I just wanted to insert that I used to think that sleep training was hideous. Before I had children I used to be angst ridden if I was at a house while they were doing it. Don't they love their children? What message are they sending them, that they won't be there when they need them?
These views carried on through my first child, I sobbed next to the sleep doctor as she instructed me to maintain no eye contact and keep my hand on his little heaving chest until my allocated (silent) 5 minute hug.
I didn't follow through with the program, I secretly thought she should be reported to the child welfare authorities. I thought that I was proving how much I loved him by waking with him 10 times a night...
With Harrison, we waited too late, by 10 months, he was so firmly in his ways and so stubborn that sleep training just never worked and in the end, I really like to crawl into bed, snuggle up and smell his sweet breath next to me to end each day (even now!). BUT It's been a long 4 1/2 years with lots of sleeping issues. It's good now, but it took awhile to get here.
I no longer think it's torture, I no longer think it's mean. I think that helping children learn to self soothe is a really important skill, and even though it doesn't really seem like it, I do think it is positive parenting to give a child tools they need even if it's going to be a rough couple of days learning....
Today has been another good day, down to 3 minutes to fall asleep!!
Yay.
Comments