How good sleep habits start early (and proof that you don’t need to sleep train to have a great sleeping baby)
I love that I can share inspirational stories that can help others find the motivation that they need to get through a rough patch with a tough sleeping baby.
I was so fortunate to receive this message and this amazing mom allowed me to share her story on how good sleep habits start early and how stumbling across my blog…made a world of difference for her and her baby.
The story of the mom who did not have to sleep train her baby:
Dear Susie,
I just wanted to write to thank you. I’ve been reading your site since my little one was a month old. I actually wrote in her baby book ” you suck at going to sleep.” But, I also believed I could gently teach my spirited reflux baby to sleep well.
And she does!
She’s slept 12-14 hours, plus 2.5 hours of naps since 5.5 months. Your wisdom on this site helped get us there.
I especially took to heart that naps after four indicated needing to go to bed earlier. We adjusted to a six pm bedtime and that worked like magic.
I see how so many parents are afraid that they will not have a loving close relationship with their child if they “sleep train.” I never trained!
I was just consistent from day one with a routine/pattern to life and sleep and trusted little consistent moves would get me there.
Anabel never cried it out or had to do gradual extinction. Sleep teaching from the beginning has made all the difference.
You taught me what was normal for kiddos at different ages.
How to get through the sleep transition from one hour cycles to 1.5 hour cycles.
And how to get through all the other transitions–like Daylight Savings.
Encouraging me to be consistent and trust she would figure it out.
I remember reading a testimonial of another family with a spirited kiddo that you helped. I knew I could trust you because if you could help them, you could help me.
I also learned that giving her a fussy moment was not the same thing as crying it out. (And I now understand that sometimes babies need to cry to just get rid of their emotional junk. There is a HUGE difference between “help me” and “I just got to get this off my baby chest.”)
I always had your contact info at the ready, figuring I would reach out if there was a problem. More than once I gave myself a week and by then it had sorted out. I never have needed the consultation.
As I said, I would not be here with this good sleeper and my own rest intact–which helps me to be a good person, a good mama, a good daughter, wife and friend–without your help. You are putting out really good quality advice, and it is gentle.
That’s what I wanted.
To gently nudge her towards where she needed to go, and trust that she would figure it out.
I guess we both did!
Peace and love,
Jacqueline
Conclusion:
I couldn’t make this up…. this is a true story and email with the cute patootie in the image is the amazing sleeping baby. So, who’s ready to start good sleep habits early? If that’s you, go ahead and download this free sleep guide to get access to the some awesome sleep tips.
