The last few nights...well weeks actually...have been pretty sleepless in the Dunn household. It is totally normal with a 1 year old!! We have been a bed sharing family, and it's worked for us. Joe and I have a full sized bed, which is pretty abnormal come to find out. Most of y'all are rockin' at least a queen! What can I say, we like to snuggle! Like I said, it's worked for us.
But as John grows, he is getting very "tossy turny" in his sleep. It's not unusual for me to hear Joe say "OUCH" in the middle of the night as a tiny fist collides with his eye. I can't count the times I've been clawed as John searches for a comfortable position between us. He's a hot sleeper too, so he kicks the covers off, leaving Joe and I shivering. It's a hoot of a time! >_<
Well, last night, Joe and I both decided a new step was needed. I decided to try something I swore I would NEVER try. I decided to just see what would happen if I didn't rush to my baby's side in his crib immediately when he started to cry. Honestly, I can't believe I've even typed it out! I picked a time limit of 5 minutes. If he cried more than 5 minutes, I would go to him and nurse him back to sleep.
I stared at the baby monitor. He laid there so peacefully, breathing in and out, in and out. I held my breath, willing him to stay asleep so he never felt a moment of panic. I began to doze off myself. Sleep found me, but not for long.
The monitor echoed tiny little huffs that turned to squeaks that turned to a cry. It took every fiber in my being to not spring to his side, but I got a quiet whisper from Jesus "its okay, just wait". About 45 seconds later...John settled. He went back out like a light.
I stared incredulously. Did that really happen? I slowly got back under the covers. I checked the monitor. Sound asleep. I closed my eyes. Opened them. Checked the monitor. Asleep. Not moving an inch, not a wiggle even. Sleep found me again.
The same exact thing happened a few more times. Once I did honor the time limit and I went to nurse him to sleep. I snuck back out with no difficulty. But y'all...I was just flabbergasted! 45 seconds it took for John to just settle himself back in. A few times he'd wake, sit up, look around, fluff his blankie around, and plop back down! It was actually amazing to watch!! It gave me so much comfort to see him find peace in his own room.
But now, I'm laying here, wide awake, alone, and way passed our usual morning wake up time. John is STILL asleep!!! I miss him, and want to see his happy smile so much, but I won't...Apparently he needed deep sleep as much as Joe and I did!
Who knows what tonight will bring, but wow...I just needed to document this actually happened. I know the "cry it out" method is deemed pretty harsh, even still I don't like the method. But if you're struggling to sleep with your toddler...maybe just give them a minute or two to try and settle before you go to them? Maybe sleep will find you all again!
And now...well now I guess I'm going to go sit by John's door until he wakes up ^_^
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