She DID sleep through perfectly last night - she even slept past 7am which is unusual for her. (She was a bit clingy this morning going to the childminder and had a bit of a meltdown before bed last night, though, so the long sleep might mean she's coming down with some disease.).
I, on the other hand, woke up more or less on the hour from 2am to listen out for her. Now I must sleep train myself.
Oh, and I fully expect her to wake up in the night tonight so maybe it will be a case of "here we go again" for sleep training. My fingers are crossed and I do hold some hope that she'll sleep again but the hopes are not high.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Oh no, not again!
Oh dear, it does look like I might bite the bullet and try and sleep train Z again. She's woken up in the night for at least the last 3 nights in a row and I think I am going to try to break the habit. She's been demanding "out" and "daddy" whenever I go in and I have been taking her out of the cot, telling her it's time to sleep and sitting down and giving her a breastfeed having told her she's going back in the cot afterwards. She hasn't fussed about going back in the cot once she's had her feed so that's something, I suppose.
I am trying to decide whether my strategy should be not to take her out of the cot at all and just talk soothingly and tell her it's time to go asleep or to do it one step at a time - out of the cot but no feed tonight and see how that goes and then not take her out of the cot if she is still waking after that. Hmm...if I don't take her out of the cot, I am pretty sure there will be loud protests but it might be better to just go for it since I imagine she would protest at not being given a feed once she has been taken out of the cot. Gah.
With a bit of luck, she'll sleep through perfectly tonight and no training will be necessary but I'm not holding my breath!
I am trying to decide whether my strategy should be not to take her out of the cot at all and just talk soothingly and tell her it's time to go asleep or to do it one step at a time - out of the cot but no feed tonight and see how that goes and then not take her out of the cot if she is still waking after that. Hmm...if I don't take her out of the cot, I am pretty sure there will be loud protests but it might be better to just go for it since I imagine she would protest at not being given a feed once she has been taken out of the cot. Gah.
With a bit of luck, she'll sleep through perfectly tonight and no training will be necessary but I'm not holding my breath!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Another update
Well, it's been a while and I am shocked that I didn't post during October since my attempts at conquering the IPC were very successful...ok, moderately successful...during that month. I actually gave up chocolate for a few weeks as I had got into the habit of buying it and gobbling it and not really savouring it. At the end of my self-imposed chocolate fast, we were in London and I indulged in hot chocolate Milano from Caffe Nero which is just very, very good.
I am now recommencing a chocolate fast as we are going to London again in a couple of weeks and I want to appreciate the hot chocolate Milano as fully this time as I did last time. Mmmmmmmmmm.
As for the beginning of the end of breast-feeding. Well, that didn't happen although the few missed feeds meant that my left breast went into weaning mode and is now, in the words of Z, "ack" and "no nice". I did Google this phenomenon and, apparently, breast milk can become salty when you cut down on feeds. I do want to wean her off but I am hoping it will happen semi-naturally. For example, I am heading away in March for a couple of nights without her and I am wondering if this will cause the other breast to produce salty, weaning milk so that she won't like it when I come back. We shall see. In the meantime, I must confess, that after 'plane journeys and time differences resulting in night wakings on holidays, I am back to giving her a little feed if she wakes in the night. It is infrequent so I don't really have the resolve to go through the middle-of-the-night crying, I think, especially when I feel the end is in sight.
I am now recommencing a chocolate fast as we are going to London again in a couple of weeks and I want to appreciate the hot chocolate Milano as fully this time as I did last time. Mmmmmmmmmm.
As for the beginning of the end of breast-feeding. Well, that didn't happen although the few missed feeds meant that my left breast went into weaning mode and is now, in the words of Z, "ack" and "no nice". I did Google this phenomenon and, apparently, breast milk can become salty when you cut down on feeds. I do want to wean her off but I am hoping it will happen semi-naturally. For example, I am heading away in March for a couple of nights without her and I am wondering if this will cause the other breast to produce salty, weaning milk so that she won't like it when I come back. We shall see. In the meantime, I must confess, that after 'plane journeys and time differences resulting in night wakings on holidays, I am back to giving her a little feed if she wakes in the night. It is infrequent so I don't really have the resolve to go through the middle-of-the-night crying, I think, especially when I feel the end is in sight.
