Eat it, Sears
Instructions for doing the Mom-1o1 Happy Dance:
1) Jump up and down.
2) Spin around in a circle.
3) Do a lame shoulder wiggly thing, circa Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo
4) Sing, "I got my rooooom back, I got my rooooom back..."
5) Lower your singing to a whisper, "I got my rooooom back, I got my rooooom back..." because the baby? Yeah, she's uh...whatsitcalled, um... SHE'S SLEEEEEEPIIIIIIING!
Dr. Weissbluth, I am your new best friend. I am constructing an altar to you in our bedroom, right now, right at the very spot on the floor where the baby fell out of bed six times.
At the center of said altar will be your book, Happy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child (Just $9.72 and qualifies for free super-saver shipping at Amazon.com). Surrounding your tome will be photos of my smiling, delightful, well-rested baby; a tube of Chanel undereye concealer that I no longer need; the label from the bottle of wine that got me through three (just three!) nights of crying; and a small container of personal lubricant in honor of the Tempurpedic's return to its rightful role as a place where naughty things happen during the night. Naughty things that, in case you couldn't guess, don't include being kicked in the head by a horizontally sleeping baby.
Plus, a running list of the due dates of every pregnant woman I know so I can send her a copy of your book. And some rose petals. Just because that seems kind of like an altary thing.
I don't think sleep training is for everyone. It wasn't even for us for a whole year. So I'm not going to judge those who make other choices--despite some of the less than supportive ways (ahem) that some of them felt free to judge me. And I'm not going to push people into parenting choices they don't feel comfortable with. I've always been of the Do What You Gotta Do school of parenting.
But let me just say this for those people considering letting their sleepless, overtired baby cry for few nights with the hopes of teaching him that he does in fact possess the ability to sleep.
As previous posts of mine have indicated, I'm the last mother who would have thought it possible. I thought Thalia was some magic special child who could see fairies and unicorns and elves, and who just didn't need as much sleep as the other kids. Five or six hours a night, interrupted? That's cool. No naps? No problem. I mean, she smiles a lot so she must be doing fine.
But now? Thalia still smiles non-stop, but it's now a bright, focused smile; not the manic smile of a crazed, sleep-deprived little monkey. She's even. She's rested. She's not traumatized, I'm not traumatized. She's even napping twice a day (which is one to two more times than previously), and not in the car, on a swing, or on her daddy.
Go figure, those fancypants sleep experts actually do possess some level of expertise in the matter.
Oh, and?
SHE'S SLEEEEEEEPIIIIIIIING!
1) Jump up and down.
2) Spin around in a circle.
3) Do a lame shoulder wiggly thing, circa Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo
4) Sing, "I got my rooooom back, I got my rooooom back..."
5) Lower your singing to a whisper, "I got my rooooom back, I got my rooooom back..." because the baby? Yeah, she's uh...whatsitcalled, um... SHE'S SLEEEEEEPIIIIIIING!
Dr. Weissbluth, I am your new best friend. I am constructing an altar to you in our bedroom, right now, right at the very spot on the floor where the baby fell out of bed six times.
At the center of said altar will be your book, Happy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child (Just $9.72 and qualifies for free super-saver shipping at Amazon.com). Surrounding your tome will be photos of my smiling, delightful, well-rested baby; a tube of Chanel undereye concealer that I no longer need; the label from the bottle of wine that got me through three (just three!) nights of crying; and a small container of personal lubricant in honor of the Tempurpedic's return to its rightful role as a place where naughty things happen during the night. Naughty things that, in case you couldn't guess, don't include being kicked in the head by a horizontally sleeping baby.
Plus, a running list of the due dates of every pregnant woman I know so I can send her a copy of your book. And some rose petals. Just because that seems kind of like an altary thing.
I don't think sleep training is for everyone. It wasn't even for us for a whole year. So I'm not going to judge those who make other choices--despite some of the less than supportive ways (ahem) that some of them felt free to judge me. And I'm not going to push people into parenting choices they don't feel comfortable with. I've always been of the Do What You Gotta Do school of parenting.
But let me just say this for those people considering letting their sleepless, overtired baby cry for few nights with the hopes of teaching him that he does in fact possess the ability to sleep.
