Learning to sleep

So over Christmas, our wee lassie grew some teeth, slept in all sorts of different places, learnt to roll over and consequently got all mixed up in her sleeping.

So after a couple of nights of getting up to her every 1.5 - 2 hours, we said 'right, time to do something about this'. Now, A has never been a 'good' sleeper, we've especially struggled with nap time, but we've muddled our way through.

One thing that is really important to me is that I be a 'gentle mother'. People keep telling me that I just have to 'get tough' with her. Well, sorry, thats just not me.

So, we went for a wee shop at Fishpond and ordered The No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley which I had heard good things about.

Oh my, loving it. Pantley doesn't agree with leaving the baby to Cry It Out (CIO) and suggests a whole pile of ways to encourage bubs to sleep better.

And only 7 days in to it, we're really seeing results.

• The last 2 or 3 days she has had 2 2-hour naps. Unheard of! Even when she was a wee bub.
• She has started going to bed earlier - she's now settling for the night by 8pm. Over Christmas this time was creeping up till 10 or even later sometimes.
• And her night-time sleeps are steadily getting longer each night. From 4 to 5 to 6 hours at a stretch. And last night... drum roll please... 9 hours without waking! Woop woop. Unfortunately though she was as bright as a button at 5 this morning and wouldn't go back to sleep. Oh well. Can't win em all :)

So yeah. Real progress and we've only just begun. And no crying! It's probably too early to say "I told you so" so I'll save it up.