Post by evenkeeled on Sept 29, 2016 9:08:13 GMT -5
evenkeeled & anyone else interested... novel ahead. Hope you don't mind. It was actually really helpful to look at my notes from last night and organize/type them out!
We had our call with the sleep consultant last night. It went really well! She gave us several options to choose from that didn't involve CIO, we chose the slowest option and she then worked with us to create a plan that addresses bedtime, MOTN wakeups and naps. I feel good about it.
Overall we need to somehow shift things so he's getting more calories during the day/relying less on MOTN feedings to fill up. His daytime milk consumption is down a lot and we need to get it back up.
For bed time - the first 1-4 days, for the part of our bedtime routine where we'd let him play on the floor for a few minutes before reading to him, we are to add 10-15 seconds of him playing in his crib. Pick him up before he gets to the point of crying. I will then nurse him to sleep as usual. Days 5-10, extend that playtime in the crib by a little bit each night. Then, we will start rearranging our bedtime routine (this scares me!). Days 11-21, nurse him in another room before starting routine so we know his hunger is addressed. Then, resume normal bedtime routine in the nursery (including new playtime in crib part). I can nurse him again briefly where I normally would in the routine, but unlatch him when he's drowsy but not yet asleep. Move him to the crib. If he cries, pick him up and nurse to sleep as usual. Try to extend that time in the crib each night if he's fussing but not crying.
Days 22+, if that drowsy transfer to crib still isn't working, move bedtime up 10 min and add a second attempt to transfer while drowsy before giving in and just nursing to sleep. With time he should catch on...
MOTN - if he wakes before 3am and is crying, try soothing in crib, if that doesn't work, rock him to sleep and put him down asleep (once he catches on and can go down drowsy at bedtime, can put him back down drowsy at these MOTN wakeups). If he wakes up crying after 3 am, go ahead and feed for now, let him fall asleep then transfer to crib (also once he's able to go down drowsy at bedtime can put him down drowsy here).
For naps - all caretakers to put him in the crib for the first nap of the day. He can be asleep when we move him, until we master getting him down drowsy at night. If it doesn't take, go ahead and let him sleep on us. If he stays down but starts stirring after his first sleep cycle, immediately go in (try to catch it before he's fully awake) and try rocking him right back to sleep and put in the crib. If that doesn't take, let him finish the nap on us. If he stays up (i.e. only gets an approx. 30 min nap) need to make sure he gets a third nap that day. Naps #2 and 3 (if he takes a third) can be on us for now to ensure he doesn't wind up sleep deprived if that first nap in the crib is a struggle.
Will see how this all goes...
Can't wait to hear how you do! Sent your post to my husband to discuss.