Cry It Out

Everyone needs a good cry. 

In this case, we decided Marlee needs a good cry. 

I have always thought the crying it out sleep method was terrible. And part of me still does. It is literally like she cries because she has been abandoned and so one is coming to claim her. 

Dramatic I know, but it is so sad!

We were at our wits end though. She would fall asleep in our arms and instantly wake up after we put her in her crib. Even if she would stay asleep, she would wake up 3 or 4 times a night and need rocked back to sleep. And we would start the cycle all over again.

Needless to say, we were exhausted! And we could tell that Marlee was exhausted. She would wake up fussy and be visibly tired. So something had to give. 

So for the last week and a half, Marlee has been crying it out.

And sleeping like a baby. 

It started out to be a little more for me to handle so Nick did it while I was at work. He gave her a bottle, rocked her a little to relax her, and then placed her in bed. She cried for a half hour. 

The next night, she cried for twenty minutes but I was at work for this night also.

The third night, I was home. And I literally had to go outside to avoid the crying. It was the saddest cry. We had committed to this though and we had to wait it out. She only cried for ten minutes. If you have heard the cry of your child though, only ten minutes is such an understatement. 

So what is the positive side of the cry it out method? She does eventually fall asleep. And she sleeps. Soundly. All night long. 

And she wakes up in a great mood, ready to play.

Baking Fun

I hate admitting when my husband is right because he reminds me of it time and time again, but he was right. She actually fell asleep without any crying last night. I covered her with a blanket, kissed her forehead, and closed the door. Not a peep out of her. She did wake up once with a little whimper, but she fell back to sleep on her own within minutes. After doing a little research, this is the premise behind the cry it out method. Teaching babes to put themselves back to sleep. Adults wake up numerous times during the night but are unaware because we naturally fall back to sleep. Marlee needs to learn to fall back asleep without a bottle, rocking, singing, holding etc. If not, we are going to be doing this well into her toddler years. And if we ever plan to add to this family, we need at least one good sleeper. 

So everyone does need a little cry. It is good for the soul. And good for a sleeping Marlee.