Wow. What a difference a week makes.
Just a week ago last night our sleep and Olivers night feeds looked like this -
0.07 Sleep 1 hr 8 mins
1.22 Feed 3 oz
1.23 Slept 1 hr 34 mins
3.04 Slept 14 mins
3.22 Slept 44 mins
4.06 Slept 13 mins
4.23 Slept 1 hr 5 mins
5.33 Feed 1 oz
5.36 Slept 6 mins
5.46 Slept 25 mons
5.52 Feed 3 oz
6.14 Slept 5 mins
7.08 Slept 21 mins
Every one of those periods of sleep was preceded by a wake-up and a cry from the rocker he slept in last week. Sometimes taking 10 or 15 minutes to get him to sleep and then a couple of minutes later he wakes up So we were getting very little sleep and having lots of frustration and stress.
Me and Buffy have always shared our issues and ideas and this was no different. We were both suffering - and alternately moving to the spare bedroom halfway through the night so we could share the baby tasks and try to get 4-5 hours sleep each. So, we sat down and decided on a way forward that not only benefitted us and our sanity but also benefitted Oliver.
We decided to take him out of his rocker and put him into the crib and at the same time do sleep training, so that he would be able to fall asleep on his own, without having to be rocked to sleep. This means that not only can we put him down awake, saving lots of time and endless rocking on our side, but when he is in the crib and wakes up, he is able to self soothe and gets back to sleep without us having to pick him up.
The problem with all this is the method -he has to get used to not being picked up, so we feed him, get him close to sleep and then put him into the crib. If he cries, we have to give a few minutes before we can soothe him - not pick him up - but just a hand on his chest and his head and a few shushes until he is calm. Then we leave and see what happens - if he cries again, we wait - again - before soothing - again. This goes on until he stays asleep. Then later we try and dream feed him, while he sleeps. so he doesn't learn to wake to cry for food. This is all pretty difficult to get used to, as you can imagine it's not nice to hear your child crying out loud, whilst looking at a 10-minute countdown timer until you can soothe him. but with self-control and a few tiring nights it works. He even soothes himself before we get the chance to sometimes!
Compare last weeks timetable above to two nights ago...
9.55pm Sleep 4h 58
10.44 pm Dream feed 1 oz
00.46 Dream feed 1 oz
3.10 Feed 3 oz
3.14 Sleep 1 hr 5
4.27 Sleep 1hr
5.22 Feed 1.5 oz
5.40 Sleep 1hr 14
Last night was even better as he did a couple of 4 to 5-hour periods of sleep!
He is eating about the same amount of milk but waking and sleeping four times instead of 10 times last week. This means we get out of bed 6 times less through the night and as we are alternating feeds, we both get 2-3 hours full sleep 2 or 3 times a night. IT IS BLISS. It's gone so well, that on Saturday night we actually moved Oliver out of our room and into the nursery for his first night in his own room.
It is like a huge weight has been lifted, as just last week we were tearing our hair out.
To add to all this we were having to hold him to sleep during the day as well. Now, he is able to self soothe he sleeps in his crib and we are able to actually do stuff while he sleeps during the day. He is upstairs now, while I type this and with one hand eat leftover pizza with the other. I realised yesterday that I am now able to change clothes every day again because he isn't asleep in our room. We are all a very happy little family at the moment.
(Update - the last paragraph was written a week ago - last night he slept from 10pm to 2am, 2.30 to 4.30 and at 5.20 he fell asleep - he is still down and its just gone 8am)
Its gone so well, that 2 nights ago, we decided that Buffy deserved a night off, so instead of us all staying at Grandmas and Grandpas, I stayed with the kids and Buffy came home to a hot bath a movie and a full nights sleep. For the first time in nearly 6 months, Buffy didn't have Oliver in teh same house or room. Again, its a huge difference to a couple of weeks ago, listening to Oliver in the same room, gurgling and crying and waking up every 45 minutes. Buffy had a lovely, well deserved night off and had a great night too. A couple of beers and a nice chat with Jon and Susan about houses and cabins and family, while the two kids slept upstairs. Oliver was easy - 4 feeds fro 9pm to 8am and Hannah loved being at Grandmas and Grandpas so much she stayed for a second night when we came home - she is still there now and we will pick her up later. The jigsaw puzzle of feedings, changes, crying, tantrums, eating, cleaning and just living together has suddenly come together and the picture itself is warm and sunny - unlike the weather outside which is fucking freezing.
I wont talk about it for long, but the current Polar vortex is breaking records. You all know it gets cold here and I wont go on, but the current cold is pretty spectacular. Apparently for the first time ever the entire 10 million square kilometres of Canada was below freezing. Thats a lot of cold!!
After 20 minutes of running outside in minus 28 |
Also, while doing the sleep training we managed to fit in a little holiday. Normally, at this time of year we are packing to go to Mexico, or somewhere hot in the states, but because of the obvious virus, we arent able to do that this year So we are stuck in Manitoba, where outside it is currently minus 31 an snowy. However, we did find a lovely little cabin hotel to stay in about 90 minutes east of Winnipeg. Its called Riverview lodge and the cabin we had booked had a lovely hot tub outside, overlooking the lake.
We only had 2 nights booked but it seemed a whole lot longer while we were there. We left Winnipeg on Wednesday around lunchtime and by 4pm, we were settled into the cabin, with Hannah telling us 'I CAN JUMP IN THIS ROOM', as soon as she arrived! She loved hey stay there - being pulled around by me and Buffy on her sledge as well as building a huge blanket fort inside the cabin. She had her own room and as soon as she was settled into her peapod, me and Buffy headed out into the cold and the hot water tub outside. It was sooo lovely to relax outside ad if you have never sat in a 40-degree hot tub, while outside in minus 20 then you should try it as its awesome! We had a lovely evening drinking red wine and chatting like adults!
On Thursday we woke to a new settling of snow and headed out to visit Pinawa suspension bridge. The roads were terrible though and it took us a good hour to drive the half-hour trip. The car park was empty and we were all alone as we dressed the kids in their snowsuit before the short walk to the bridge. We were there about 45 minutes with Hannah clambering on the bridge and sliding along on her bum. She loved it as normal and didn't want to leave, but Oliver was due for a nap and we had to go back to the cabin.
Hannah also needed a bit of a nap. but was very lively, so I went into her room to settle her down and ended up having a little nap myself as she sat and stroked my hair. It was lovely and we were there for just over an hour as Oliver napped too and Buffy spent a lovely restful time in front of the fire with a book. Just what we all needed.
We also ate really well - We had taken some frozen meals ordered from a couple of really good restaurants in Winnipeg. They just needed heating up and eating - which we really enjoyed.
The 2nd night was similar to the first with us in the hot tub - with Gin and Tonics this time - while the kids slept. Hannah had asked to sleep in the big double bed instead of the peapod on the floor. So we pushed the bed against the wall and put 8 pillows on there that surrounded her so that she couldn't fall off the bed. She loved it and we were so proud that she slept in a big bed for the first time ever!
Road for Hannahs toy cars |
Taking her own photos |
![]() |
Pinawa suspension bridge |
Me with G and T, whilst feeding Oliver |
Fire |
![]() |
Hannah in her big bed |
![]() |
The view to the lake over the hot tub |
Inside Cabin 10! |
Heres the usual couple of videos showing the kids growing up -
No comments:
Post a Comment