sleep training

Well, after 9 months of lack of sleep and the "strong suggestion" from our Ped doc, we decided to sleep train EY - no pacifier and no holding, she should learn to fall in asleep on her own.

EY normally could fall in asleep sucking a pacifier no problem. But, once she fell in asleep, the pacifier would fall out of her mouth. Then, when she woke up in the middle of the night, she could not go back to sleep because she had nothing to suck on. We would get up 3-4 times to help her find the pacifier and put in her mouth throughout the night. Otherwise, when she woke up, she cried and woke up sister HY. If there was no loud noise, HY would be able to sleep through the night usually. If she was woke up, sometimes she got mad and refused to go back to sleep on her own.

It was not easy. EY woke up at 11pm and I didn't pick her up. We had put HY in the living room so that she would not be bothered by EY's cries. I told EY that she needed to go back to sleep and mama would be next to her. We prayed for her that Jesus would bless her sleep so soft and deep. EY kept on crying, crying and crying. She got up and tried to pull herself up holding onto the crib. I had to put her back down to her back at least five times.

After 75 minutes, EY finally was too tired and she cried herself to sleep. Every 10 minutes or so, she still woke up and screamed a few times and then back to sleep. Then, it was every hour, she woke up and cried a few times and then she went back to sleep on her own. It was not easy 75 minutes. I was constantly praying for EY that God would calm her down and help her. Every loud cry she made, I wanted to give up and just picked her up. By praying to God, I was able to hang in there and allow EY to learn to sleep on her own. It was hard to let go and not jump in to help. Thankfully, I had peace from God and so did EY. She did it! I was so so proud of her!

That was the first night!