Sleep Solution?

For the past couple weeks, hubby and I were struggling to find the best sleep method/technique to help baby kc. Ultimately we wanted the most healthiest sleep training method for her. In months 1 and 2, it was quite easy because when she was tired, she would just fall asleep on her own without any assistance and sleep for hours! In month 2 , she needed some assistance with the help of a paci and some swaddling, and then she'd be out! However, right when she turned to month 3--somehow, she just decided to become a "big girl" and fight her naps and give mommy and daddy and hard time. She's definitely an awesome sleeper, that is, once she's asleep! But the challenge was how to calm her down and get her sleepy. We knew that letting her cry it out wasn't the best for our family ways so we let her listen to her music box that plays quiet classical music and then she would drift off into lah lah land. However, as month 4 approached she decided to become an even "bigger girl" by ignoring her music box, and get all giddy and excited (everything opposite of calming down for nap/nitenite time). She would flair her arms, kick her feet with exciting and show us her big smiles of wanting play time despite those tired, red eyebrows and yawns. She wanted to let us know that she "wasn't sleepy" despite her tired signs.

Another week would go by and something new would happen to show us that she definitely knew it was nap/nitenite time but didn't want to comply. She would start to whine/fuss and then eventually cry hysterically even though we would be holding her! So sometimes I would have to nurse her to calm her down. Nursing definitely works but when I put her down, she would start crying so definitely that was not the best solution and healthy sleep habit to instill. Even with rocking and swinging motions by daddy, that was short lived. At times when she needs it then daddy will help her but we know that's not a healthy sleep habit to instill in her in the long run. So we thought maybe she just needed to "let it out" and cry. As hard it was to see her, that's what we did for one day because we were solution-less. However, there was just something about letting her cry it out that we didn't really feel comfortable with. Even when we laid by her side letting her know that we weren't abandoning her, watching her cry was too difficult.

So with the combination effort and idea between hubby and I we came up with a routine to help her prepare for nap/nite nite time and so far, for the past 3 days, it's worked! It's a solution with no crying (maybe some fussing) but definitely no tears!

TECHNIQUE/TACTIC: I would hold her upright by our bedroom window so she can look outside. Then I will say "it's nap nap/nitenite time" and "it's time to close your eyes, and rest your body". Then we'll sing 1 song of "Twinkle Twinkle" and then I'll start singing my special song that I created just for her. Sometimes we turn on the star music box we can have that in the background, but she doesn't need it all the time. Then I'll hold her and kiss her, while singing my special song to her, and lay her down. She's usually calm by now, but sometimes she fusses and protests but it's not crying at least. Then I'll continue to sing her the special song while I'm laying next to her (sometimes on our bed-if so, then I'll transfer her when she's sleepy). She likes to kick her legs at this time but over time she tires herself out. Eventually she gets sleepy and her eyes are drowsy, then off to lah lah land she goes.

I'm just thankful to God that He allowed such an opporutnity to be a parent and allowed me to reap the rewards of parental stewardship.

But I'm sure to conquer the art of sleeping will be a work in progress....