We've always struggled with Lena's sleep. She's definitely not the worst sleeper, but she's never been a great sleeper. As a newborn, she wanted to be held to fall asleep. The introduction of the Fisher Price Rock 'n Play helped us greatly, as it made her feel secure. But she outgrew it (in length) and we've sputtered along, trying to figure out what would work for her. First, she'd only sleep in her crib or a Pack 'n Play if her head was elevated (and only for an hour or two, at that). When I went back to work, we threw in the towel and officially started cosleeping. You've heard it before and you'll hear it again: whatever works! We all need our sleep. Despite still being a little freaked out about safety/SIDS (it's in my nature), I actually love cosleeping - I love cuddling with her! But one of the downsides is I think she wakes more frequently to nurse because she senses me there. So, it's our ultimate goal to get her in her crib, for good.
Now, at 7.5 months, we've established a routine. Around 7 pm, we give her a bath, put her in her pajamas, and read a couple books. If she's not showing signs of sleepiness, we let her play until she does. Once she shows signs of sleepiness (for her, it's rubbing her eyes), I'll nurse her to sleep and put her in her crib once she's out cold (flat, no longer needing her head to be elevated!). This is usually around 8:30-9:00. She'll usually sleep there for 2-3 hours and then wake up right around my bed time. So, I bring her into the spare bed (now equipped with bed rails that I scored at a garage sale for $10) and we sleep there all night. She (and thus we) wake(s) every 2-3 hours to feed. I wake up feeling like I slept but not well.
I've been reluctant to adopt any sort of firm sleep method. I've been operating under the assumption that, ultimately, she will sleep well, but her nervous system and physiology just need to work themselves out to get her there. Despite the studies, I absolutely cannot do any form of Cry It Out (I turn into a frenzied wreck when she cries for longer than 90 seconds). The No Cry Sleep Solution helped me identify signs of sleepiness and ways to comfort her (rubbing her back), but I, frankly, don't have the time to keep a sleep log. I'm happy with showering daily, making dinner 5 nights a week, and getting the dogs walked in there while working full time. I can't be bothered with trying to keep a sleep journal for her. So, I just decided to do what I can to encourage a good sleep environment and have her work out the rest.
So when we went camping this weekend, I was a little nervous to step away from our routine. Because, after all, the books tell you routine is key! Get your baby out of her routine and you start all over! But, there were no baths (or bedtime books, we forgot those) at the campground. Contrary to my fears, it actually helped me gain perspective on her sleep. Outside, away from artificial lights and blinds, I realized her Circadian rhythm is firmly established. She still went down right around 8:30-9:00 (never the 7 pm all the books tell you!). But being outside, I realized that's a perfectly natural time to go to bed; the world around her tells her "it's dark, now it's bedtime." And even though we were cosleeping and it was freaking cold at night (around 35 degrees F! But I think she was nice and warm nestled next to me in the sleeping bag), she only awoke 2-3 times per night. And as soon as that morning light broke at dawn, her little eyes would pop open and she's smile up at me (my eyes pop open at dawn, too. Gee, I wonder where she gets her sleep pattern?). Incidentally, after 30 minutes of playing inside the car (where we slept) each morning, she was ready to go back to sleep for another hour (she gets this from her dad - he loves to get up, eat a bowl of cereal, and go back to bed).
Last night, we went through the routine and she fell asleep around 9 pm. I put her in her crib and went and slept in my own bed until 3 am! Then, we slept together in the spare bed. She woke up twice between 3 am and 5:45 am, when I got up. Then, I put her in her crib, where she slept until 6:30 and I got ready for work. I've been so anxious for her to "sleep through the night." But when I step back from the situation, I realize she's actually sleeping pretty well. A six hour stretch and then two awakenings for a total of 10 hours in bed is sleeping well. It's not textbook well - she's not going down at 7 pm and sleeping until 7 am straight- but it's well. And I'm starting to think those textbook babies are few and far between.
P.S. In the last few weeks, she's also begun unlatching, putting her head down, and falling asleep on her own (i.e. without a nipple in her mouth) - both at bedtime and after middle of the night nursing sessions. This is huge to me! We got in the habit early on of her nursing to sleep. Again, all the textbooks say don't do it. I felt a little guilty (again!), but I just trusted that one day she would wean herself from nursing, and that would include not needing to nurse to fall asleep. She's definitely not weaned from nursing, but she's treating it as more of a food source and less as a sleep aid.
1 comment:
Glad things are working themselves out!!
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