Tuesday: Day 1
Today went TERRIBLY. I feel like pulling my hair out and slitting my wrists. It feels like bub cried all day. I don’t know how he has the energy to cry that much. It’s not just crying though, it’s screaming!
I think I did what they taught me but it seems to have produced no results so now I’m doubting myself. Bub had a sleep this morning (after an hour of crying) but didn’t settle into a second sleep cycle.
I took him out for his six-month shots and he fell asleep 10 minutes before we got home. Fortunately he transitioned really well into his cot. When he woke I couldn’t resettle him into the next sleep cycle as he’d done a poo. So I gave him some awake time. It was only 10 minutes before he displayed a sleep sign. As taught yesterday, despite it only being 10 minutes, I put him back to bed. He cried for what felt like the rest of the afternoon. To listen to your child scream all day is emotionally exhausting. I wanted to join him. This is harder than I thought it would be. I feel like giving up.
What made it worse was that hubby was home sick (instead of work) and was questioning what I was doing. He hadn’t been at the sleep clinic so I was trying to remember all the reassuring things they had told me. I was too frazzled though. Who can think clearly with all the screaming! His questioning shook my confidence a little though.
Although today was a nightmare, now that bub is down for the night and I don’t have to listen to the screaming, some reassuring words from the ladies at the clinic are coming back to me.
“It’s important to be consistent.” “It may feel like nothing is happening at first but eventually it will click for him.” “Your child is not being harmed as a result of this process.” “It will get worse before it gets better.”
Yes, it’s definitely worse right now. Uggggghhh!!! So frustrated!!!
Wednesday: Day 2
Today was a bit of a fizzler. Bub had a slight temp (probably from yesterday’s shots) and I had to go out in the afternoon for a few hours so I wasn’t very strict or consistent. He did get three naps though, which was a first. At one point he was so tired and so worked up that I ended up rocking him to sleep. I know that breaks all the rules but I was headed out for the afternoon and was sure he wouldn’t sleep so I thought it better that he get sleep any way possible.
Having said that, they did stress you should only do what you can stand so there aren’t really any ‘rules’.
Much to my surprise bub did sleep while I was out. It took 55 minutes of screaming in a portacot (going in to pat him every five minutes) but he eventually went down for 40 minutes. I think it helped that I committed to patting him. They had actually told me at the sleep clinic I may have to spend a bit of time patting him initially as a way of transitioning him to non-assisted sleep. I must remember that tomorrow. I might have more success.
Tomorrow I mean business though and I am not going anywhere for a week so I can fully commit to this process. Even though there is a Tupperware party I want to go to on the weekend. I mean it!
Thursday: Day 3
Today I started a record of when bub sleeps, how long he cries and so on. That way I can see progress when I look back this time next week.
The morning did not start well. There was lots of crying and screaming and bub was very hard to settle. It doesn’t help that bub is so over tired that his senses are heightened (this is what they told me at the sleep clinic) to the point where he’s super sensitive to any little noise – such as hubby coughing and sneezing and blowing his nose… all day! Did I mention hubby is home sick? So that’s just been another challenge to throw in the mix.
I did have some wins though. After taking over an hour to get bub to sleep around midday, I was able to pat him into a second sleep cycle with only 10 minutes of awake/fussy time. This is significant progress. Yay!
After I fed him to sleep for bedtime (I’m sure I shouldn’t be doing this but oh well) he woke the second I put him down. I tried patting him to sleep but he was too awake so I just left him for a bit. I went back about 10 minutes later and he’d put himself to sleep with no tears! Win!
Prior to starting this, the average total amount of unassisted day-sleep bub would get was roughly 40 minutes up to 1.5 hours if I’m lucky. So at least I have a seemingly easy goal to beat!
Total daytime sleep: 2 hours 15 minutes
Friday: Day 4
To think that on Tuesday I wanted to throw in the towel and was questioning everything I had learned. Nothing so far as a mother has brought me as close to snapping as this sleep training business. But I’ve worked really hard and it’s starting to pay off!
Bub’s longest sleep today without interruption was 1.5 hours. Yay! He’s falling asleep much more easily too.
