Last night we did something we had never done before as parents. Something we had tried with the Mini-Kamp but it just never worked (she's too damn stubborn and would never give in). We had hoped it wouldn't come to this so soon. We had a moment where we thought we wouldn't but that moment was fast to fizzle. So last night we did it.....
We walked out of the Haver-Boy's room and let him cry himself to sleep.
Sleep training is one of those painful things that creeps up on you as a parent. One of those things that you just never think about and that you take for granted. I mean really who doesn't like to sleep. Sleep is easy, just close your eyes, think good thoughts and drift off to dreamland. And as we all know sleep is one of those things that you need as a parent in order to survive. And the only way to do that is get your kids to go, you know what to sleep.
But it ain't easy. For some kids and parents yes, for some no. With the Mini-Kamp we were lucky early on. She would nurse, fall asleep and was knocked out cold. We had some regression and it was always timed with a growth spurt or developmental milestone. Was like clockwork really.
At around 8 months, it got harder, we tried to leave the room and let her cry, but girlfriend would never give up. She would cry so much she would make herself sick (I think that determination will serve her well in the future). So we bought a few books and ended up doing the sleep laddy shuffle where we gradually moved our body out of the room.
With the Haver-Boy, we had a window where we thought he would just "get-it". That evaporated when the little dude had a growth spurt. Then last night we finally decided to stick to our guns. I gave him 3 to 5 minutes of shhhhhhhh and then walked out. I was going to come back in 10 if he was still freaking out so I got the video monitor, sat on my bed, checked email and watched. By minute 7 he was out (big sis came out once to make sure he was okay, filled my heart)
He slepted all the way till 1 when he woke up again. I checked him and he was fine, I comforted him, gave him Sophie the giraffe and walked out. He was down in 5 minutes of crying. Then at 3, but once again down in close to 10. Finally he woke up at 6 ate and was down again.
Sure it was the first night. And sure this is not a sprint but rather a marathon. Still I have resolve and hope that since he got it one night he could and can do it again. I guess we will know more tomorrow.
So tell me how did you sleep train your kids?
