So 9 days ago we decided it was time to sleep train Ella. I was beginning to go out in the living room and kick things after my 5th or 6th time of getting up with the baby, so Adam and I decided that it had gone on long enough :) And while I would LOVE to say that Ella is just like all the other babies I've read about and that after a couple of nights of minor crying, she is sleeping 12 hours a night.....that is just not our child. Things have DRASTICALLY improved however, and I'm hoping with another week or so she will really get the hang of it and become one of those said babies. Here's a little break down of our experience so far:
Night 1: T..O..R..T..U..R..E She cried for 2 hours, slept for 2 hours, then was up again crying on and off for 4 hours. After that I cannot say because I literally passed out despite my childs cries. (worst mom ever, right?!?!) However...when I woke up at 7:30 (yes, that is what time I'm supposed to be at work) and ran into her nursery in a panic, she was smiling and playing in her crib and still gave me goodmorning snuggles. So she didn't despise me and disown me :)
Night 2: She cried for 20 minutes, slept for 7 hours ( oh my gosh! ), but then was up crying again for 2 1/2 hours. She then went back to sleep for 3 hours.
Night 3: Went down without a peep and slept almost 4 hrs...fussed for a second and then put herself back to sleep for another 5 1/2 hrs. Then was up for 1 1/2, then back to sleep for 45 minutes.
Night 4: Cried for 45 minutes, then asleep for 11...count them...11 hours!!! I couldn't believe it, I had gotten a full nights sleep for the first time in over 6 months!!! I felt amazing, and foolishly thought that maybe that was it, she was cured! Nope.
Night 5,6,7: Average of 15 minutes of crying, then asleep 8-9 hrs. She then INSISTED on eating ( yes, babies can insist on things, even though they are very very tiny and can't talk....don't judge me ) but would then go back to sleep for about 2 hrs.
Night 8: No crying, slept about 10 1/2 hrs. Confused....and then...
Night 9 (last night): Cried for almost an hour..only slept 5 hrs, then cried 1 1/2, then back to sleep for 4 hrs.
So as you can see there is no rhyme or reason to what this kid is doing at night. I would love some more of those 10-11 hour nights, but I will be grateful that at worst she is only waking twice a night, usually only once, sometimes not at all. So much better that what I was dealing with before!!!
Adam and I have decided that Ella will continue to break any molds that other babies set. And instead of being frustrated or jealous of other "Normal" babies....we are going to enjoy our little spunky squirt and hope that this strong will of hers will come in handy later on in life!!