I’m feeling more relaxed and I’m getting so much done! I’m also very surprised at how long bub will happily play on his own when he’s awake. Normally he’d last five minutes and then demand my attention, want to be held, scream and so on. But today I sat him in his high chair with a toy while I pottered about the kitchen and he played silently (with some cooing here and there) for over half an hour. He seems to be a much more chilled out, happy and relaxed baby. Wins all around!
Total daytime sleep: 3 hours 30 minutes
Saturday: Day 5
Today was a disappointment after yesterday’s success. I’m trying to think if I did anything differently that may have caused such poor results? Bub was very unsettled and although he spent a lot of time in his cot, he just would not go to sleep. When he did go to sleep his longest sleep was 35 minutes with no hope of getting him to continue. In some instances it took over an hour to get him to sleep as well. As I’m now an expert on his sleep signs I know without a doubt that he’s tired, but he just flat out refused to sleep. I did have a lot of dark chocolate in the last 24 hours though. Ok, I ate a whole block. Oops. Perhaps he’s still teething or teething again? Or maybe it just happened to be his unsettled day of the week.
I guess we’ll see tomorrow. Pretty disappointed though :(
Total daytime sleep: 1 hour 50 minutes
Sunday: Day 6
I reached my breaking point today. Trying to sleep train a baby while your husband is at home watching action shows with loud gun shots and sudden rises in sound and then coughing loudly every other second is too much. It’s like I’m swimming against a rip. I’m working so hard to go in one direction but there’s something working against me and I’m just not making any progress. Actually I think we’ve gone backwards today.
It doesn’t help that I still question the timing of bub’s sleep signs. The battle that goes on in my head is exhausting.
“He just displayed a sleep sign. Yeah, but he’s only been up for 10 minutes. Should I put him down? Maybe he just needs me to play with him. Oh wait, he doesn’t need any additional stimulation. Watching me work in the kitchen is plenty stimulation for a baby his age, especially my baby who is super alert and ‘high on life’, so I’m told. Demanding attention is a sleep sign. But the clock? Maybe I should just wait for more sleep signs. Although the longer you leave it the harder for him to go to sleep. But he’s just woken up. Should I or shouldn’t I put him back down? Hmmm…”
Painful reading that isn’t it? I’m having that battle less and less everyday but it’s still hindering progress. I don’t fully trust those early sleep signs.
Sleep time was shocking today. Going out for lunch didn’t help. The sleep clinic did tell me it was really important to stay home for at least the first week and as much as possible after that – for the first month. I’ve broken this a few times which hasn’t helped. So I am not going anywhere all week! Except Thursday as I already have a commitment. But apart from that, I’m home all week. It’s harder than I thought it would be to stay home for a whole week.
I feel like giving up after such a shocking day, but I’m very stubborn and I will persist. Hoping bub hasn’t inherited stubbornness from me otherwise this could take a lot longer than it’s supposed to. L
Total daytime sleep: 1 hour 20 minutes
Monday: Day 7
It wasn’t a great start today with bub sleeping for 10 minutes, waking for 10 minutes, sleeping for 10 minutes, waking for 10 minutes. Very frustrating!!! So I called the sleep clinic as I needed some reassurance. Friday was great but everything has gone downhill since then. They said it’s not uncommon for there to be ups and downs in this process and that if bub is doing short sleeps then he’s still very overtired.
Today seems to have us back on track though. Hubby went back to work so having a quiet house had me more relaxed and possibly allowed bub to get more sleep too. Hoping it’s all just progress from here on out but I’m sure there’ll be more downs yet.
Total daytime sleep: 2 hours 25 minutes
Tuesday: Day 8
Today’s total sleep time was poor. But I’ve accepted that I can’t control my baby sleeping. I can only give him opportunities to sleep. He spent a lot of downtime in his cot, which they tell me is good rest even if not sleep. At least he’s not screaming. For now, I think I will persist for a month as recommended. If there’s little progress by then, I might go back to the sleep clinic. Will see how we go.
Feeling deflated.
