My daughter is now 5 months old and while I followed the Sleep Wise and Happy baby Sleep book suggestions for our first daughter.... we have not for Mikenna (our 5 month old). I need to figure out how to get her into the routine and believe these 2 books are on target with sleep / nap success... but due to a 3 week vacation in June/July we are all messed up. I am essentially a human nuk. Mikenna goes to sleep at 8:30-9:00 wakes at 1:30AM and will wake about every 2 hours after and needs to be nursed back to sleep. We started to let her cry it out.... but since we have not been consistent due to "working it" all night then then at 5AM give up because we are SO tired - we have really messed up the routine... I am looking for advise from mom's who also like these books and maybe also started the routine the books suggest LATER than the book advises .... I need tips on how to get Mikenna off from nursing when she wakes up. (I can lay her down awake and she will go to sleep... but she wakes herself up and cannot get herself back to sleep). If that makes sense.... I would love advice about how to get her on a better routine so she does not wake up mid nap/night. (we have started following the time range of between 7-8AM rise, between 9-10AM down for anap, between 1-2PM down for anap, between 5-6PM down for a nap, between 8-9PM sleep with the cycle of sleep, eat, play....) Some nights are good - but mostly we I am back to her sleeping with me again... because we are sick (literally) and tired. Thoughts?
Hi Christy,
Baby Wise doesn't work for all babies,, try not to compare your first with the second, it may not be something that ever goes as smoothly. I have 3 children, 2 were very consistent with naps etc. but I do not feel I did anything differently with my second and things were just more hectic- not as routine etc. I also think my first actually was an efficient eater when my second did the whole pacifier thing,and I wasn't sure if she was eating enough or just using me for comfort etc.
It's such an easier pace with 1:1 mommy to daughter.
I still remember when I was crying with these issues on my second daughter, my closest friend went by "Sleep Wise" so strictly and it worked so well for her, however she was unable to breast feed so her story was so different than my life experience status post baby (breast feeding etc.).
My lactation consultant showed up at my front door after I gave her a desperate call for help, she immediately told me to let go of the Sleep Wise hard core way of thinking (especially with breast feeding) and do what works best for the family- i.e. sometimes sleeping in the bed together etc. The need for sleep is SO under rated! 5 months is so young. My first had been much more easy to schedule with breast feeding etc. I think my second didn't sleep through the night continuously until she was almost 2 yo. I doubt you'll have it that badly~~ but they are all wired so differently.
I'm with you- trying to find "balance" is super difficult especially for the type A- go go person. My dad used to always say, "control is an illusion"- I didn't get what he meant until after having babies! I think you're doing it all well, go with your gut, routine is ideal, but not always acheivable and especially gets more difficult with each child.
I apologize if this was useless info. for you, I guess I'm just suggesting not to beat yourself up and try not to compare babies. It's easy for me to say :)
Good Luck. p.s. let some of the house work go, it will still be there ~ "to do lists" get done in a month instead of a weekend now but that's o.k. too :) Keep enjoying those sweet babies, it goes by so quickly.. try to have sleep be a priority for you too, you may have to plan it with your husband (maybe you already do this- but really PLAN ahead of time how and when you each get to nap/"sleep in" etc.. I think chronic sleep deprivation is what stopped me from having a fourth child- well and a few other things too! :)