Sleep Schedules
Hayes fell ill leading to a cycle of co-sleeping. Once he recovered, this reliance seemed to prevent a smooth transition to a crib, leading to rough nights and lack of sleep for all the family. They decided to reach out to Batelle to help.
Around his first birthday, Hayes was having a bad ear infection so we fell into that co-sleeping cycle which was fine for a while – at least he got to bed at a reasonable hour. But when we tried to transition him back to his crib, it really did not go well. He had no interest in his crib, he was unhappy being in there. We tried the Ferber method and made it like 2 days. I could tell he was so stressed and that it would not work for us and I didn’t like it either. I knew it was important for us to get a better sleep situation but I just didn’t know how.
A few months later, it had gone from ‘we are co-sleeping but at least we are sleeping’ to ‘we are co-sleeping but no one is sleeping.’ He was delaying bedtime. He usually slept through the night but would wake up at 4:30 in the morning and was then not able to go back to sleep. I knew he was not getting enough sleep and neither were we; the sleep we were getting was not quality sleep. I had friends who reached out to sleep consultants so I looked it up and I really liked Batelle reviews and the overview of the method, it matched our parenting style. And then we did the sleep consultation and decided to go for it.
“Our questions were answered and we felt like we were not alone – like we had not done anything wrong”
The consultation was useful not only to talk to someone, but our questions were answered and we felt like we were not alone – like we had not done anything wrong. There was help out there for us, we weren’t the only ones out there in that situation. At that time, most of our friends with kids of similar age did not have any bedtime issues. We felt a little bit alone! It was nice to see there is support, like ‘we understand what you are going through’.
“We are much more in tune with our communication with our baby. I feel like it’s the opposite of Cry-It-Out”
We have a crazy busy work schedule with my husband, the fact that we could have remote access to someone really fitted for our lifestyle. On top of that, having 24/7 support and support until my child is 5! I know if we have another baby then we will have help if Hayes has trouble sleeping. Knowing we have support not only in Sleep School but also beyond that was a big selling point.
“We are much more in tune with our communication with our baby. I feel like it’s the opposite of Cry-It-Out”
I tried Ferber for 2 days and hated it! Instead of pushing your child through when they’re struggling it’s the total opposite of that. You give them the tools they need and the support for them to do some things on their own and have the confidence to feel comfortable in their room and comfortable sleeping. The more they cry, the more you support them. It’s this give and take that makes so much more sense.
It has really influenced our parenting style now too. If he is handling things ok on his own, we give him space, and if he struggles we respond. We are much more in tune with our communication with our baby. I feel like it’s the opposite of Cry-It-Out; it’s much more in tune with responsiveness to your child and supporting them at their bedtime and when they try to go to sleep.
“His communications skills have taken off – he is more confident taking on and trying new things”
It made me and my husband both more in tune. He was always a confident, happy baby even before Sleep School, but we say that take off. His communications skills have taken off – he is more confident taking on and trying new things. We understand when he is frustrated, and we are better able to parent through those types of situations.
He is super happy. I didn’t even know he could be a happier baby. He is really in tune with us because we really worked and focused on being better communicators with him. Our communication has definitely improved on both sides. I feel like he has a better sense of us understanding him and doesn’t have many tantrums. I think Sleep School is in part to thank for that.
Now he really looks forward to getting in his bedroom when he is tired. When he is really tired, he lays right down and smiles. Now he knows sleep is good for him, and sleep feels good. He is excited about bedtime and going to sleep instead of fighting.
“He is excited about bedtime and going to sleep”
