I felt so happy this morning because the little one slept in until 6:00 am! I used to be happy when she slept until 7:00 am but hey, I'll take it. I was thinking about it and her 5:00 crazy times pretty much match up to when she started to vocalize so much. I think it goes along with the theory that milestones tend to mess up their sleeping habits. But now she's accustomed to her new skill so I'm hoping that she'll settle into this 6:00 am routine now - and maybe even keep it through the next milestone!
She went to bed at 6:15 last night - I decided that I don't think pushing her bedtime back is necessary right now. I could tell she was tired and I didn't want to keep her up past that magic time when she goes down so easily. It's just not worth it. She's tired, I put her to sleep. Period. Hopefully as she gets older she'll adjust to a 7:00 pm bed time but if she doesn't, that's fine by me too. The Weissbluth book has quite a few examples of very well-rested kids that go to bed as early as 5:30 so 6:15 is okay with me.
Of course, you just never know what they are going to do. I was talking over email with another mommy friend and it's interesting because we have pretty different parenting styles but both work for us. I feel pretty good about having a plan and working towards a goal - like how I use the Weissbluth book and am slowly inching towards the day when the little one gets 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I use the book as a guideline not rigid rules but it feels really good to me to have a plan. My friend, on the other hand, enjoys just letting it happen with her baby. I think both methods are good - it just depends on what kind of a mom you are.
For me, I like the structure of knowing that I'm following guidelines - it helps me get through the day. I have another friend who is following the Good Night, Sleep Tight book and she really likes it. We have talked about sleep training with one another and she also really likes following a plan. I think it's just each person's personality. It's funny because before I had the little one I thought the Sleep Easy Solution was the sleep book for me but after her birth I got so attached to the Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Baby book. I thought it was too complex at first but now I just dig it.
So my recommendation to preggos or new moms who think they might want to learn more about sleep is to get a few different books and have them around. Even the Dr. Sears sleep book was helpful to me and that's one I thought was crazy-town when I was pregnant. There were definitely times in those first six weeks that the Weissbluth book was my only saving grace. Just knowing how each week roughly works out and the changes going on in baby's brain that produce their different patterns. I worked pretty hard initally to get the little one to sleep and nap in her crib like the book said but I think it's been paying off - for me, the way I want to run things.
To read my pre-baby thoughts on the sleep books, click here.
I guess the other thing I'd say to preggos and new moms is that it's great to talk with friends about what works for them but don't feel guilty about your own parenting style. It was so hard for me to be at mommy & me and hear about all the other babies who were the same age as the little one who were sleeping so much better than she was. It was extra frustrating because the little one is so big and has enough .. ehm ... padding, to make it for more hours in a stretch. But, she is developing at her own rate and that's what all babies do. As a mom you know your own baby best and also what your own limits are. Some moms go nuts with the night wakings so they use extinction methods earlier. That's fine. Everyone has to find their own way.
OK - now go forth and conquer!!!
