Sleeping Through the Night

Okay one more post on some baby related tips- hopefully these can help some of you out :)

I'm also seeking advice if any of you have tricks that work!

Let me start by saying Deklan was an AMAZING sleeper since he was born - no joke. The first two months I woke him up every three hours because he was a preemie to eat. After that I started letting him decide when to get up. At first it was twice a night, than once a night, then he would sometimes sleep till 8- 9 am! AMAZING! I was the luckiest mom in the world for reals! This baby NEVER fussed- took naps all day, and slept through the night.

Well, he turned 5 months old and BAM- he totally changed over night! He started being fussy during the day, he was still taking LOTS of naps, but for a week he was waking up every few hours in the night. Part of this problem I will admit was me. I'm a horrible sleeper myself with the worst insomnia- that mixed with waking up to ANY noise he would make was not a good mix. The fussiness I'm pretty sure is teething- which I talked about in my last post, but the sleep- STILL clueless at this point. Could be pain from teething, binky dependency, being spoiled, growth spurt maybe?? I just don't know. He is OBSESSED with his binky. So I decided to stop giving him his binky at night. During the day time naps I still allow for the binky. I tried the no binky at nap time the first day and he screamed for 45 minutes  This was just too much for me- I BALLED. SO far he is doing much better with no binky at night. I think he is still young enough to say that a binky is okay during the day. If he's 4 and walking around with a binky that might be a different story.

 I have however, officially turned my monitor off at night and set my alarm to 5:30 am. THAT way if he does get up for just a few minutes  he will learn to calm himself down and go back to sleep on his own. This terrified me the first night- really the first few nights I haven't slept, hopefully tonight will be different. The first night I woke up at 5:30 to hear him crying- BROKE. MY. HEART. Second night my alarm went off and he was ASLEEP for another few hours!!! WHAT??? So I am starting a bedtime routine. Bath, p.j's, Lavender oil, story, and snuggle time- then bed time. He needs to be somewhat awake when he goes down in his crib, with no binky. All nights so far he has cried ten minutes and then was out! Scheduling naps during the day like that wasn't working. With how much we travel, I just don't think that will work for us. :( I want my child to feel loved and important and yet NOT so spoiled that other people can't stand to watch him.

I also hired a babysitter to come to my house once a week every Tuesday for 4 hours- this way he get's used to us being apart every once in a while and doesn't go through the separation anxiety- at least I HOPE! Plus it gives me a break to run errands or go to the movies with the hubby- let's be honest- WE ALL need a break once in a while. AND in case it was a growth spurt I have been feeding him more and also trying bananas and pears for him once a day. I only give him a few bites since he's so young! http://pinkleblossom.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/startingsolids/ Here was a good blog on when to start with solids.

For you moms or soon to be moms this is a good blog to read on babies sleeping through the night: http://delightfulmomstuff.blogspot.com/2012/02/newborn-sleeping-through-night.html Thank you Aubrey for sharing it with me! REALLY good insight in there! I have a friend lending me a few books to read and hopefully I can share some of that insight as well- HOPEFULLY- he will continue doing better! Here is to a good nights rest! :)