As you know, Mitchell is our first baby, and we love the kid. We were just so delighted to have him around that we never wanted to put him down. In doing so we created our own little monster. He just got used to being held until he was pretty much asleep and then put in his crib. Which was fine for a while. We had the time, no other kids to chase around. The problem developed when he began to physically fight going to sleep (that kid can pinch hard). Another issue is the fact that he is not a small baby, you can only hang onto him for so long before you get tired, not to mention hot and sweaty (it's stinking hot here, constantly). And my final issue with the whole holding/rocking to sleep thing was the horrible image I had in my mind of me still rocking him to sleep when he's 5. So this week we began the task of teaching him to go to sleep on his own. I cannot do the crying it out thing. I can't put him in his crib and let him scream until he falls asleep. I just can't do it. So I've been doing a modified version, I let him cry for a bit, calm him down, and then put him back in his crib. My friends, I am here today to tell you that miracles happen. Today he did something that is completely unprecedented in his short lifetime. He fell asleep on his own. TWICE! I only hope it lasts. Now I'm worried that we'll move and he'll get all messed up and we'll be right back where we started. Pray for me.
2 comments:
Well I'm glad you're finally seeing the light...the light that is Babywise. My friends tell me I'm quite good with putting babies to sleep drowsy, but still awake,...of course, I would never say so myself. I'm only repeating what my own dear friends have said. This is good practice for NOT creating the same issues with baby #2...unless you want to wait until Mitchell is 16 to have your second one, at which time he will probably be independent enough not to care you have to spend your time rocking a baby to sleep. Kudos, Mrs. Pooley, kudos. Keep up the good work!
Thank you my Babywise friend.
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