I don't know what I want to hear. That you've done it? That your child still loves you? How long it took for him/her to fall asleep on his/her own? Should I put him in his new bed and let him learn to CIO at the same time or do them separately? I've read several articles that suggest that co-sleeping babies don't sleep through the night as quickly as non co-sleeping babies. Reason being? If you had a piece of chocolate cake lying next to you all night, would you take a nibble even if you weren't hungry? That's their theory at least! I thought if I put his bassinet right next to our bed and maybe just put my hand in with him until he fell asleep (since he's used to lying right next to my entire body) that it might ease the transition. Heavens. I don't know!
Right now I'm trying to start putting him in his bassinet for naps and praying he doesn't pee everywhere, waking himself up. He's been asleep for almost an hour, but I hear him stirring around now!
Any advice for a new mom? I think if I let him cry it out, I'll cry with him!
P.S. I have several people who email me answers or tell me their opinions in real life b/c they don't know how to post a comment. Here's how: underneath the post body you'll see "x" comments indicating the number of replies to this post. Click it. Write in the "leave a comment" box that pops up. You can sign your name (or leave anonymously) in the comment box and click the orange "publish your comment." That's it!
5 comments:
First off, the biggest piece of advice I can give is to remember that every baby is SO different. What works for one may not work for another. So be sure to cut yourself some slack if you hear the stories of other babies sleeping all night at 2 months old. :)
Around 3 months, I started working on getting Tate to self-sooth as I put him to sleep in his crib (awake). Then at about 4 months (once I really felt that he didn't need to eat anymore during the night), I did the cry it out. Fortunately, that really only lasted 3 nights. Once he figured it out, he was good to go.
My favorite baby book was the "Happiest Baby on the Block." His big thing is getting through the "4th trimester" and then starting the CIO startegies.
Hope it helps...hang in there!
Kelly--
I just finished reading Happiest Baby on the Block yesterday. I think you're right in getting through the 4th trimester. Maybe in 4 more weeks he'll be more capable of soothing himself. Thanks!
Hey Audra, I agree with the PP. He is too young to CIO, but definitely not too young to start to learn how to self-soothe with your help. I never did the whole co-sleeping thing, so I can't comment there. I did however find that once I moved Mason to his crib in his own room (at around 8 weeks) that he slept SO much better. Maybe it was because it was quieter in the nursery? I'm not sure. But just throwing that out there for ya. Good luck to you. So mnay of us have been there and know how tough it can be - hang in there!
Hi, Jenny, friend of Hilary's, here. I stressed about the exact same thing... go easy on yourself. It turned out to not be a problem at all! We put baby in the crib at five weeks, anticipating the CIO nights. But, if you go ahead and do it while the baby is so young, they most likely won't have the anxiety (and therefore won't need to self-soothe). Now baby is 4 months, and if I'd waited until now, we'd have the crying to deal with. Our friends had fits after waiting until their daughter was only 3 months (she's super-intelligent).
I'm a firm believer in doing as you intend to continue (I think that quote comes from the Baby Whisperer). Habits are set in motion so early.
But, above all, trust YOUR gut, and BE KIND TO YOURSELF.
Thank you so much for all your comments!
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