Hallelujah!

More news on the sleep front....

If you remember my post after our 4 month appointment with Dr. Brown, I was basically told I was doing everything wrong! I got LOTS and LOTS of comments/suggestions from all of my mommy friends! Most of you couldn't believe that the doctor suggested waking Mya up to feed around 9-10. You also thought 6:00 seemed pretty normal of a bedtime. Well, after listening to your comments, we have tried to make some adjustments. Mya now goes down around 7:00. This is a much better fit for our family! We can enjoy her a bit longer, but still enjoy our evenings without baby! We began sending Daddy in at Mya's 2:00 am wake-up to insert her pacifier that had fallen out. This worked.... silencing the little lady and putting her quickly back to sleep! BUT..... she quickly realized if she cries, in comes her daddy! We, in return, quickly realized that when daddy was greeted at 2:00 am with a smile, we were being played! She didn't care as much about her pacifier as she did about seeing her beloved daddy! Ok, time for another adjustment.... Operation: Playtimes Over Missy! We decided it was time to axe the 2:00 am wake-up! According to Dr. Brown she was supposed to be sleeping for a solid 9-10 hours. hmmmm..... what to do, what to do?!?!?! We decided to let her "cry it out" at her 2:00 playdate with Daddy. This was absolute and complete TORTURE!!! I must say I was the strength and Daddy was the weakness in this experiment (surprise, surprise, right?!?!?!). Here are the results

Night 1- Mya cried for 45 heart-wrenching minutes(Her daddy wanted to go to her on minute 4...can you say "softy?") However, she finally soothed herself back to sleep sucking her thumb. Have I mentioned I LOVE the video monitor?

Night 2- Mya cried for 30 heart-wrenching minutes (I think her daddy wanted to go to her on minute 7 this time). Toughy Momma stuck to her guns and we let her cry! Again, heart-wrenching and torture is the best way to describe this period!

Night 3: Mya cried for 0 minutes!!!! HALLELUJAH! (Her daddy got his first complete night sleep in several weeks! Looks like mommy's toughness paid off!) Mya slept through her 2:00 wake-up. I fed her at her usual 4:15 feeding and she was back to sleep! Good Girl, Mya!!!

So, for all of the skeptics/critics of crying it out.... it may be terrible for a couple of nights but in the long run, we ALL get better night sleep! I cross my fingers that tonight will be just as good! I am longing for the 12 hour nights! Next mission- Operation: Sleep All Night