Before-
I have been hoping to write this feature for quite some time. I am a sleep coach for three main reasons. First, I want to help mommies get through the difficult phases of sleep. Second, I know how important sleeping is for children’s overall health and well-being. Finally, because there is a goal in place, I want to help you reach it. I have a passion for setting and accomplishing goals. No matter how hard the task may seem, I don’t give up.
Ellie is that baby I was going to get to the finish line no matter what! Ellie’s mommy, Cori, called me after Ellie had just turned three months old. She wasn’t fully ready to sleep train right away because she hadn’t been eating the necessary amount during the day. Ellie was waking up every hour or so throughout the night. She wasn’t on any type of feeding routine during the day and napped whenever she saw fit. I still remember Cori’s initially call as she held back tears feeling defeated and helpless. I was going to help this mommy and baby no matter what!
During:
Once Ellie hit the weight and feeding requirement, Cori was ready to begin. We started by focusing on Ellie’s feedings during the day and bed time routine. Routines for babies are so important. They need to know what to expect so they know what’s expected from them. I used the method The Baby Whisperer and figured out Ellie’s set feeding times based on the sleep logs I had asked Cori to keep. We were making some progress – but then Ellie would have some set-backs which would frustrate Cori. The uncertainty was really bothering her and she decided she wasn’t ready for sleep training. I felt defeated. I knew Cori could do this for Ellie but there is only so much pushing I can really do.
I would text Cori throughout the month seeing how things were going and little bits of progress but constant wake ups were happening. When Ellie was close to 5 months old, I put my foot down and decided it was time to do something about this situation. I went to see things for myself – giving her a night of training. Being at a home allows me to see things as they are not just what a parent has told me. Ellie is a determined and one smart little girl that has had one mission in mind while she is in her crib, to get out! After talking to Cori and Rick, I decided there was one thing that needed to change, how they as parents handled things. Instead of going in there after increments of time, I had her cry it out. Sounds harsh but I see this time after time with a child’s personality traits that are stubborn and determined in all that they do.
They agreed that needed to be done. They went to bed and I was on. Ellie went to bed at 6:30pm and woke up at 2:30am. (Before waking up to feed at 1/1:30). At 4:15 the fun began. She would wake up, cry for about 15 minutes, stop for few minutes and start up again. She did this for exactly one hour where she finally went back to sleep and slept until 6:45am. After that, Cori was motivated and was ready to be consistent.
After:
Wuhooooooooooooooo!!!!!!! I have pure joy and excitement over the success of Ellie’s sleep. She has on her own been pushing her feeding each night closer and closer to a full night of sleep. Cori hasn’t given up and I can’t thank her enough. I knew she could do this but she had to believe she could. If Cori was consistent, Ellie was going to be consistent… And that’s what happened. Thank you Cori!!! You can now have sweet dreams.