Total daytime sleep: 1 hour 10 minutes
Wednesday: Day 9
I am thinking about giving up. Maybe two 35 minutes sleeps in a day is as good as it’s going to get. Bub doesn’t scream any more when I put him to bed. He spends a lot of time rolling around and not sleeping though. He did this for a whole hour today. It’s making me wonder if I’m putting him to bed too soon. Maybe he’s not tired. Maybe I was right about those tired signs. Maybe this whole thing is pointless.
Still feeling deflated.
Total Daytime Sleep: 1 hour 30 minutes
Thursday: Day 10
Although I don’t think we’re making major progress with total sleep time, I think we’ve made massive progress as far as bub being on board with naptime. He doesn’t cry much anymore at all. Just rolls around and enjoys some quiet non-stimulating time. I think at this point it’s just a matter of seeing if his sleep time increases by the end of a month. I would really love him to be doing more than one sleep cycle at a time. If not, I think I will have to settle with the things that have improved significantly since visiting the sleep clinic.
Bub is getting lots more rest even if not sleep. He’s happy about having a rest. He doesn’t cry when I put him down in his cot. He’s a much happier and relaxed baby when he is up and about. He is learning to put himself to sleep with less and less help from me. And not having to entertain him all day is saving my sanity, which let’s face it, benefits everyone in the long run.
Below are just a few of the key tips that I found really useful from the sleep clinic:
That last point is really important. I didn’t do this that first day at home and I think that’s why I found it so painful. Inbetween settling bub, I would just sit on my bed feeling the agony of his screaming protest. But since then I’ve done dishes, swept the floor, done some laundry and flossed. I never floss so this was a bit exciting.
Sleep is such a huge topic and also very individual for each mother and child combo. There’s no blanket solution that can successfully be applied to everyone at every age. I share my experience in the hope that something I’ve said might help someone else. Even if it’s just to remind you that there are child health nurses in your community that are there to help you. Doesn’t have to be sleep related. Whatever you’re struggling with as a mum, they have resources so ask for help!
Today went TERRIBLY. I feel like pulling my hair out and slitting my wrists. It feels like bub cried all day. I don’t know how he has the energy to cry that much. It’s not just crying though, it’s screaming!
I think I did what they taught me but it seems to have produced no results so now I’m doubting myself. Bub had a sleep this morning (after an hour of crying) but didn’t settle into a second sleep cycle.
I took him out for his six-month shots and he fell asleep 10 minutes before we got home. Fortunately he transitioned really well into his cot. When he woke I couldn’t resettle him into the next sleep cycle as he’d done a poo. So I gave him some awake time. It was only 10 minutes before he displayed a sleep sign. As taught yesterday, despite it only being 10 minutes, I put him back to bed. He cried for what felt like the rest of the afternoon. To listen to your child scream all day is emotionally exhausting. I wanted to join him. This is harder than I thought it would be. I feel like giving up.
What made it worse was that hubby was home sick (instead of work) and was questioning what I was doing. He hadn’t been at the sleep clinic so I was trying to remember all the reassuring things they had told me. I was too frazzled though. Who can think clearly with all the screaming! His questioning shook my confidence a little though.
Although today was a nightmare, now that bub is down for the night and I don’t have to listen to the screaming, some reassuring words from the ladies at the clinic are coming back to me.
“It’s important to be consistent.” “It may feel like nothing is happening at first but eventually it will click for him.” “Your child is not being harmed as a result of this process.” “It will get worse before it gets better.”
Yes, it’s definitely worse right now. Uggggghhh!!! So frustrated!!!
Wednesday: Day 2
Today was a bit of a fizzler. Bub had a slight temp (probably from yesterday’s shots) and I had to go out in the afternoon for a few hours so I wasn’t very strict or consistent. He did get three naps though, which was a first. At one point he was so tired and so worked up that I ended up rocking him to sleep. I know that breaks all the rules but I was headed out for the afternoon and was sure he wouldn’t sleep so I thought it better that he get sleep any way possible.
Having said that, they did stress you should only do what you can stand so there aren’t really any ‘rules’.
Much to my surprise bub did sleep while I was out. It took 55 minutes of screaming in a portacot (going in to pat him every five minutes) but he eventually went down for 40 minutes. I think it helped that I committed to patting him. They had actually told me at the sleep clinic I may have to spend a bit of time patting him initially as a way of transitioning him to non-assisted sleep. I must remember that tomorrow. I might have more success.
