Tough love this week!

So I really could not stand her nursing all.night.long! Even if she was not nursing, she was hanging on! So Sunday night, I decided to do CIO with her. I did it with the boys at 6 months and became a huge advocate of that method as after 2-3 days, they were sleeping through the night and not eating all night (bottles). Then Katherine came along and I said I would never do that with her! Her cry was always so intense and also she slept in our room (only 2 bedroom house) so how could I do that when I am in the room with her! Fast forward to almost 15 months and I just got tired.

She sleeps in our room and although there is a crib in there, once she wakes, she is brought into bed and stayed there the rest of the night. Sometimes I put her back but when she woke to eat again she was back in with me.

DH had leg surgery so he has been sleeping on the couch. I took this opportunity for me to get out of our room too. So Sunday, she woke at 2 and cried until about 4 (I know...evil me!). SHe cried again at 5:30 and I went in there and fed her and she slept with me for a few more hours. Then Mon, she woke around 3 and cried for about 45 minutes. Tues, the same.

Then Wednesday, I made the decision to take away her pacifier. I thought since she is already crying at night, lets just do this now! I know it is easier to do now then when she is talking and asking for it! She went to bed fine without it. She woke around 3:30 and cried for 20 minutes and slept until 8:30 am.

So each of these days, we nursed when she woke in the morning, a little during the day and then before bed.

I do not know how so many of you nurse during the night for so long! Maybe I could have went longer if she would have actually slept with me instead of only nursing on me!

So I cant go back in my room until she sleeps through without waking for many days in a row. Even if she wakes for a short period, if she sees me, she will cry until I get her and I could never lay there with her standing in her crib. So since each night has been less waking, I think she was nursing for comfort most of all.

 

Well done Nicole for being so strong and so consistent! for sure, you deserve a great big pat on the back for taking back control of your sleep. Hope it's not too much longer until you get your room back.

 

Thanks for the encouragement! She slept through last night and woke up at 7:00! Yay!!!! I forgot how great CIO is for me! And no more pacifiers all over the house and making sure they are all over her crib!

 

Way to go Nicole and Katherine! I'm so happy that it's working out for you!!!

Wow! I'm in the same boat friend! We're going to start tonight. Cathryn has been sleeping in our bed for a very long time now. She only nurses once in the night, but she's ALL over the place when she sleeps and up frequently whining until I soothe her. I get no sleep. I tried taking her crib and side carring it the last few nights, but it hasn't made a bit of difference...in fact I think it's been worse. I never had to do CIO with the girls and I didn't want to with her either, but I can't think of any other way around it. I need my sleep, and she needs hers. I'm moving her crib back into her room tonight and we'll go from there. I'm praying this works b/c I'm so tired!!

 

Two days in a row! Woke happy again! And the morning nursing session is really special now! Unlike her being attached to me all night and it being just another session!

 

That's wonderful! I think that it's great also that you are sharing this with us because it will help others who may be wondering how to go about something like this and that it is possible.