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Sleep Training Guide

Writer: _stephaniesteele
_stephaniesteele
Jul 26, 2020
4 min read

Many of you asked about Capri's sleep schedule, so here it goes. First of all I didn't really follow any set schedule - I just did what worked best for Capri and myself.


Before I start I'll say Capri has been a great sleeper from the moment she was born. The first night after she was born, she only woke up once. Capri never liked to be rocked, or to even fall asleep in my arms. She loves her crib!





0-3 MONTHS


I had Capri sleep in a bassinet beside me for the first three months. For feeding in the middle of the night, it made it easy and of course being a new mom I wanted to make sure she was okay. I even had Capri nap in her bassinet during the day. The first 3 months Capri would sleep when we would sleep (I never had a sleep time for her). If I went to bed at 8 she would go to bed at 8, we weren't really picky about her sleeping at a specific time. Don't forget, Capri came EVERYWHERE with us, and was used to sleeping anywhere and to ANYTHING (music, vacuum etc.). For the first three months we also swaddled Capri every night. At 0-3 months Capri would wake up once or maybe twice for a feed, and go right back to sleep. I'll also say the sleep sound machine we used was GREAT! I will link it down below!



4 MONTHS


At four months we decided to slowly transition Capri into her crib. I started by letting her nap in her crib and do some nights in her crib and some nights in the bassinet. Naps in the crib were awesome. During the nights that she slept in the crib, it was a little more challenging. It was even hard on me to go get her sometimes (when being so use to the bassinet beside me) Capri wouldn't like going back to sleep in her crib if she had woken up at about 1-2 am. She would try and fight me and this is when I thought I needed to try something new. She was no longer being swaddled, so I decided to introduce her to a Cuddle and Kind doll. Capri instantly took it, and loved cuddling her dolls. Of course I was a little scared at first having a doll inside her crib (they say you shouldn't have anything inside the crib) but if it works, it works!


5-12 MONTHS


At 5 months Capri really started to fully sleep throughout the night! She would cuddle her dolls, I shut the light and Capri is out! From 5-8 months her wakeup time would be 6:30-7:00 am and by 9-12 she would sleep from 7 PM-8:30 AM.



Tips for MAMAS:


At the beginning they are going to cry, and cry and cry the moment you walk out that door but believe me it's all worth it. Capri would make a fussy noise the moment I would leave, but I knew she was going to be okay. I remember my husband couldn't handle it at one point and wanted to cave in to go get her. It's tough, and I DON'T blame you for finding it so hard to leave your baby when she is crying. But you know your babies cues, and what type of cry says they are in "real danger"


TRY A SLEEP SACK! Lots of mamas I talk to say these are the best things they have ever bought. I have one for Capri the we fund useful for the winter time but often too hot for summer.


TRY A CUDDLE TOY. Find something that your baby is familiar with and bring it into their crib with them. If they don't have something and you want them to start to introduce the toy during their play time so they can already feel connected to it.


MAKE SURE THEY ARE FULL - I found having Capri eat a good dinner plus her bottle kept her full till the morning!


I have this hanging on Capri's crib and when she wakes up she actually turns it on herself! There are 4 buttons to choose different sounds.


LIGHTS OUT - When you turn the lights off, it lets your baby know its time to go to bed and that you are going to leave the room.


IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY! I promise mama's its all going to be okay! The hardest thing you can do is going back and fourth inside the room every peep they make. This doesn't show them anything about self regulations and letting them self soothe. The more you go into the room the harder sleep training will be!


I hope these tips are helpful and useful for you mamas! If you'd like to message me through Instagram on more tips I am more than happy to help or to just chat! :)



XOX


Stephanie

 
 
 

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