Tomorrow I mean business though and I am not going anywhere for a week so I can fully commit to this process. Even though there is a Tupperware party I want to go to on the weekend. I mean it!
Thursday: Day 3
Today I started a record of when bub sleeps, how long he cries and so on. That way I can see progress when I look back this time next week.
The morning did not start well. There was lots of crying and screaming and bub was very hard to settle. It doesn’t help that bub is so over tired that his senses are heightened (this is what they told me at the sleep clinic) to the point where he’s super sensitive to any little noise – such as hubby coughing and sneezing and blowing his nose… all day! Did I mention hubby is home sick? So that’s just been another challenge to throw in the mix.
I did have some wins though. After taking over an hour to get bub to sleep around midday, I was able to pat him into a second sleep cycle with only 10 minutes of awake/fussy time. This is significant progress. Yay!
After I fed him to sleep for bedtime (I’m sure I shouldn’t be doing this but oh well) he woke the second I put him down. I tried patting him to sleep but he was too awake so I just left him for a bit. I went back about 10 minutes later and he’d put himself to sleep with no tears! Win!
Prior to starting this, the average total amount of unassisted day-sleep bub would get was roughly 40 minutes up to 1.5 hours if I’m lucky. So at least I have a seemingly easy goal to beat!
Total daytime sleep: 2 hours 15 minutes
Friday: Day 4
To think that on Tuesday I wanted to throw in the towel and was questioning everything I had learned. Nothing so far as a mother has brought me as close to snapping as this sleep training business. But I’ve worked really hard and it’s starting to pay off!
Bub’s longest sleep today without interruption was 1.5 hours. Yay! He’s falling asleep much more easily too.
I’m feeling more relaxed and I’m getting so much done! I’m also very surprised at how long bub will happily play on his own when he’s awake. Normally he’d last five minutes and then demand my attention, want to be held, scream and so on. But today I sat him in his high chair with a toy while I pottered about the kitchen and he played silently (with some cooing here and there) for over half an hour. He seems to be a much more chilled out, happy and relaxed baby. Wins all around!
Total daytime sleep: 3 hours 30 minutes
Saturday: Day 5
Today was a disappointment after yesterday’s success. I’m trying to think if I did anything differently that may have caused such poor results? Bub was very unsettled and although he spent a lot of time in his cot, he just would not go to sleep. When he did go to sleep his longest sleep was 35 minutes with no hope of getting him to continue. In some instances it took over an hour to get him to sleep as well. As I’m now an expert on his sleep signs I know without a doubt that he’s tired, but he just flat out refused to sleep. I did have a lot of dark chocolate in the last 24 hours though. Ok, I ate a whole block. Oops. Perhaps he’s still teething or teething again? Or maybe it just happened to be his unsettled day of the week.
I guess we’ll see tomorrow. Pretty disappointed though :(
Total daytime sleep: 1 hour 50 minutes
Sunday: Day 6
I reached my breaking point today. Trying to sleep train a baby while your husband is at home watching action shows with loud gun shots and sudden rises in sound and then coughing loudly every other second is too much. It’s like I’m swimming against a rip. I’m working so hard to go in one direction but there’s something working against me and I’m just not making any progress. Actually I think we’ve gone backwards today.
It doesn’t help that I still question the timing of bub’s sleep signs. The battle that goes on in my head is exhausting.
“He just displayed a sleep sign. Yeah, but he’s only been up for 10 minutes. Should I put him down? Maybe he just needs me to play with him. Oh wait, he doesn’t need any additional stimulation. Watching me work in the kitchen is plenty stimulation for a baby his age, especially my baby who is super alert and ‘high on life’, so I’m told. Demanding attention is a sleep sign. But the clock? Maybe I should just wait for more sleep signs. Although the longer you leave it the harder for him to go to sleep. But he’s just woken up. Should I or shouldn’t I put him back down? Hmmm…”
Painful reading that isn’t it? I’m having that battle less and less everyday but it’s still hindering progress. I don’t fully trust those early sleep signs.
