In my previous post, "If You Don't Snooze, You Lose," I emphasized the significance of sleep for overall well-being. This applies not only to adults but also to our little ones. Quality sleep is crucial for a baby's immune system, physical growth, cognitive development, memory, and emotional regulation. Recognizing the importance of sleep for our entire family, my husband and I embarked on a journey to improve our daughter Sophia's sleep, ultimately opting for sleep training.
I exhausted every possible method to help Sophia sleep well, from contact sleeping to co-sleeping, establishing bedtime routines, and utilizing sound machines. Despite our efforts, Sophia's sleep patterns remained erratic. By the time she turned five months old, she was barely achieving a three-hour stretch of sleep each night, with subsequent wakings occurring every hour or less! This disrupted sleep pattern was taking a toll on all of us. My husband and I were exhausted, I was extremely anxious, and Sophia was temperamental. Determined to find a solution, we decided to formally sleep train Sophia.
The term "sleep train" may carry a negative connotation, but it simply involves teaching a baby to fall asleep independently. We discovered a method that allowed us to emotionally support Sophia during this process. Though she initially cried, our periodic checks provided assurance that her physical needs were met, and returning to comfort her met her emotional needs. Sophia quickly adapted, and within a week, she was sleeping soundly through the night.
Sleep training not only benefited Sophia but transformed our family dynamics. We revamped bedtime routines, turning them into precious family moments. This newfound balance allowed my husband and me to reconnect, enjoying activities together and reclaiming our evenings. We cooked and enjoyed dinner just the two of us. We started unwinding by enjoying TV shows together. We even went out for date nights when my mom offered to either put Sophia to bed, or watch the monitor for us! I also found myself becoming less anxious, more pleasant, and emotionally stable with improved sleep.
Unfortunately, when Sophia was seven months old, she began waking up throughout the night again. Despite our best efforts, our usual routine wasn't effective, and her night wakings became prolonged. I started feeling overwhelmed and anxious again. Desperate for a solution, I was fortunate to connect with Harlee Maddocks, a pediatric sleep consultant, and founder of Rested Remedies. She reached out to me on social media, and we decided to do a collaboration. The timing couldn't have been better!
It was an incredible opportunity getting to work with Harlee. I felt comfortable and confident in the decision to once again start encouraging our daughter to fall asleep independently. I was given access to Harlee's seven module "Roadmap to Rested" sleep-training course. Each module comes with slides, and a video of Harlee reviewing the information provided in the module. This course is a helpful resource to have because it is detailed! Harlee calls on the viewer to reflect and establish their own "why statement" for choosing to sleep train. She demonstrates the importance of shifting one's mindset about crying. In these videos, Harlee also illustrates the ideal sleep environment and why bedtime routines are important. At the end, she guides you through different plans of action so that you can pick one that best suits your family. Harlee even includes a lesson on day sleep in this course! The videos are personable and feel just like getting to work with her in person.
Harlee also created a personalized sleep plan for Sophia based on a detailed questionnaire. We also received two phone consultations, and had unlimited access to her for two weeks. The first phone consultation was to review the plan that Harlee wrote up for us. She presented us with two different options, so I told her which one best suited us. She also answered all of my questions and limited concerns. With my unlimited access to her, I was also able to reach out and ask Harlee questions along the way, such as "Sophia woke up before 2:00 pm from her second nap. How early should we put her down to bed?". She always had a timely response. It gave me so much peace of mind to be able to go to her with any struggles during this process. Harleee also reached out to me! Each morning, she reached out to check on us and ask how our night went. With Harlee's guidance and support, we witnessed progress every night, and Sophia developed her own rhythm and routine for falling asleep on her own. Witnessing Sophia develop her independent sleep skills was a beautiful experience, just as it is to watch her develop milestones like rolling over and sitting up.
It's been just over a week since starting our journey with Harlee, and our family is enjoying our evenings together again. I no longer feel anxious and overwhelmed when putting Sophia to bed, as I can trust that she will be able to fall back to sleep on her own. Sleep training may not be for every family, but if you're feeling anxious and overwhelmed about unpredictable nights, I highly encourage you to explore a sleep training program for your baby. Sleep is healthy and necessary for all members of your family, and it's not selfish to find ways to help your family sleep better!
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