This Mamma Needs Her Sleep

Having baby # 2 really threw a wrench in our sleep. We were used to Shelby, our first, sleeping from 8:30-9:30, and then Sadie came along. It is so easy to forget how it is with a new baby, but I remembered how to get Sadie on a good schedule. I think that is the key. Kids need predictability in their life. They need a schedule, or routine. I was recommended by multiple friends to read the books, On Becoming Baby Wise, and Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby when I became pregnant with my first. I immediately bought them and started reading.

The pattern I noticed with both of those books is they recommenced having a schedule. I loved that. I thought it would be great to have a schedule so I could plan out my day accordingly, but I also wanted my schedule to be flexible. I didn't want to have to miss out on something, or have to be home right at 3:00 so my baby could take a nap. So I followed a lot of the advice the books gave, but went with the flow of my schedule also.

The most important thing, I think, is having a feed, awake, sleep schedule. Always feed your baby when they wake up, then let them have a period of awake/play time, and then put them to sleep. And repeat the schedule throughout the day. This teaches them predictability, and also helps them to not rely on nursing, or eating to put themselves to sleep.

Another key factor is to make sure your not keeping them awake for too long. Especially when they are little. I forgot how much sleep a new baby needs. Watch for their tired cues. Yawning, clenching fists, rubbing eyes or ears, and loosing interest in people and toys. If you notice any of those they are ready for a nap. Swaddle them up, and lay them down. Let them sleep until they wake up and then feed them.

I love my white noise machine. If you can, or have one, use it! It helps them stay asleep and makes it so you can be as noisy as you want without waking them up. I have this white noise machine for Shelby, and it is adorable, but takes batteries which is a pain. I bought this white noise machine for Sadie, just at my local Walmart, and it works just as good, is half the cost, and plugs into the wall. You definitely do not need an expensive one to get the job done.

I was having problems getting my girls into a deep sleep. They would fall asleep and then wake up 15 minutes later. I researched online a ton to try to figure out the best way to get them to stay asleep. I needed to help them figure out how to put themselves to sleep and stay asleep. The one method I found was the Cry It Out method. I was not sure I wanted to do that to them, worried I was going to cause some sort of trauma. But putting yourself to sleep is something import that you need to know how to do.

I wasn't about to just lay my baby down and let her scream her lungs out for an hour. So I put my own twist on it. Once I realized she was tired, showing her sleep cues, I swaddled her up, rocked her for a minute, put her in her crib awake, turned on her white noise machine, and left the room. She started to cry. I felt horrible. But I knew I needed to try it. So I waited 15 minutes. After 15 minutes I went in, put her binky back in her mouth, tickled her face until she stopped crying, and walked out again. The important thing is you do not want to pick them up! She started crying the second I walked out. So I waited 15 more minutes, and repeated the same thing. I did that for about an hour, until it was time for her to eat again.

I then followed the same pattern, feed/awake/sleep. For her next nap I did the exact same thing. She cried for 15 minutes, I went in, then left. It only took me going in there about 3 times and then she was out.

The key thing is consistency. They will learn how to put/keep themselves asleep. It took me maybe three days of sleep training her to get her to fall asleep on her own for naps, and bed time, and to sleep throughout the night. She does have her random nights that she wakes up. But they are getting farther apart.

My tips to you to help your baby learn how to fall asleep on their own, and sleep through the night are:
1. Follow a Feed/Awake/Sleep cycle
2, Watch for tired cues
3. White noise
4. Let them cry, and figure it out

Let your kids know they have a predictable schedule. They like that. But don't make it so you can't do anything with your day either. If i'm out running errands during one of my girls nap times, they know how to put themselves to sleep, so they either put themselves to sleep right then and there, or wait until they are home to do so. This is something that has worked for me, and may not work for you! As moms, we all do things differently and that is ok! You know your children, and what you can/want to do! Trust yourself!

It is such a relief to have your babies fall asleep easy, and stay asleep. It makes for a happy mama!

xoxo Missy