The Sleep Situation: Update

She used to sleep anywhere. We'd take what we could get.

Worked for us.
Worked for her.
Win-win.

Then, when Ada was around 3 months old, we had outlined how we wanted to transition her to her crib ASAP. It seemed like the "right" thing to do. What everyone else was doing, too.


Yeah. Go ahead and laugh. O-u-t-l-i-n-e-d? As we've found out (and you've told us), outlining anything when you have a baby is ridiculous. You do whatever works on any given day. Or any given hour, for that matter.


Fast forward two months. To the last time we talked about sleep. Ada had just hit that 19-week sleep regression and we decided to swaddle her again. And that worked for a good while.

If you'll remember, due to Ada's reflux issues, we had her sleeping in this kind of arrangement. Inside a inclined rocker, swaddled tight. She'd hardly budge all night and sleep there all cozy and warm.


A couple weeks after we started swaddling her again, she became much more mobile. Like incredibly so. Overnight. She'd toss and turn in her swaddle all night long. To the point where it didn't seem safe anymore. I'd picture her inch-worming her way out of her chair at night. And though it never happened, it made it difficult for me to sleep.

So, around when Ada was 5-1/2 months, we changed up our evening routine. We used to eat dinner, read a book, and do a bath . . . then return downstairs, swaddle, and Ada would sleep on the couch while we watched TV.


The switch? I'd nurse Ada to sleep. Until she was absolutely out of it. Then I'd transfer her to her crib for those hours between around 7:30 PM and 10:30 PM. Surprisingly, we had no problem at all with this change of location. Plus, we didn't have to be super quiet anymore. We could actually TALK to each other. It was glorious.

We started doing that AND, more difficult, now, having Ada nap in her crib as well. The napping thing was hard. Ada's nursing schedule isn't, well, a schedule at all. So, I can't exactly get her to doze as deeply as I'd like. It took a few weeks to learn to rock and sway her in the right way, but we got into a rhythm.


I'll admit there is some crying that goes on. Ada doesn't fall asleep well on her own. Not that we expect her to. In no way do we "cry it out" . . . but I do let her fuss and, yes, OK cry (am I a horrible mom? I don't think so) for around 5 minutes before I go in for another round of coddling. Usually it takes just one fit for her to get out enough of her energy. I stick the pacifier in, and we're golden.

After a month of these crib experiences, we decided to take the plunge last week. We went upstairs like we usually do around 10:30 PM. We woke Ada for her night feed and then we put her to sleep in her crib.

And . . .
She . . .
Slept . . .
Until . . .
6AM!


I suppose I should mention that we don't do this sleeping thing by the book. So, I don't advise you necessarily do what we do. You need to chat with your pediatrician about what is best for your baby. Ada WILL NOT sleep on her back. AT all. Instead, she sleeps on her stomach. And she likes to be put down that way, too.

After several weeks of watching her like a hawk during naps, I feel comfortable leaving her that way. Plus, her pediatrician said there's little we can do at this point because babies are flipping and flopping like crazy.

Co-sleeping is another term I've tossed out before. I think I mentioned it in our Q and A video a couple weeks ago.


Yes. The last piece of our sleep puzzle: We do co-sleep. Sometimes. Usually after Ada's middle-of-the-night feed, so around 3AM or 4AM until she gets up around 7AM or 8AM. I feel much more comfortable sharing our bed occasionally now that she's bigger and stronger, though we have been doing it for several months. I'm also a very light sleeper, which is why we might change this practice soon.

So, that's where we are right now.

7:30PM to 10:30PM: Ada sleeps in her crib while we hang out downstairs
11:00PM to 6:00AM (Ideal night): Ada sleeps in her crib
11:00PM to 3:00AM (Normal night): Ada sleeps in her crib
3:00AM to 7:00AM (Normal night): Ada sleeps with me

Who knows where we'll be in a month! What does your sleep situation look like these days? And does it change as often as ours does?

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