For the past almost 10 months now we have put Mateo to sleep every single night since he's been born. We have tried and done everything from bouncing him up and down, swaying him back and forth to rocking him in a rocking chair for however long it would take him to fall asleep in our arms. And every night since he's been born (except for maybe a handful of times) he has woken up at least once in the middle of the night. So, the time to let him "Cry It Out" is finally here.
For those of you non-parents out there, "Crying It Out" is a sleep training method where you basically let your child cry themselves to sleep. I know it sounds horrible and that's why we've waited this long to do it. But, after trying all other methods, this one actually makes sense. Mateo has no idea how to put himself to sleep because for his entire life we have been there to do it for him. And, when he wakes up in the middle of the night it's no different. He still needs us and it's only natural that he calls out for help.
So, as of Sunday night, this has been our schedule:
8:45pm - We go into his room, dim the lights, read him a book, cuddle him, and say a goodnight prayer.
9:00pm - We lay him down in his crib, tell him we love him, and kiss him goodnight.
9:00 - 9:05pm - He screams at the top of his lungs while we sit outside anxiously listening to him on the monitor.
9:05pm - We go back into his room to calm him down, reassure him that we love him, and kiss him goodnight for the second time.
9:10 - ??? - He cries for another 15 minutes, we go back in to love him, and leave him to cry more. This process continues until he eventually cries himself to sleep.
Needless to say this has been one of the most trying things we have gone through as parents. It would be so much easier to go into his room, pick him up and put him to sleep as we've done in the past. But, we must be consistent, get through these rough nights, and eventually it will be all good.
In the meantime, I ask for your prayers as we go through this as a family. Pray for Mateo that he somehow understands that although this is tough right now it will be better for him in the end. And pray for Albert and I that we find comfort and trust in God that this is the right thing to do.
STYLE AND WISHLISTS
4 years ago
4 comments:
i shall pray for you! i know it's hard. we tried it. was working...then our genius taylor decided to jump out the crib. so we haven't done it since. it's not soo bad having her sleep in our room. hehe.
it is doable!!! and you will be so grateful and it will be easier for you and albert to have alone and quiet time, which is so necessary for parents and marriage...We did the crying out cold turkey and she got it after a week and now she has no problem...In fact, so much so that she doesn't know how to fall asleep with us, so she never sleeps with us...I will pray for you...I can't wait to start training Brave, but I do love her sleeping in our room for now.
K.... When it's my turn...then you can help me..haha. i can't wait to see you guys! and even more so..mateo! is there anything you want or need from down here...besides food. well, i guess we can bring food. anyway... do you know cherry's email, i wanna send her the pictures of caleb...thank yah
Oh no...this does sound hard. I dread the day when your blog will be about Sabrina and not Mateo. But as a family we will pray for you guys and hopefully you'll be able to glorify and be thankful to God through the process. When it's our turn...you can give us all the advice you can! Love you!
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