As previous posts of mine have indicated, I'm the last mother who would have thought it possible. I thought Thalia was some magic special child who could see fairies and unicorns and elves, and who just didn't need as much sleep as the other kids. Five or six hours a night, interrupted? That's cool. No naps? No problem. I mean, she smiles a lot so she must be doing fine.
But now? Thalia still smiles non-stop, but it's now a bright, focused smile; not the manic smile of a crazed, sleep-deprived little monkey. She's even. She's rested. She's not traumatized, I'm not traumatized. She's even napping twice a day (which is one to two more times than previously), and not in the car, on a swing, or on her daddy.Go figure, those fancypants sleep experts actually do possess some level of expertise in the matter.
Oh, and?
SHE'S SLEEEEEEEPIIIIIIIING!
posted by Mom101 at 9:04 PM
65 Comments:
Congrats on gettin your naughty place back!! Woo Hoo!!
Huzzah!
I TOOOOOOOLD you! Whoo Hoo!
This has made my day--I am so glad this has worked for you as well as it did for us. It is an eyeopener for sure--especially that part Wessbluth always utters: "sleep begets sleep"
My mantra, I am telling you.
I am also of the "whatever you gotta do" school of thought, but when it comes to Weissbluth I become a bit evangelical (uhm, as you know). A helping hand with the overcoming the sleep-deprivation does that to a person. I ((heart)) you Weissbluth.
Praise to the Snooze Gods! Yeeehawwww!
Congratulations! Sleep issues are one of the hardest things to figure out. Go Thalia, and Go Mommy!
Oh, I'm ecstatic for you. It means all the difference in the world.
This same hardly-a-man-more-like-a-prophet saved my life as well.
Huzzah! All hail the return of restful sleep and the spontaneous nookie!
Oh yeah! I'm doin' the churn the butter groove thing right now in celebration! And you're actually getting to get your groove thing on with your husband now?! Bonus! Everyone wins!
Wow! Rock on! Great news.
Yay! Now, with the recommencement of those naughty things, there runs a risk of another wee one. Watch out, there's something in the water. Four bloggers in the last two weeks have announced "big news". One of them with twins. I'm just sayin'.
I'm all about Do What You Gotta Do. And I'm glad you did.
Sleep - there ain't nothin' like it. Except maybe naughty stuff in your reclaimed naughty spot.
YAY! (That's mean cheerleading). I could do a split, but I'm afraid I'd tear something.
Big hurrah to you and Thalia!
I'm so glad it worked out for you!
DWUGD Parenting.
Definitely a book that needs to be written.
Awesome. It's amazing how liberating it is (and kind of sexy too) to have your own bed back.
Weeeeee!!!!!
Why didn't this guy work for us? I tried, I did. But, with older kids out of cribs, he advocates locking them in their rooms (!) which didn't sit well with me. So, it didn't work for us and we are back to sleeping separately (hubby and I) while I sleep with three little cherubs. But, you know---it's ok here, so you know, do whatcha gotta do.
Glad to hear Thalia is a good sleeper though! There is nothing like quiet sleep time to make mommy, daddy and child(ren) happy again! Hugs to you all. Like others have said, I smell baby news coming in the near future. Whenever I got my 'groove back' is when I pregnant again and again.
When my son (now 5) was 8 1/2 months old, I said (out loud and to all of my friends)"I could never let him cry it out. It's fine for other people but I just don't have it in me". Two weeks later, I was sobbing/screaming to my partner, "The baby MUST sleep. I cannot go on. He must cry, he must learn". And he did...in two days. With my second (16 months), we were quicker to recognize when it needed to happen. As a friend of mine says when the kids aren't sleeping, sleep is the new sex.
Congratulations! I knew you could do it.
Now you know why naps are so sacred!
Ummm... one of those pregnant women here. And number one was a great night time sleeper, but didn't nap at all. So I think I will probably need help. I'll be dropping the nine bucks and putting it on the shelf for later. I was so freaking star struck with number one, I didn't even think about buying a book to help me out. I thought all the answers were contained in the "what to expect" series. BTW, the lady in the rocking chair? She's full of shit.
Congrats to you and Thalia...
Happy sleepful nights to all of you!
