Hello ! Today we're talking about the pros and cons of the E.A.S.Y. schedule, how to tell whether you're dealing with a sleep regression or something else, and why sleep training is not the same as cry-it-out. Enjoy!
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Sleeping Child
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"Ok, it's been a few months and I'm finally getting around to thanking you!
I ended up purchasing your sleep plan the day after I fell down the stairs of our house while holding the baby. He was fine, thank God, but I was torn up, physically, emotionally, mentally. Our son was just over 6 months and a terrible sleeper. He woke at least every 2 hours, sometimes every 45 minutes, crying, squirming, inconsolable, and nothing worked. My husband was traveling a lot, I was working and taking care of the baby, and I was going crazy.
I was scared to do sleep training. I read SO MANY articles on your site and elsewhere about the pros and cons and the "scientific" evidence behind it. I read the article that called sleep training an antiquated form of torture, and then I read Nicole's article saying that crying was natural, normal and was going to happen so how could it possibly cause brain
damage.
My husband got back from his work trip and I told him he had to read the
sleep plan all the way through. I told him he had to do the sleep training because I couldn't handle it [...and he took the monitor]. I woke up in the morning and ran into the baby's room feeling
terrible, but he was fine. He was very happy to see us. That night, we set out to do the sleep coaching again, but the baby SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT. And he has been ever since!! He still has occasional wake-ups and cries but for less than a minute, and he puts himself back to sleep. In the morning when we go get him, he is jumping up and down in his crib and happy. He is
an active, happy, independent baby and sleep training has undoubtedly helped his moods. He is just such a perfect pleasure to be around.
So, I realize this story is weird because the sleep training worked in one night, and I spent months reading literature about it. But, here's why your plan helped me: it made me feel like we could do it. It gave me a
plan to share with my husband so he felt like we could do it. You gave me a mantra that I said to myself every day to feel positive about what we're doing AND it turned out to be true! He was strong enough to do this, and he did it. And we did it, and I cannot even come close to explaining what a difference it makes to have sleep back.
So, thank you for all the time you put in with the plan, and even though I only had to do this for one day, your plan gave me the confidence and support I needed to do it. It was worth every
penny, and rest assured I'm recommending you to all my soon-to-be-mothers friends!"
- Amal B., Tennessee
Do you want to share your sleep success story? Send your story and picture to [email protected]
Want
to read more parent stories like Amal's? Check out our extensive list of parent stories here.
Q: Hello, I have a 6 month baby boy, he used to be a great sleeper, he only woke up to eat when he had to and went right back to sleep. But when he was like 4 months and a half he started waking up in the middle of the night, he doesn't cry, but he is fussing and moving
around the crib and doesn't go back to sleep until I go and give him his pacifier, and he does this a couple of times every night around 4 am. Should I just let him fuss until he falls sleep or cries? Thank you.
- Alejandra R., Mexico
A: Hello Alejandra! You are not alone starting to have difficulty with sleep around 4 months old, no doubt due to the 4-month sleep regression. It sounds like your son has a sleep association with the pacifier, so you will want to teach him how to find and replace the pacifier himself or learn to sleep without it. The method of sleep coaching
varies family to family and baby to baby, of course, but whether you do it fast or slow, limited crying or not, if you stick with it for 1-2 weeks, he should be sleeping better in no time! Good luck!
Do you have a quick question about your child's sleep you want answered in our
newsletter? Email [email protected] today!
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VIP Member Resources
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Finding the perfect daytime schedule for your little one is tough; actually achieving that schedule day in and day out is even tougher! That’s where our VIP custom scheduling tool comes in handy. You can create a custom nap schedule based on your child’s age, usual morning wake-up time, and feedings - and you can create it again and
again as your child grows and as sleep patterns change. Click
to get your custom schedule now!
Need even more scheduling help? We've got you covered:
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Blog Posts
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Does the E.A.S.Y. Schedule Make Sleep More Difficult?
Some books on baby sleep claim the key to longer naps and restful nights is getting your baby on an Eat, Activity/play, Sleep, You schedule. But, many parents say that the "E.A.S.Y." routine isn't always so easy. Worse yet, the E.A.S.Y. routine is sometimes to BLAME for
babies being up All. Night. Long. and taking teeny tiny cat naps! Wait, what's going on here? Read more for our take on the E.A.S.Y. method.
Sleep Regression, or Something Else? [TAKE OUR QUIZ]
Uncover whether your baby or toddler’s recent sleep problems are the result of a sleep regression, or something else entirely. Take this easy, 7-question quiz, and find out whether the sleep problems you’re facing are due to a sleep regression.
Why Sleep Training ≠ Cry It Out! [VIDEO]
Crying during sleep training is a touchy subject, but it’s one that’s worth addressing. Why? Because most parents aren’t aware that crying during sleep training is a
spectrum. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to sleep train that will put you between ‘nonstop awful crying’ and ‘soothing baby back to sleep every time he so much as rolls over’. And we’re going to explore those further in today’s blog post!
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Hello,
Time goes so fast...families write in to us off and on for years and it's sometimes so crazy when a parent writes to us about their preschooler when we "met" them when the baby was just a few months old! With my boys now being 11 and 13, I can relate to how fast it goes and even when they are older, it's amazing that you still don't
have all the answers. My boys teach me something new about them and about myself almost every day. So, we are always so happy to help parents with their new sleep challenges when they write in to us over the years. We truly feel like we are "watching" your children grow up as a part of your village of support. Even better is when we get those cute pictures of the babies and families we are helping. I love those!
Remember, even if you think you should know the answer to your child's sleep problems, it's perfectly fine to ask for help. I think we all need an outside perspective once in awhile, even if it's just to give us the confidence we need to work on improving sleep during the latest speedbump.
I hope reading through our weekly newsletter has helped you realize that you are not alone, and that there is hope, and a light at the end of the tunnel. Forward this to a friend, so they know they're not alone, either!
Until next week,
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