Sleep training

"Is she sleeping through the night?" - I get asked this question daily and I honestly hate it. I know that any parent understands that sleep or sleep deprivation for that matter can be one of the biggest problems during the first year. People who care about us ask this question because they sincerely want to know how we are doing. Strangers are most likely trying to let us know that they've been there too. Still every single time I hear these words I have to pause and think. 

"Is she sleeping through the night?" Yes and no. Sophia definitely can do it. In fact she's done 7-8 hours barely waking up  for the dream feed. Has she done it lately? No. There've been tonnes of reasons for that like teething, growth spurt, vaccination, teething. I am sure that among those are some so called accidental parenting examples too. Oh, and did I mention teething?

I was talking to a friend today and she said that with the first ones we always try to make everything perfect. I agree. Sometimes I feel bad for Sophia, because we learn as we go and that includes not so great experiences too. A couple of weeks ago we tried a sleep training method described in the Baby Whisperer book "pick up / put down". Well, lets say it wasn't successful and it was not a happy time for any of us. After seeing no progress we gave up. Since then I've been trying to get Sophia to sleep in any way I can nursing/bouncing/holding. The other day I came across a book called "No-cry Sleep Solution". I read it all in one day and mostly night (Sophia woke up a lot that night and gave me plenty of time to read it:)). I am trying to use the ideas described in the book and while I know it's going to take some time (and maybe some more time and even some more time), I feel it's a much more loving way that doesn't leave both the baby and parents upset and frustrated. I love the flexibility of the plan too. The author is honest and is not trying to make you feel guilty for anything you do or don't do while helping your baby to fall asleep - for anything except for making baby cry. I've tried it for a day now, so it's too early to say whether it's going to help or not, but in any case it's a good experience and time for all of us.

With that said I still feel sad today. Maybe being tired and spending half of the day in the dark (very dark) room doesn't help. Or maybe it's just today. Tomorrow's a new day and let's hope that one day when asked "Is she sleeping through the night?" I'll be able to say "Yes" and smile. Eventually everybody does. :)

P.S. Actually, I got a lot more to say on the topic, but my eyes are closing, I am tired and I should go to sleep. And if I don't get this out and posted now, it'll stay in my drafts folder for another couple of weeks.