It Starts Now

4/01/12

Today marks operation "get River Jane out of my bed".

I wouldn't call myself a family bed practicer. I've got nothing against it, but I like my space. I like to be able to go to bed without attachments. And I like to be able to change positions when I wake up at night. Can I also add, that I am a light sleeper who doesn't move around. River Jane sleeps on her side right up against me. So I feel her if she moves. I wouldn't let her sleep with us if I thought it was in any way dangerous. That's all.

With Taylor, I started early getting her to self soothe herself to sleep. She would start out in her bed, but I would nurse her by me and leave her there for the 4:00 feeding.

Things are different with River Jane. I'm scared to let her cry even a tiny bit at night. We share a wall with Taylor and I'm so afraid it will wake her up.

So, she sleeps with us. It's just easier to feed her or pop the paci in when she wakes up. I know. Begin as you mean to go. This is a bad habit I've gotten myself into.

And it stops now.

I want my bed back. I love every minute with that sweet baby, but I want my away from baby sleep time.

So, tonight I'm trying to put her to sleep in the pack n play in our guest room. I moved the video monitor out of Taylor's room and into there.

I think this will help both of us sleep better. Hopefully it won't take too long.

Wish me luck.

Update on Wednesday, April 4th:
The first night did not go well. I caved and ended up sleeping with you in the guest bed. And starting at 1, you woke up EVERY hour. Not cool, kid. The next day we worked on self-soothing during naptime. Again, did not go well. Lots of crying; little sleep. And that night we made the mistake of doing another big change by putting Taylor in a toddler bed, so she needed the video monitor. That meant mommy had to sleep in the guest room with you again. After nursing you, I worked on at least getting you used to not being right next to me. That worked. I also started giving you a bottle at night so I couldn't use nursing as a paci. You slept in your pack and play well at first, but mommy caved when you wouldn't go back to sleep. And then the next day for naps, the magic happened. Mommy figured out you sleep well on your own when she lets you cry it out on your belly. It takes you less than 5 minutes to fall asleep without my help. Awesome. Please let this be real. The first night of belly sleep, you slept in the pack and play til 5:30, with one bottle between that. Awesome.