Monday, August 24, 2009
And onto the next diary
I have strayed somewhat from the title of the blog. The Infinite Passion for Chocolate (IPC for short) is far from conquered, barely even restrained but I have taken up the challenge of a half-marathon to counteract it to some extent. I also chose a (double chocolate chip) cookie over a chocolate bar for my sweet fix today so, y'know, progress.
The sleep-training was successful. After my trip away, she still slept through the night apart from on rare occasions now which I put down to teething or the weather or something and secretly pray that it's not the start of a new pattern. So far, the prayers have been successful. Not bad for a non-believer.
Her morning routine has changed in the last few days too. She used to be standing in the cot and crying in her attention-required cry when I went to get her in the mornings (and I would always feel a little guilty at letting the cry escalate to her "no, come now!" cry rather than going in at the first sound of the "hey, I'm awake, where are you" cry). In the last few mornings, she's been calling, rather than crying for me so I hear "mama mama mama" and when I go in, she's lying in the cot waiting for me, sometimes face down. Odd child.
However, the point of my return here was none of this. I come to report on what may be the beginning of the end of breast-feeding for Z and me. Last night, she didn't ask for it before bed-time (this is the second time, only, that she hasn't had it when I've been there) so I didn't offer. Ok, she did wake up a bit upset at around 11.30pm and I ended up giving her a feed when she asked for it (but she didn't ask immediately on being cuddled) but then, this morning, she hadn't called for me by the time I was getting up so I began getting up and was dressed when I went in to her. She didn't ask for a breast-feed and I didn't offer. Is it the beginning of the end?
I don't think it will be as easy as all that, though. For example, on weekend mornings and the days I don't work, I don't think I will be able to resist the extra lie-in that those breast-feeds buy us. And I am not 100% committed to stopping yet so if/when she asks for some this evening, she'll get it!
The sleep-training was successful. After my trip away, she still slept through the night apart from on rare occasions now which I put down to teething or the weather or something and secretly pray that it's not the start of a new pattern. So far, the prayers have been successful. Not bad for a non-believer.
Her morning routine has changed in the last few days too. She used to be standing in the cot and crying in her attention-required cry when I went to get her in the mornings (and I would always feel a little guilty at letting the cry escalate to her "no, come now!" cry rather than going in at the first sound of the "hey, I'm awake, where are you" cry). In the last few mornings, she's been calling, rather than crying for me so I hear "mama mama mama" and when I go in, she's lying in the cot waiting for me, sometimes face down. Odd child.
However, the point of my return here was none of this. I come to report on what may be the beginning of the end of breast-feeding for Z and me. Last night, she didn't ask for it before bed-time (this is the second time, only, that she hasn't had it when I've been there) so I didn't offer. Ok, she did wake up a bit upset at around 11.30pm and I ended up giving her a feed when she asked for it (but she didn't ask immediately on being cuddled) but then, this morning, she hadn't called for me by the time I was getting up so I began getting up and was dressed when I went in to her. She didn't ask for a breast-feed and I didn't offer. Is it the beginning of the end?
I don't think it will be as easy as all that, though. For example, on weekend mornings and the days I don't work, I don't think I will be able to resist the extra lie-in that those breast-feeds buy us. And I am not 100% committed to stopping yet so if/when she asks for some this evening, she'll get it!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Night 9 of sleep training - Can Dad do it?!
Right, so last night, my beloved husband was home in time for bedtime. He said he'd do it and I was reluctant.
Me: "You have to follow the rules"
Him: "I know"
Me: "So you have to leave the room and not pick her up"
Him: "Yes, I know"
Me: "But you didn't do it the other night"
Him: "I know but that was by choice"
Me: "But there is NO choice, you HAVE to do it" (obsessive, moi?!)
Him: "Your faith in me is touching"
Anyway, I handed the baby over and gave them time to get upstairs and into her room and then followed and sat out of sight to watch progress! He did well...she settled after the second return and we went downstairs, most pleased with ourselves (Ok, so he hadn't put her in her sleeping bag or turned on the monitor but they are minor details!) only to be told by my sister about 5 minutes later that she was crying. Up we went again but she was easily settled and husband was most impressed.
