Sleep Training

After much debate, research and contemplation, Jay and I are starting a formal sleep training program today. There is no agreement among the "experts" on what is the best method, which has made this extremely difficult for us. Until now, we have been very flexible with Joaquin and have either walked him to sleep in the Bjorn around the neighborhood or nursed him to sleep. He would go to bed sometime between 7 and 8 most days and wake up around 11 or midnight. Then we would move him into our bed where he would sleep with us for the rest of the night, eating every two hours or so. Sometimes he would go right back to sleep after each meal but most nights there would be about an hour stretch somewhere in there that he would just not want to go back to sleep. This usually involved us rocking him to sleep or me trying to nurse him back to sleep.

Some would say that we were doing exactly the right thing - always being there for him, never letting him cry, being flexible with his sleep (and ours). Others would say that we were creating very bad habits for him and allowing ourselves to become too sleep deprived.

Most methods of sleep training involve crying - both by the baby and likely by the mom too. This is why we have been so reluctant to try any of the methods. We hate to do anything that makes him cry or makes him feel like we are not there for him when he is upset.

But, in the end, we believe that a little crying for a few days is not going to do permanent damage and that if we can improve his sleep (and ours), we will all be happier and healthier in the long run. Additionally, it would be nice if I am getting at least semi-decent sleep by the time I return to work.

So, today for naptime we gave it our first shot. We put Joaquin in his crib when he was awake - a first for him. Jay then patiently rubbed his belly and whispered to him until he fell asleep. It took about 20 minutes. It seemed like hours to me. Thank goodness Jay did it. I don't know if I could handle it.

As I am typing this, Jay is in Joaquin's nursery trying to get him to go to sleep for the night. It is so difficult to maintain the willpower not to just give in and pick him up to comfort him, but we are committed to giving this a shot.

Wish us luck! I will let you know how it goes.