Maddox had silent reflux that was diagnosed at 3 weeks old. It explained why he cried after eating and all night long. After we started his treatment, he wanted to be bounced in a bouncy set for eights hours a day and sleep all night. It was hard to bouncy him literally - all day, but he was happy and slept all night from about 6 weeks (in a Nap Nanny - another life saver). He took about an hour to get to sleep but would then sleep 12 hours. At 6 months we tried crying it out. Which was a fail after two nights. We tried again at 10 months. One hour of crying later he never had trouble falling asleep again. So, Caroline would be the same way, right?
Not so much. She did not sleep at night from the beginning. She slept 5 hours for the first time at 6 weeks. All along, she had reflux that we treated. Her pain made her want to be held. At night, she would not sleep longer than 15 minutes unless she was on my chest. I know, I tell parents everyday they should not put children on their chest to sleep all night (but I was a parent, not a pediatric nurse practitioner at that moment). Eventually we discovered the Fisher Price Rock n' Play Bassinet. It saved our lives! It was the first place she would sleep without me holding her. Finally, I could sleep the three hours she gave me in between feedings. All along, I kept telling myself that she would sleep through the night at 2 months. At two months and two weeks she began sleeping 6 hour stretches in her RnP in our bedroom. Sweet Glory!!!! Then, came the dreaded 3 month sleep regression that I had heard of but never experienced. She began waking 6-10 times a night. Ugh. I toughed it out until 5 months.
First, we tried a modified crying it out method. I would go give her her paci after 10 minutes of crying, without actually picking her up. She would go immediately back to sleep for four hours. So, it was not teaching her self-soothing at all. I did not want to do the real crying it out method because it had gone so poorly with Maddox at this ago. After, three weeks of the modification not working, I was broken. A chronically tired mom is not good for anyone. So, we went all in crying it out in 30 minute intervals. After two nights of thirty minute intervals, including night wakings, we have had three nights of sleeping 6p-6am!!! This may not stick, there is a 6 month sleep regression. However, I must say Mr. Ferber has given me at least short term recovery. I am grateful to God for some rest.
Our next training involves Mr. Maddox. He has been flirting with potty training for awhile now. Let me start by saying I do not believe in potty "training." I see to many children in my office with true physical and psychological harm from being forced to use the potty too early. They actually have clinic at University of Tennessee hospital devoted to helping children who have been scarred by potty training. So, I was waiting for the signs. Maddox would watch us use the potty, sit on the potty, tell us he was peeing and pooping. However, he could not figure out how to make himself actually pee while on the potty. Last week, he started asking to go and actually peeing on the potty at least once a day. So, today starts diaper free weekend (except during naps and bedtime of course). I will let you know how it goes. This morning we have used the potty three times!!!! If it works, I will share my method. If not, I will not lead anyone astray.
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