I wish I had done this with #1, but I, too, was under the impression that I just had one of those extra-smart "she just doesn't need as much sleep" kids. With me hostage to #1's elaborate bedtime routine, my husband would put #2 into his crib, close the door, and walk away...and it friggin' worked! So, we learned - better late than never.
encouraging. your friends. to TRAIN. their infants. to sleep.
*head desk*
Congratulations! Your triumph is admirable. I'm happy for your whole family, especially Thalia.
ANd if you happen to read my latest post, just keep in mind that it was opposite day and I had to pick a mommy blogger with a sense of humor.
We had a child who was very colicky, and we went to extremes to get her to sleep. Finally, my wife couldn't take it any longer, and we tried a modified Ferber method. The first night sucked - it killed us to hear her cry. We were shocked, based on how "difficult" a babt she had been, when she took to it in 3 nights.
I'm doing the happy dance with you! Hurray for your whole family!
Yup, they do need more, not less sleep. And when they get what they need the whole family benefits.
Now I just have to figure out how to get my teenager to turn her light off at the appropriate time. Because according to all of the experts, teenagers needs a whole lot of sleep. Something about their brain synapses exploding as they go through puberty.
Does Weissbluth have anything in his book on how to accomplish that feat? Short of taking all of the light bulbs out of her room....
Does the method work on 2 1/2 year olds with established bad sleep habits?
Congrats to you for turning your bedroom back into a den of sin!!! >:)
Carrie
Yay for you! We used this book as well for our little boy to a similar end. It was so nice to reclaim our bedroom!
Woohoo! on the sleeping, well done ... and I'm just going to go ahead and assume that the 6 bungee jumps off the bed weren't all on the same day ;-)
Congratulations!
Now, how do you break a toddler from sleeping your bed? My 2 year old will not sleep in her bed. She falls asleep on the couch and I put her in her bed but sometime usually around 2:30, she climbs in bed with us. I swore I would NEVER let my child in my bed but one night turned into one week and one week turned into one month and you get the idea.
Ahhhhh, it's posts like this that give me HOPE. Though we have that book and do you think the methods worked on our first one? NOPE! I have great hopes for #2...
Yay! Sleep! I'm so glad to hear you got through the three nights, and came out the other side. Well-rested, even.
Enjoy your well-earned sleep. Sans kicking. Woot!
Know what I need? I need a cheat sheet to this guy's method. I have no idea why these doctors write BOOKS for tired, strung-out parents to read when a point by point How-To is more appropriate. When I'm sleep deprived, I can barely focus enough to tie my shoes, much less read a frickin' book!
Anyway, congratulations on your new little sleeper!
Congrats - that's HUGE!
Awwwww, Congrats. A new life.
Lisa
I'm so glad you posted this. I was actually going to e-mail with a request for an update on the sleep training.
Now I gotta go buy a book. You should put it on Cool Mom Picks.
HSH (as the book is know on my twins board) saved my life with twins. Saved my then-3-year-old from sleep hell. Got my baby (now 18 months) on the right track. Now I need to get it back out to fix the current 3 year old, that used to be a really good sleeper until we moved when he was 18 months old and let him sleep in our bed the first couple of nights in the new house and now can't get him to leave our bed. Weissbluth is a genius!
COngratulations....now go take a nap!
Yes. Sleep is GOOD. You did yourselves and Thalia a favor. Yay for you!! I know that feeling of waking up and realizing your child has slept the whole night. There is nothing better.
I'm SO happy for you! Sleeping children are wonderful!
Ok, so I'll be the probably 40 miliionth person to say this, but congradulations. Enjoy your new found freedom. ;)
woooooooooooooooohoooo! that's what it's all ABOUT! ching, ching.
Now you can make another one in the naughty spot! It would be a shame to waste that Weissbluth knowledge on just one, after all!
Yay for you! Sleeping children are wonderful, wonderful things.
Life sure does get better when they start sleeping.
