Sleep Training

After a few weeks of deteriorating sleep habits for Gabriel, we decided it was time to gently teach him a few self soothing techniques through what most people term "sleep training". Gabriel was only sleeping about 10 hours a day, which is evidently 4 or 5 hours less than he should be sleeping at his age. (what do I know? this is all from books I've read...). We decided not to do the "cry it out" method because - well - frankly I don't think Brian or I could stick it out. So our plan of action was to set up a pretty rigid schedule and do something called "pick up/put down" for all naps and bedtime. Basically we get Gabe all ready for his nap, set him down and when he starts crying, pick him up again until
a) he stops crying OR
b) it's been four minutes OR
c) he's fighting (arching back, kicking legs)

In the case of b and c, we pick him back up right away. Then you put him back down, and repeat until eventually he goes to sleep.

I think I have much stronger back and arms after five days of this.

Some unexpected, wonderful changes:
1. Gabe has gone from 30-45 minute naps to 2+ hour naps. Sometimes I even have to wake him up from his naps to keep him on schedule. Here he is one day AFTER me trying to wake him up. (He didn't even wake up from the flash of the picture)


I finally got him up and fed him. Here's him after he ate.


I guess sleep training works.

2. sleeping from around 8 PM to 7 AM without waking up (which was actually not a goal, but a nice development nonetheless)
3. going down for naps now takes less than five minutes (with about 10 minutes of wind down time before that). 

One unexpected challenge: It takes quite a long time to convince Gabriel that going to sleep for the night is a good idea. This has always been the case, but I was hopeful that sleep training would help.