Sleep Training!

Month 1:

When Esha was born - she started off in the pack and play next to the bed.  Friends warned me, once you bring her into bed, she never leaves till she is FIVE! So pack and play it was.  With nursing every 3 hours and countless waking moments, my broken back begged me to bring her into bed - night feeds would just be so much easier.  So the shift was made.  Esha got on my bed, Priyank got out of the bed, and the king bed search began. I would like to add - I would never recommend this on a spring mattress.  Our foam mattress allowed us to move without having her being affected.

Months 2-3: 

I thoroughly enjoyed co-sleeping.  I was all about the family bed - it just worked.  I could feed her without moving much .. she was next to me .. I could watch her all night long.  It was heaven. 

Month 4-5: 

Our king mattress/bed was ordered. I went back to work.  People started asking the annoying question - Is she sleeping through the night? At first, I was like - I hope so ...soon! And then as weeks went by and my work got crazy, instead of improvement, I noticed a sleep regression.  There was a week or two where I saw her sleep 6-7 hours at a stretch .. but not anymore. She was up every 3 hours and some times every 2 hours!  I was getting NO sleep. I was also using the boob to pacify (folks warned me about this) - but in the middle of the night and in the state of my extreme fatigue - it was my easiest option! 

Month 5: 

Sleep training reading begins.  Of course I couldn't bear to hear her cry for even a second.  So I read the No Cry Sleep solution. Then I got Healthy Sleep habits book. The books went on and on about suggestions - but couldnt find anything that I already wasn't doing.  I already had a bed time ritual set - feed, massage, warm bath, lullaby, cuddle time, bed time. Only issue was instead of putting her to bed awake, I was rocked her to sleep and then placed her quietly down and tippitoed out. I knew that was the issue - but the books provided me no solution.  Finally, I decided that a change needed to happen - So I read "Solve your child's sleep problems" by the defamed Dr. Ferber or commonly known as the Cry it out (CIO) guy!  This might be horrifying to many of you .. but P and I made the decision to Ferberize our lil baby! 

Month 6:

So one fine week .. after she turned 6 months, and while Priyank was away at work, I decided to give it a go.  I had read that once you make the decision, you can't go back.  Cause then the baby learns your breaking point and knows how much to cry before you give in. I had to do it when Priyank was away as clearly, I am the stronger one and he is a total softy when it comes to the darling daughter. Night 1 was horrible - horrible horrible!! But it also was the 1st night she slept from 9p to 7a EVER! I blamed it on the fatigue from crying.  Night 2 .. was not half as bad .. but still more crying than I would ever have wanted.  Night 3 was pleasantly better.  By Night 4 .. I hardly heard a peep.  

It's now been nearly 4 weeks since we ferberized - and the girl still sleeps through the night!!!!! 

So yes - I will recommend this method to my friends if they say they have a similar issue, I will do this on my next child, and I don't have any regrets. I know there will be plenty more opps in the future where she will have to be retrained (vacations, sickness etc.) ... but hopefully it won't have to  be this bad! 

Half done!

Turning 6 months was a very exciting time for us!  I was finally ready to give Esha solids and also introduce formula!  The AAP recommends waiting till 6 months for solids and so I did.  I was in no hurry cause it adds it own set of work .. but now that it's begun, I love it!! 

Play time: 

Esha is still not rolling over - makes me thing she is going the lazy route like her sister, Shria. But she is babbling lots and definitely has a personality.  She is also teething like crazy so can have very fussy days. She is also biting everything in sight. She absolutely loves her jumperoo and gets even more excited if you jump in front of her while she jumps! We think she looks like a lil monkey in it. LOL! She is not a big fan of playing on her own - not good!! We are hoping once she learns to move - this will improve. She can sit now with support ... yay! No stranger anxiety yet - not looking forward to that phase! 

Mum-mum: 

1st foods she seems to love - Apples, pears, roasted sweet potatoes, peas, butternut squash (basically all the sweet stuff - can she be more gujju?) 

Foods she seems to not be a big fan of - Carrots, Summer squash

We have also started her on oat and rice cereal which she doesn't seem to have much of an opinion of. 

I finally introduced formula.  Had a lot of fear of how her stomach would handle it - and if she would like the taste - but she seems to have adapted excellently.  

Sleep: 

For 6 long months, Mom and Dad have sacrificed their sleep.  I don't think I remember what 8 hours of sleep is .. or 6 hours or 4 for that matter!! But now is the time sleep training begins.  A lot of people begin sleep training at a younger age, but I was comfortable with doing it at 6 months esp. since her 6 month appointment told me that she is growing well and should have no need for a night feed. I will write another post on sleep training and my experience.  

Other happenings: 

Daadi left and Mamoma returned.  Esha is so blessed to have so much grandma love! Kum Mauu came to visit as well with Shria .. got some awesome picture of the girls. One for the frames! 

5 Months - Almost half way there!

I missed a month in the middle .. oh well .. here's an attempt to get back on track. :) She is 5 months old now and has changed tremendously over the last 2 months! She is such a smiley baby - every morning my last words to her before I head out to work is - Mommy is going to miss you baby! And I really do! With every passing day, I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to experience motherhood.  The morning smiles, the curiosity, the wide eyes, the bonding - oh how I love it all! 

What's been happening in Esha world - well she has been sleeping better with just one nightly feed. She does wake up looking for her paci a few times but since she is tightly swaddled, mommy has to oblige. She is still in the family bed - mommy aims at getting her into the crib by 6 mos. (ha! Good luck, right?).  She seems to be teething - since drool and biting are a common occurrence. Tummy time is a lot more enjoyable. She can turn from tummy to back but prefers to scream for help instead of doing it herself. (Lazy!!) Her curiosity is just so fascinating.  She is constantly looking around to absorb everything in her surroundings. Colors, faces, smells, people, sounds .. everything. Swaddle helps her go down easy but Mama fears the swaddle weaning.  

Esha also had lots and lots of family time in the last 2 months.  First Kum Mau visited at the end of Nov, then Daada - Daadi flew in early Dec., Mamoma left early Dec., houston trip with Jay fua-rusha bua, ruchik chaacha and anjali chaachi & badi bua followed by abhi bua and saurabh fua's visit. Phew! All that interaction definitely helped Esha grow ten fold! She definitely is a social bee and loves the company and the attention! She also loves to babble.  She is going to be a talker for sure. Cutie!! Can't wait! She definitely missed all the family when they left - but is totally enjoying day time with Daadi! Daadi wants to take her back with her in her purse.  Let's see her get past Daddy first!! 

Her face is still a 100% Daddy look alike but there have been times she has been suggested to look like Daada.  No Mommy in there yet! Sigh! Maybe eyes .. who knows! :) 


Round up: 

Food - still a 100% mama's milk and fattening up well with it! ;) 
Toys - Balls, rattles, anything with music, teether
Gadgets - none really 
Best times of the day - Morning time, evening massage, evening bath, looking in the mirror
Sounds - screams, screeches ,ayyyee (like a gunda), akhaa.  

And now a pic of how funny this munchkin's expressions can be: