My ongoing sleep journey, a historical perspective.

MY FIRST WEEK: I BATTLE THE SWADDLE:  I decided early on that I did not like my co-sleeper.  My typical pattern went something like this: mom and dad tightly wrap me in swaddle, after falling asleep while being held (with lots of crying spells), I am GENTLY moved to the co-sleeper.  These attempts universally fail even when I initially appear to be in the deepest of sleep.  Within a minute or two or less, I am awake again and kicking rather aggressively at the swaddle that is supposed to be soothing me but instead seems to imprison me.   The swaddle is no match for my strong kicks.  When I am super tired and fussing, daddy in desperation tries to lecture me "if you're so tired, why don't you just go to sleep; nobody is stopping you."  This strategy clearly failed.

I Emerge from the Swaddle

MY SECOND WEEK to SECOND MONTH:  THE EMERGENCE OF " THE BAG":  After many sleepless nights, mom makes a critical discovery: I love my sling (or "bag" as daddy calls it).  When placed inside,  I am relaxed and able to fall asleep. YEAH!!!!!, no more hours of struggling.  Over the next few weeks, mom and dad use it more and more.  It gets to the point where daddy says" What would we ever do without the bag? "

LATE SECOND to EARLY THIRD MONTH: ATTEMPT to WEAN me from "the BAG:"  Mommy and daddy are getting nervous.  I am getting bigger and my reliance on the bag is stronger than ever.  Mommy and daddy decide to "wean me" from the bag.  Daddy wants me to quit "cold turkey", meaning no more bag when I am at home.  I have some early successes: for my early morning nap, I fall asleep in my bouncy. Afternoon naps are so so.  Evenings are harder.  Mom and dad emphasize my nighttime routine: bath, followed by stories, followed by songs.  Not working. Fuss, fuss, fuss without much sleeping!! A few nights sleeping in mommy's arms or in bed with mom and dad is all I expect. I miss my bag!

THIRD MONTH: RETURN OF "THE BAG".  Mom and dad decide that the decision to completely interfere with my strong love of "the bag" is wrong.  It is the only thing that reliably works for me and as I always say: why mess with what works?  The plan now is to try to transfer me more quickly from "the bag" to the cosleeper once I am asleep and not to allow me to stay in the bag for long periods at a time.   Daddy calls the transfer of sleeping Niam from bag to cosleeper: "the switcheroo."  At night time, mommy says "Good luck" to daddy as he attempts to pull off "the switcheroo".  We know going in that "the switcheroo" is a risky proposition frought with possible failures, but you can't succeed if you don't try.  There is definitely some good news too!!  Once I fall asleep at nighttime, I've had some good nights of longer and longer periods of sleep.  Last night, I slept for five and a half hours consecutively by far my longest stretch so far.  Needless to say, I woke up super hungry!!!

THE FUTURE: I am not sure what the future holds.  Mom and dad continue to carefully study the books to come up with alternative strategies.  I will keep you updated as things develop.......