Holly Jolly…Sleep-Training?!

Sleep training suuuuuuuuuucks! Especially when it catches you off-guard, during the “most wonderful time of the year.”

Our Thanksgiving didn’t go exactly as planned. Baby Mae decided to mix it up and come down with bronchitis while we were in Ohio visiting family. We have been on a downward spiral ever since, and hit rock-bottom on Wednesday when, after a week of sleepless nights, we resorted to letting Mae “cry it out.” 9 month sleep regression is a real thing, apparently. This sleep-training strategy is one that both Mike and I have been uncomfortable with in the past…probably because we thankfully didn’t have to employ it with Eloise. But like so many things in life, you can’t judge something unless you are living that life. And man…are we ever. Mae is absolutely miserable, the rest of us are all getting sick from exhaustion, and her situation is only getting worse as we tried to comfort her to sleep all. night. long. So, despite my lingering doubts…time for drastic measures. We are now on day two of “cry it out,” and after a rough day one of pretty constant crying (both her and me), I’m happy to report that Mae slept through the night for the first time in nearly two weeks. That’s not to say she’s not fussing in her crib, fighting nap #1 as I type this…it’s going to be a long few days. I keep reminding myself that as much as I feel like I am losing my mind on a daily basis (SO MUCH CRYING!)…in the end, I’m just thankful that THIS is our biggest problem at the moment. Hopefully she will be back to her happy, healthy self in time to enjoy some holiday decorating this weekend.