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A Post Regarding Baby's Sleep
I previously shared about sleep "training" success with Baby Whisperer Tracy Hogg's problem solving book. Some of you shared my joy and expressed interest in checking her book and methods out. So I thought I should check in with those of you who are interested in an update or who may still be struggling in private.
<u>Re: BB Whisperer Techniques</u>
I have to confess that after the initial few days, I didn't have the persistence to follow through until I cracked Kyle's sleep code. I was getting SO exasperated with the whole PU/PD affair and my back was getting it hard. So I kinda left things status-quo with Kyle's sleep - feeling happy with the progress that he had made.
<blink><u>Something I PREFER</u></blink>
Recently I finally read a book that I picked up from the library:
Good Night, Sleep Tight (by "The Sleep Lady", Kim West). I've been btlg instead of nursing Kyle for pre-bed feeds for the last 2 nights and decided to adopt some of her techniques. Today, decided to let dad have a go. Flawless. And all without going way out with remembering steps and procedures!
What I love about The Sleep Lady is that she works with your personal styles and preferences.
She doesn't prescribe a very specific and/or rigid way of doing things...
E.g. To soothe your baby, she would recommend you NOT use a dummy. But if you would like to, then try to help baby learn to find and plug it in themselves. Provide dummies strewn in bed to make things easier.
E.g. Try to give baby a final feed 30min before the bedtime. But she can see why some parents would prefer to tank baby up right before bed so they sleep longer. So if you prefer to do that, then just make sure you make a clear delineation btwn the feed (btl/nurse) and sleep. You may want to nurse first and do story/song after... or offer btl first. Then put the child in his crib and turn off the lights to indicate bedtime.
I've found her to be right up my alley cos she works within my comfort zone.
First night, Kyle was standing and crawling in crib for 25min. I finally dummied him and lay him down, quickly getting down to lie beside him on floor (with 2 pillows la!). Within 10min, he had soothed himself to sleep by bumping my head with his and then tapping a foot.
2nd night, it all happened within 20min. Same thing tho, in the end I had to get up from my position beside his crib and put him down. But within 5min, he had settled.
Tonight, Kyle slept with so little (no) fuss tt daddy dozed off on the floor beside his crib.
Tmr it will be time to do the first installment of "The Sleep Lady Shuffle" - moving halfway across the room instead of being right by his crib. I'm apprehensive, but feeling good about it.
Those interested, I'm not sure how much info is avail. on her website >
http://www.sleeplady.com/</font>