How We Got Baby To Sleep Through The Night

When Mikayla was born we lived in a one bedroom apartment and Mikayla slept in a mini crib in our bedroom. It was so easy to have her in our room as a newborn, because she would get up to nurse every 2 hours. It was nice having her so close. I could see her and I knew she was safe. We have a night time routine that we started with Mikayla when she was a newborn. She gets a “bath” every night, not necessary a full bath with shampoo, but at least a nice, warm soak. Then after drying her off, she gets a massage with baby oil and then right into her pajamas. After, we play a little or read a book then I’d nurse her to sleep.

By 8 months, Mikayla would go to sleep and get up at the same times: 12am, 3am, 5am and 7am. I realized she wasn’t waking up to feed anymore (especially since she was eating lots throughout the day). She was waking up to be with me because I would just pick her up when she’d cry and rock her to sleep. At this time we had sold our apartment, moved in with my parents and Mikayla was still sharing a room with us. I think I was in denial about the night wakings, saying that she’d eventually learn how to sleep on her own and that I was okay with the night wakings. But really… c’mon now! Who is happy about waking up NUMEROUS times in the middle of the night?! There were MANY times I would be rocking or nursing Mikayla to sleep staring at my snoring husband and resenting him. Ughhhhh!!! So frustrating. I’d be so mad at him for sleeping. During the day, I’d be okay but by dinner time I would be dead tired and grumpy!

Both Chris and I knew there were a few things that needed to change with our situation.

1. Mikayla was in our room, could see us when she would wake up and she could hear us if we moved suddenly or if Zoey was snoring too loudly.
2. She was outgrowing her mini crib. She’s a mover and would bump her head on the sides of the crib and wake up. She liked to flip over and sleep on her tummy, but sometimes she would roll over and bump the side of the crib and didn’t have enough space to roll over.
3. She was using me as her pacifier. Every time she would wake up she wanted Mommy! She wanted to nurse and as soon as she’d latch she’d be asleep.

At 9 months we moved to Chris’ parents house (this was so both sets of grandparents would get to spend quality time with her.) Luckily, they had 2 bedrooms for us, so for the first time, Mikayla got her own room. I was ready to be rid of the night wakings so we made a plan to “sleep train” her. We wanted her to learn how to comfort herself and fall asleep on her own. We didn’t want her to constantly rely on Mommy to help her fall asleep.We had read a few articles, blog posts about it and everyone’s story is a little different. But one thing that all these posts had in common was to not pick up the baby. 

Here’s what our nights looked like:

Night 1: 

Bedtime routine which includes a warm bath, a little massage with baby oil and pajamas. Read a book or some quiet playtime and then put on the sleep sack. Nurse Mikayla and unlatch when she starts closing her eyes to sleep. Put her in her crib with her bunny. She started crying so I shushed her and patted her butt till she calmed down and dozed off.

As soon as I left her room, she started whimpering. Both Chris and I waited downstairs, watched TV to distract ourselves. This was the hardest part. Just waiting… Chris went up to her room every 15 minutes to shush, pat pat pat pat and re-tuck her in with bunny. I got him to do it because Mikayla just looks at me and wants boobies.

In less than an hour, Mikayla was quiet and sleeping. She woke up at 4am! No midnight or 2am wake up! And Chris went into her room shushed and patted and she went back to sleep. Halleluja!

We continued the bunny, shushing and patting routine for her naps the next day and she was going to sleep much easier.

Night 2: 

Again with the bedtime routine, but we made sure to give her lots of playtime beforehand and a long bath to tire her out. We skipped the book and went right to nursing. Again she cried when I put her down but after 20 minutes of on and off whimpering she fell asleep holding her bunny’s ears super tight.

She slept through the entire night from 9pm to 7am. I was beside myself. I couldn’t believe how fast she picked it up. But Chris was skeptical and didn’t want to celebrate too early.

Night 3: 

Again same routine but we tried putting her to bed earlier. She still cried after I put her down, but fell asleep shortly after. She woke up at 3am and I went in there and re tucked her in, patted her and gave her her bunny. She fell asleep and I quietly snuck out. She didn’t get up till 8am the next morning. 🙂

We continued this routine and it’s been working so far. Minus the little hiccup where she got sick! But she’s better at putting herself to sleep now. I still nurse her at night but she pulls off on her own and goes right to her bed. She gives me a little cry when I start to leave her, but shortly after she goes to sleep.

Here’s what her daily routine looks like: 

7am wake up, nurse and eat breakfast
9am playtime
10am -1130am nap time
12pm eat lunch
1pm to 230pm go out, walk Zoey and play time
3pm-5pm nap
5pm dinner
6pm playtime
7pm nighttime routine and asleep by 8:45/9pm.

^ She squirmed her way into this position, sideways in her crib! I told you she’s a mover 😉

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