Hey mama!
If you’re reading this it’s likely because you are hoping to get more sleep at night, and sister – I feel you. For the longest time Loretta would wake up 3 times a night (hungry!!) and then hardly nap throughout the day! I felt like I was drowning, and I know that’s a feeling many mamas have.
The point of this sleep training method is to gradually normalize your baby’s feedings during the day so he/she is getting all of the necessary ounces before bed! It will not only help their digestive system, yet it will also help them take better naps during the day because they’re no longer snacking!
I’m excited to share that after 1.5 months of gradual sleep training (without crying it out!) Loretta is sleeping through the entire night from 8pm – 7:30am. I got my life back!! My happiness back. I feel like myself again – I’m no longer gasping for air. You deserve to have this feeling, too!
We started this method at 4 months and every week was better than the last. By 5 1/2 months Loretta was completely sleep trained (without ever crying it out!) and was SO much happier throughout the day! Here’s what we did:
Meet your baby where they’re at. For us, at 4 months, Loretta was waking up 2-3 times a night and insisted on eating 6 ounces from a bottle each time. Our training started from this point, so change the ounces according to where your baby is currently at!
Week 1: Feed normally when they wake. For us it was 6 ounces 3 times a night (yikes!). If you’re breastfeeding start to time the feedings and write them out on a piece of paper!!
Week 2: Take away an ounce. We’re now at 5 ounces 3 times a night. If you’re breastfeeding stop nursing a couple minutes before their average feeding time from Week 1. (i.e. If you nursed for 10 minutes Week 1, nurse for 8 minutes Week 2).
Week 3: Take away another ounce. We’re now at 4 ounces. If you’re breastfeeding stop a couple minutes before the average feeding time from Week 2. (i.e. If you nursed for 8 minutes Week 2, nurse for 6 minutes Week 3).
Week 4: Take away another ounce. We’re now at 3 ounces AND Loretta would only wake up 1-2 times instead of 3 times during the night!! *it was so exciting.* If you’re breastfeeding stop nursing a couple minutes before the average feeding time of Week 3. (i.e. If you nursed for 6 minutes Week 3, nurse for 4 minutes Week 4).
Week 5: Take away another ounce. We’re now at 2 ounces!! If you’re breastfeeding you should only be feeding for a couple minutes at this point. Baby might be a little angry when you stop feeding – they think they want more, yet at this point they’re likely getting all their necessary ounces during the day – so they should go right back to sleep!
Week 6: Repeat week 5. Feed 2 ounces per feeding AGAIN! (We never went down to 1 ounce because we thought it would be pointless). At this point Loretta’s daytime feedings were becoming normal and she was getting all of her necessary ounces during the day, so her wake time during the night became dramatically less.
During Week 6 she slept through the night for the first time (8pm-7:30am). After that, her nighttime feedings started to fizzle away! She slept through the night 3-4 nights during Week 6, and the other nights she would only wake once for a 2 ounce bottle.
During Week 7 she slept through the night every. single. night. WHAT?! I was seriously like – Is this really happening? Are we no longer on team no sleep?! BEST WEEK EVER! And it’s been smooth sailing ever since!
NOTE: If we ever go out of town on the weekends (which is often!) she has never been a great sleeper and I’m not sure she ever will be. HOWEVER those crazy nights never affected her overall training. Whenever we got back home from our weekend trip we’d pick up right where we left off and she would be back to normal!
Helpful Tip from my Pediatrician: Sometimes babies (around 4 months) make tired cries that may confuse you. Their eyes may be closed and if you pick them up to soothe them, you’ll wake them. Try to wait 5-10 minutes to see if they’ll go right back to sleep before picking them up!
Mama, I really hope this sleep training method helps you! I loved it because it was gradual (almost natural) and I never had any guilt. She was always happy, cared for, never felt abandoned and her daytime schedule started to gradually normalize more and more every week. You and your babe BOTH need and deserve some good sleep, and I really think this method will work for you!
Please let me know if you have any questions via DM or – if you’re comfortable – in the comments section on this blog post so other mamas can hear from you, too!
Love ya’ll! We’re in this together!!
xx, Becca
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