Operation Cry-It-Out Has Commenced

Last night marked the beginning of Operation Cry-It-Out in the Maynard household.  And boy are we tired.  But the Operation must continue and failure is NOT an option.

Our first child is and always has been a sleeping champ, so sleep training was never a necessity.  Then baby number two arrived.  Actually, she was sleeping 12 hours a night by the time she was four months old.  Then, when she was 8 months, we went on a month-long vacation.  She shared a room with us while we were away and it was the beginning of the end.  The kid has not been able to get through the night since.

We have been planning to sleep train her for months...but something always comes up.  We have company in town.  It’s the holidays.  She gets sick.   Well, last night, when she started crying, nay screaming, even after being breastfed, I was done.  No more.  She can cry ‘til the cows come home.  She is not getting out of that bed!

What has been interesting about the process is discovering that Dad is the tender-hearted parent and I’m the cold-hearted snake.  My babies’ cries have never really affected me emotionally.  I can’t explain it. (For the record, if there is actually something wrong with my baby, then of course the crying makes me sad – I’m not that heartless.)  My sweet husband is the one who is being tormented by the cries.  I think it is good we are opposite in this regard – we keep each other balanced out. 

I am hoping that Operation Cry-It-Out only takes a few days...and not the full week that the pediatrician predicts.  I have to say, even though it’s not fun, I am so relieved we are finally doing this.  Life is going to be better for everyone in the long run...even if this week is tough.  In the meantime, I am baking “I’m so sorry my baby screams all night” cookies for my neighbors, which will be delivered with several pairs of earplugs!

Original Silicon Valley Moms Blog post. Jane Maynard also blogs at This Week for Dinner, where she cooks, eats and takes pretty pictures of food.