Sleep Routine

Since Mama has left, we've taken this opportunity to train Emma to sleep by herself throughout the night.

On Friday night, we put Emma in her crib around 10-11pm, but she cried for 20 minutes straight. So I went and picked her up... then fell asleep too, but Jess came and put her back in the crib again. Several hours later, maybe around 2am, Emma started crying again. Since I was sleeping, Jess asked me whether what to do. I said, fine go pick her up and let her sleep on the bed......... So it was a failure, since Emma slept with Jess and I for the rest of the night. (Also Jess let her nurse for comfort, not hunger)

On Saturday night, I declared that Jess should not sleep in the same room as Emma, in order for this training to be effective. So Emma was put in her crib at around 10pm, and cried for about 20 mins before falling asleep. I went to bed around 12am, but was woken up by Emma's crying at exactly 4:04am. In her upset mood, Emma kept kicking, until her head moved close enough to touch the headboard of her crib. So I decided to pull her back towards the middle. Since she saw me, she stopped crying, assuming that I'd pick her up. But when I didn't, she cried consistently until around 4:48am, stopping at times only to take quick breaths. During that time, I realized that aside from closing the bedroom door for soundproofing, I had forgotten to close the bathroom's window and door... to maximize the soundproofing of Emma's crying at this hour, as a courtesy to our neighbors.. hehehe... Finally when Emma stopped crying, it was getting light outside, so I had trouble falling back asleep myself. As soon as I did, Emma started crying again at 8:45am......... at which point I picked her up and handed her to Jess to feed. Of course I went back to sleep... And later I find out that Jess had not heard a single cry all night long, because she slept in the living room downstairs.

On Sunday night, Emma was very sleepy from 8pm on, and although she was due a feeding by 9pm, she didn't show any signs of stirring until around 10-11pm. So Jess fed her some milk when she woke up a little, and then put her to bed afterwards. Since Jess had work the next day, we resumed the same positions, me in the room with Emma, and Jess downstairs, so that she wouldn't hear her cries. During the entire night, Emma didn't cry at all! She did wake up at 6am this morning, a bit earlier than I liked, though, but that's only because she slept earlier than usual. With some adjustment, Emma will get used to sleeping well throughout the night all by herself!

For more information: Parenting Magazine's explanation of Ferberizing