I'm happy for you.
ya know, i thought your eyes looked brighter! congratulations! xoxo
(does this technique work with 22 year olds who stay up all night and/or sleep all day? if so, where can i buy a copy?)
hurray! I'm so glad it worked for you. Wonder if the technique would work for my hubby, who keeps waking in the middle of the night and wants to discuss his latest idea?
p.s. I'm so star struck that you came to visit my site! Thanks :)
Good for you!!! Let the naughtiness begin :)
oh sweet slumber! I didn't realize there was an actual technical fancy name for letting my 14 month old cry himself to sleep, but I'm with you: I have never been more thrilled to JUMP into bed at night, turn on the tv, whisper loudly, and sometimes even do things to my husband. Reclaiming the bed is like getting a new pair of shoes and a big tax refund. It rocks. So glad you're both sleeping. :)
I am indeed joining in the happy dance for you. She's sleeping! Wheeeeee!
I also pray at the altar of Weissbluth. I'm thinking of offering myself to him as a sex slave just because his book helped me get my child to sleep.
Woo hoo!!!!!! Can you see me doing the happy dance? I will be picking that book up for baby number 2.
Yay! There's nothing better than a sleeping baby! We had such difficulty with my son, your situation is painfully familiar. It is fantastic when they finally wake up happy and, well, AWAKE on a regular basis and you start thinking this being a mother thing might work out after all.
Also, thanks for the comments on my blog!
Yay!!! I know what a relief it is. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child was a lifesaver for me too! I recommend that book to any new parent. Who knew that babies sometimes just needed to be left alone to cry for a bit so they could sleep?
Sleep is good. Naughty things on the Tempurpedic are good. Way to go!
That book saved my life (and possibly that of my twins) when they were 9 months old and would never sleep at the same time ever.
Yaaaaaayyyy for sleep!
And that is a great book for new moms. It was REALLY helpful to me, even without the crying part. Just knowing that it's a good idea not to try to keep the baby up until midnight in hopes that THAT will make him sleep better, or skipping naps is actually detrimental and all that is SO useful, no matter what kind of approach the new mom will take.
Yahooo!! Sleep is awesome isn't it? It's like the best thing ever. May you have many, many wonderful nights of uninterrupted sleep ahead.
YAY!!! Congrats! Awesome that you found something that worked well for you guys!!
Congratulations! Welcome to the Other Side.
I am going to not only look like an idiot, but a bad mother who should know these things: what is sleep training and how is it done?
In truth, I don't need to know. I am done with the baby thang, but I swear this stuff never occurred to me. I'm just. that. lame.
Oh, I'm so happy for you! That's great news and I'm glad that you found something that worked for your family.
My son is one of those crazy kids who found his own sleep path and started sleeping through the night and taking naps just before he hit 3 months, so if we have another I know that sleep karma will get me and I will surely need to sleep train. I'm filing Weissbluth in my mommy mind for future reference.
But again- yay for you!
Mocha, you're not lame at all. You're lucky! "training" is a bad term, as you'll see if you scroll through the comments. It rubs some people the wrong way. It's just a way of saying "giving the baby an opportunity to learn how to sleep."
Some of it is common sense, some of it learned: Stuff like when to give naps, consistency with schedule, and the part that inspires all the angry debates - in some cases letting the baby cry for a few nights in the crib until they learn all is hunky-dory and that you will always be back for them in the morning.
Congrats. That's rocking good news. :) Makes me wonder about my nephew...he doesn't sleep well...and he's 3, so I don't know if the issues are similar or not. Hmmm.
COngrats to you! That is AWESOME. I am so happy that it worked out for you and Baby! Now, if you play your cards right you can get pregnant again poste haste and try it on baby #2! (hehehehhe)
I think this is adequate justification for a SECOND bottle of wine, no?
It was so, so fun to come here and read this post! As a Weissbluth devotee/evangelist, I always get a little thrill of triumph when another convert gets on board. And you're so right about that new sense of focus and calm in the well-rested baby... Heaven.
I think sleep is one of the most under-understood elements of parenting. Just because they're not sleeping doesn't mean they don't need the sleep.
One thing to remember...this issue seems to go on for years - them not getting enough sleep and us trying to figure out how to get them to sleep more so they don't fall apart so easily, don't u-turn into a tantrum at the drop of a dime. We're going through another phase of it now and our Okapis are 3.5. Don't get rid of the book! Keep that latar for a few years just in case!
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