Sleep time was shocking today. Going out for lunch didn’t help. The sleep clinic did tell me it was really important to stay home for at least the first week and as much as possible after that – for the first month. I’ve broken this a few times which hasn’t helped. So I am not going anywhere all week! Except Thursday as I already have a commitment. But apart from that, I’m home all week. It’s harder than I thought it would be to stay home for a whole week.
I feel like giving up after such a shocking day, but I’m very stubborn and I will persist. Hoping bub hasn’t inherited stubbornness from me otherwise this could take a lot longer than it’s supposed to. L
Total daytime sleep: 1 hour 20 minutes
Monday: Day 7
It wasn’t a great start today with bub sleeping for 10 minutes, waking for 10 minutes, sleeping for 10 minutes, waking for 10 minutes. Very frustrating!!! So I called the sleep clinic as I needed some reassurance. Friday was great but everything has gone downhill since then. They said it’s not uncommon for there to be ups and downs in this process and that if bub is doing short sleeps then he’s still very overtired.
Today seems to have us back on track though. Hubby went back to work so having a quiet house had me more relaxed and possibly allowed bub to get more sleep too. Hoping it’s all just progress from here on out but I’m sure there’ll be more downs yet.
Total daytime sleep: 2 hours 25 minutes
Tuesday: Day 8
Today’s total sleep time was poor. But I’ve accepted that I can’t control my baby sleeping. I can only give him opportunities to sleep. He spent a lot of downtime in his cot, which they tell me is good rest even if not sleep. At least he’s not screaming. For now, I think I will persist for a month as recommended. If there’s little progress by then, I might go back to the sleep clinic. Will see how we go.
Feeling deflated.
Total daytime sleep: 1 hour 10 minutes
Wednesday: Day 9
I am thinking about giving up. Maybe two 35 minutes sleeps in a day is as good as it’s going to get. Bub doesn’t scream any more when I put him to bed. He spends a lot of time rolling around and not sleeping though. He did this for a whole hour today. It’s making me wonder if I’m putting him to bed too soon. Maybe he’s not tired. Maybe I was right about those tired signs. Maybe this whole thing is pointless.
Still feeling deflated.
Total Daytime Sleep: 1 hour 30 minutes
Thursday: Day 10
Although I don’t think we’re making major progress with total sleep time, I think we’ve made massive progress as far as bub being on board with naptime. He doesn’t cry much anymore at all. Just rolls around and enjoys some quiet non-stimulating time. I think at this point it’s just a matter of seeing if his sleep time increases by the end of a month. I would really love him to be doing more than one sleep cycle at a time. If not, I think I will have to settle with the things that have improved significantly since visiting the sleep clinic.
Bub is getting lots more rest even if not sleep. He’s happy about having a rest. He doesn’t cry when I put him down in his cot. He’s a much happier and relaxed baby when he is up and about. He is learning to put himself to sleep with less and less help from me. And not having to entertain him all day is saving my sanity, which let’s face it, benefits everyone in the long run.
Below are just a few of the key tips that I found really useful from the sleep clinic:
- Trust the sleep signs no matter what the clock says!
- If your baby protests when you put them down for a sleep, they ARE tired.
- Consistency is key.
- Results will come. Be persistent and patient.
- Do not go anywhere for at least the first week as it will make it harder for you and bub.
- When waiting those few minutes before checking on bub who is crying or screaming in his cot, do something. Do the dishes, fold some laundry. Focus on it, don’t rush and make sure you complete it. Then go and check on bub.
That last point is really important. I didn’t do this that first day at home and I think that’s why I found it so painful. Inbetween settling bub, I would just sit on my bed feeling the agony of his screaming protest. But since then I’ve done dishes, swept the floor, done some laundry and flossed. I never floss so this was a bit exciting.
Sleep is such a huge topic and also very individual for each mother and child combo. There’s no blanket solution that can successfully be applied to everyone at every age. I share my experience in the hope that something I’ve said might help someone else. Even if it’s just to remind you that there are child health nurses in your community that are there to help you. Doesn’t have to be sleep related. Whatever you’re struggling with as a mum, they have resources so ask for help!