After quite a bit of reading on how I should proceed, I basically learned that there are two separate camps when it comes to sleep training. The first advocates a Cry-It-Out method where you simply let the baby cry until he or she falls asleep. This can be punctuated with the parents going in to momentarily comfort the baby, but not pick up or cuddle the baby. This method was not one I thought I could do so I've decided to go with a second option.
The second option basically says lay your baby down while still awake, but tired, and let them put themselves to sleep. If the baby begins to cry, go in and pick him or her up and provide cuddles, kisses, or whatever kind of comfort your baby likes until your baby is calm, but not yet asleep. Then you lay your baby back down! Some people have said that they have had to go through this process 126 (literally) times before the baby has decided to go to sleep. One important part of this process happens a little before bed, and that is establishing a bed-time routine. Mike and I have decided that the best routine for John would be at 8:00 to give John a bath, give him a massage, nurse him while Mike reads our devotions, and then lay him down for bed. We actually started the bedtime routine a couple weeks ago, and John seems to have adapted to it. He really likes his baths and massages!
Last night was our first official night of sleep training. We were at a birthday party so by the time we got home and had finished his routine, it was 10:20. But I laid him down, and he went to sleep within about 10 minutes. I didn't have to pick him up and comfort him even 1 time! He slept until 6:00 this morning, so he already met a milestone of sleeping for more than 6 hours straight!
This morning I had the privilege of trying out the sleep training technique for naps. I decided that instead of a set nap-time, I would go for 1 hour after he is fully awake for the morning. Since he went back to sleep after nursing at 6:00, he didn't really "get up" until about 8:45. Or at least Momma didn't. So, at about 9:45, I changed his diaper, gave him a few kisses and laid him down in his co-sleeper. Five minutes later I heard loud wails, and went in and picked him up and cuddled him. I rocked and sang to him for about 5 minutes and laid him back in his bed. Success! He has now been asleep for 25 minutes straight, and I have not been holding him. It feels so wonderful to type with both hands instead of with just one as I have been doing for weeks now. If I post tomorrow, I will let you know how long he napped before waking up. But now I'm off to sweep and do dishes and laundry and all the things that I haven't been able to do for so long!
Ok, so it only lasted 3 more minutes from the time I finished this post, but still, 28 minutes is progress!
