No Cry Sleep Solution

After a couple of difficult nights getting Bella off to sleep and a total write-off with naps yesterday followed by a nighttime meltdown we decided we need a new plan of action. We were considering everybodies advice about the "Let her cry it out" method, but Chris and I are just not those type of people. I can't sit and listen from another room while my baby cries and cries. I don't see how that helps teach independence, more a sense of abandonment I feel. So after a bit of research and some recommendations we're trying the "No Cry Sleep Solution" which is all about nurturing and love, but still encourages self-settling and the ability for a baby to go to sleep on their own.

The basic principle is to start off with a good wind down routine, put baby in their sleeping bag, move to a quiet dark room and gently rock the baby to sleep. Once they've dropped off you put them down in the cot. You do this each time for naps and overnight sleep and start putting them down earlier and earlier while they're still awake so you can get to the point of putting them in the sleeping bag and straight down. Whilst this is not a quick fix solution lile controlled crying, I feel it is more suited to us and Bella. We're both prepared to do the gentle rocking etc before each nap and bedtime as it only takes 5-10 minutes until she's off.

If she wakes in the middle of the night or middle of the nap and starts to cry then you do the same procedure until she drops off again. Eventually she should have the independence to put herself back to sleep. Apparently this can happen within the first 2 weeks. Also it means we no longer have to use the pacifier which I am glad to get rid of!

So far today Bella is down for her second nap of the day and whereas normally she has been a cat-napper grabbing 30 minutes each time, through this method I have already managed to get an hour and a half from her and she's still going! When she woke and cried (obviously not refreshed from her nap and ready to wake) I picked her up, rocked her and she's gone back off no problem.

I guess time will tell how successful this method will be, but if it means just cuddling your baby to sleep and giving them love rather than listen to the tears then I'm all for it!