4:45 I finally fall asleep and apparently so has Jackson.
7 AM both kids are up for the day. Hallie seems happy, but still tired. She apparently forgave me.
So far I just feel really guilty and sad that I made her cry for 2 1/2 hours. I am still not sure I think it will work, but I am willing to give it a week (ok, maybe 3 days) If it isn't better tonight, I'm not sure I can take it. Really, we both get more sleep if I just feed her . . .
Any encouragement? discouragement?
Apparently our camera was on really bad setting, but these photos are priceless!
Grandma Doreen and Hallie
Spooky Hallie
I hope I can gain a testimony of this method. . .
5 comments:
Guess we are in this together!!! Lately Jeremy has been waking up around midnight, three, and five. I will not budge and feed him before 5 am. Usually the pacifier shuts him up at the midnight and 3 am waking. But, for the past few weeks he has screamed so much that I caved and fed him twice in the night two times. Last night I told Shane, "no more of these middle of the night feedings." I know he can go 11 hrs since he did it for about two months around 2 months old. So Shane and I decided to be tough parents like you guys and we let him SCREAM for 2.5 hours last night as well! You are not alone! Don't worry they still love you in the morning and she will still stay a happy baby! Maybe if I think of you tonight, I won't feel so bad for myself!
I'm sorry, it's miserable to let your baby cry. We're experiencing it too. Just think long term. Good luck. If it makes you feel any better, Ilse still loves us, and we let her cry it out.
I hope it works for you! I am totally a believer in the cry-out method. I hate doing it too and I have to keep myself busy or Kendal has to keep calming me down not to go in...but it has always worked for us. Crossing my fingers for you!
I'm so sorry, Jamie! It's not fun. But better to do it now than wait until later when she gets even more set in her ways. If she's anything like Seth was (and Catherine is turning out to be), you'll be doing sleep training again every time she teeths, or gets sick, or goes on vacation, or stays up too late...it's such a joy.
Catherine is doing the same thing to me right now. I tried giving her solid food before bed, but it hasn't made a huge difference. She goes down around 7:30, so my new rule is I don't go get her until at least 12:30. Last night she woke up at 11--I let her cry back to sleep. Then I fed her at 2 and 5. It's not ideal, but at least I can one longer chunk of sleep.
My suggestions? Get a sound machine or fan for your room and Jackson's room. We have one in Seth's room and turn it up pretty high at night. He never hears Catherine. We have a sound machine in our room. I still turn on her monitor so I 'll hear her, but then I can just turn it off if I'm ignoring her. I can still hear her a little bit, but generally I can sleep through her.
I hope it gets better! It was like two weeks of sleep training before Seth got it figured out. Your kids are adorable!!! Oh, and how about you plan my birthday parties for Seth and I'll bring the cakes to Jackson's? Because I SUCK at party planning and your parties are SO CUTE! ;)
The cry it out method totally works! Just give it 3-5 nights and you will have a happy to go to bed baby and a happy mom and baby in the morning. I just had to do it again with James when we switched him to a toddler bed. He cried for a few nights, but now it is easy! It will be hard for a few days but TOTALLY worth it in the long run! You can do it!
Post a Comment