She woke again at 4.30am and seemed to need settling so I went in and, sure enough, she was standing up. I lay her back down and she was settled within a minute or two but I am hoping this won't be a pattern for long.
Once more, she happily played in her cot for a bit so I didn't have to get her the moment she woke up.
However, tomorrow night I am leaving for 3 nights so all my work may be undone. I expect to return to a clingy baby who may not be so easily settled.
Ho hum.
Me: "You have to follow the rules"
Him: "I know"
Me: "So you have to leave the room and not pick her up"
Him: "Yes, I know"
Me: "But you didn't do it the other night"
Him: "I know but that was by choice"
Me: "But there is NO choice, you HAVE to do it" (obsessive, moi?!)
Him: "Your faith in me is touching"
Anyway, I handed the baby over and gave them time to get upstairs and into her room and then followed and sat out of sight to watch progress! He did well...she settled after the second return and we went downstairs, most pleased with ourselves (Ok, so he hadn't put her in her sleeping bag or turned on the monitor but they are minor details!) only to be told by my sister about 5 minutes later that she was crying. Up we went again but she was easily settled and husband was most impressed.
She woke again at 4.30am and seemed to need settling so I went in and, sure enough, she was standing up. I lay her back down and she was settled within a minute or two but I am hoping this won't be a pattern for long.
Once more, she happily played in her cot for a bit so I didn't have to get her the moment she woke up.
However, tomorrow night I am leaving for 3 nights so all my work may be undone. I expect to return to a clingy baby who may not be so easily settled.
Ho hum.
Night 8 of sleep training
Hmm...Monday night, she fell asleep breast-feeding again so I couldn't tell whether the training had worked.
She did wake at 4.30ish but I let her settle herself and she did so quite easily.
Even better, although she woke at about 6am, she didn't kick up a big fuss and happily played in her cot (with the odd whinge) until I went to get her at 6.45.
She did wake at 4.30ish but I let her settle herself and she did so quite easily.
Even better, although she woke at about 6am, she didn't kick up a big fuss and happily played in her cot (with the odd whinge) until I went to get her at 6.45.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Night 7 of sleep training
Bedtime
After 3 nights of her falling asleep while breast-feeding, I was wondering what this evening would bring. I didn't give her a bath 'cause we were a bit late from a Sunday afternoon of family gallivanting. She didn't fall asleep breast-feeding so it was with trepidation that I brought her up to her cot.
She was not too impressed to be put in the cot but I gave her cuddles and put her musical toy playing and she seemed sleepy when I lay her down. I said "night night" and left the room...in about 30 seconds, the crying was getting loud and I could tell she was standing up so I went in again. Gave her a hug, lay her back down (musical toy still playing) and stroked her head and put her sleepy teddy beside her and she settled. I said "night night" and left the room and...silence! I stayed up there for a few minutes, busying myself with making the beds (slummy mummy making beds at night, not in the morning!) and still no noise.
I went to look in her room to see if I could tuck her in and my heart leapt into my mouth when she swivelled her head and looked at me. Oh no, had I ruined it?! I quickly turned around and tip-toed out of the room fearing the worst...but no, she must have turned over and gone back to settling. I was amazed! Had this sleep training worked? Watch this space!
After 3 nights of her falling asleep while breast-feeding, I was wondering what this evening would bring. I didn't give her a bath 'cause we were a bit late from a Sunday afternoon of family gallivanting. She didn't fall asleep breast-feeding so it was with trepidation that I brought her up to her cot.
She was not too impressed to be put in the cot but I gave her cuddles and put her musical toy playing and she seemed sleepy when I lay her down. I said "night night" and left the room...in about 30 seconds, the crying was getting loud and I could tell she was standing up so I went in again. Gave her a hug, lay her back down (musical toy still playing) and stroked her head and put her sleepy teddy beside her and she settled. I said "night night" and left the room and...silence! I stayed up there for a few minutes, busying myself with making the beds (slummy mummy making beds at night, not in the morning!) and still no noise.
I went to look in her room to see if I could tuck her in and my heart leapt into my mouth when she swivelled her head and looked at me. Oh no, had I ruined it?! I quickly turned around and tip-toed out of the room fearing the worst...but no, she must have turned over and gone back to settling. I was amazed! Had this sleep training worked? Watch this space!
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