awesome sleep progress w/out cio--i just had to share!

hi there!

i have talked here (probably too much!) about my ds who started waking for a bottle sometimes a dozen times/night since he was about 7 months old (4 adusted). at the time i spoke to a sleep consultant, and she gave us a cio plan to follow to break the habit. we did not think it would work and so we kept reading books and talking to people about the problem... for almost ten long months! we have the additional problem that dh is gone a few nights/week so we knew we would not have consistency w/anything that we chose. on a few different occassions we tried the program in good night, sleep tight (by kim west) and had some success, but we could never follow through for more than a few nights... dh's schedule is going to calm down in june so we'd plan to go 'all out' by then, but a horrendous dental visit last week convinced us otherwise. joey has two major cavaties! we knew his teeth were malformed (s/e of his prematurity) and the ridges had gotten worse in the recently, but we had no idea they were cavaties and due to all the milk (he's never even had refined sugar). so, dh went cold turkey that night--no milk after bedtime! and, it worked! joey didnt' like it, but he only woke up twice, and he was willing to drink water both times... it's been over a week now, and he's still waking only twice and taking water. it feels like a miracle after ten months! i'm so happy!..... also, we've found a way to get him to sleep w/out drinking milk at all, which feels like another miracle! it's been 4 nights now that we've brushed his teeth first and then got him to sleep after that by drinking only water.... i honestly can't believe it!

one thing that really helped me was talking to all of you and realizing this could really be done--babies can fall asleep w/out sucking, who knew? . and they sttn w/out drinking!... i have saved posts w/all of your input on bedtime routines and getting them to sleep in other ways, and those have been my inspiration. so, thank you, everyone! also, i'm so proud of my little joey, i just can't believe it... and dh, too, because he generally takes joey's night feedings since brother henry still nurses.

i just wanted to share. i'm so happy!

, jl

ps: i highly recommend kim west's books for people who think cio won't work for their little ones (or their parents). there might always be crying but many children respond better if their parents stay w/them and "coach" them through it. if you have any q's just ask me!

 

:banana: Hooray for sleep! So glad you found something that works for you and your family.

 

:yahoo: Sleep is a wonderful thing!!!

 

how awsome hurray

Congratulations to Joey and the rest of the family.

Sleep finally. Zzzzzzzzzzz

Penny

 

Yeah for sleep!!! Thanks for the book rec's too

 

QUOTE(Leighann @ May 28 2009, 07:20 AM) [snapback]1331126[/snapback]
Yeah for sleep!!! Thanks for the book rec's too


btw, leighann, i have another book rec for you--eating. i have to find the book in my house somewhere, but i noticed that you and several others posted recently about your littles one not eating much. i read a great book that really explains what children need (less than we think!) and how we as parents do best to take it in stride.... when i find it i'll post.

wow! we are up to ten nights w/out milk. i'm so excited! now i guess it's time to think about night weaning the other one.....

 

Great news!

 

That is great news, yay Joey! :woo: