Anybody used this method with their kids? How did it work out? My cousin used it with her little girl and raves about it. Said she was sleeping through the night within three days.
The theory is that you start in 2-hour increments for waking/feeding, then add a half hour every night until the kid sleeps all night. If he wakes up before the allotted time for that night, let him cry for three minutes, then soothe him (without picking him up) then keep increasing the time by a few minutes each time he cries, until it's time to feed him.
Last night was Night 2 for Cal, so he was up to the 2 1/2 hour level. He ate and went to bed around 7:30. Woke up around 11 and I fed him. He woke again around 1 and we let him cry. He fell back asleep in about five minutes, then woke again at 2:15. I fed him. He woke again at 5 and I fed him. He then slept until 7:30 and I got him up for the day. Not too bad, comparitively. I'll let you know how tonight goes. If he starts sleeping through the night by the end of the week, I will be the happiest woman on the freaking planet. If not, I will continue to be the mean and grumpy hag that I am today.
5 comments:
I'm not a big fan of the Ferber method. I don't like the whole crying it out thing. But I did find the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg helpful - I read that with D as he wasn't the best sleeper.
Good luck with your efforts!!
I can't remember the book I read before having Ryan..it was probably one of those controversial ones, but we did a similar rendition of what you are talking about with both of our kids. I wasn't die hard, or at least I don't think I was, but don't talk to my mother-in-law because you'll get a whole other story. Sigh.
But I digress....basically we worked toward a schedule and I seldom, almost never rocked them to sleep. We'd put them to bed and let them cry for 5 minutes or so before one of us would go in and pat them on the back and soothe them if they were still crying. I mean all out crying, not little whimpering that seemed to be on the verge of sleep.
Lilly still doesn't go to sleep as soon as we put her in for the night. We've stretched our 5 minutes out to 10-15 (GASP!), but she almost always falls asleep within that time frame. I believe most of her issue now at 18 months is separation anxiety.
I guess I am a firm believer in self-soothing and teaching kids, even babies ways to fall asleep on their own.
You're a great mom, you'll know how much you can take and how much Cal can take. And like you said, getting sleep at night makes for a happy mommy and happier kids.
:)
We co-sleep, so I have no advice whatsoever. And while it's not how I would do it, I hope it goes smoothly and nets you a great night's sleep!
We did this. With all three kids, Archie when he was older because of all his medical issues, and Kit and Jack when they were a few months shy of their first birthday.
It worked very, very well. And quickly, too. But it was hell listening to them cry. Made me cry, too.
Not to cheese you off....but Stella (2 mos)is only up once I night. I have no Ferber experience (what worked for us with Audrey was feeding on a schedule during the day), but I support a Mother's need for a full night's sleep and know that I'd try whatever necessary to get it!
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