New Routine

After a month of Cody no longer sleeping through the night, I've decided to try a new routine.  After our little (or not so little) choking incident, I decided that crying it out is not for Cody.  I'm not against it, but it just doesn't work for Cody - he doesn't stop crying.  I've been doing some research, and I have made up my mind that I'm going to get serious on giving him a bedtime routine. 

Code has always been on a schedule...ok, more like just an eating schedule since he refuses to nap (we're gonna get serious about that once we get this bedtime nightmare worked out!).  He eats about 5-6 ounces every three hours, six times a day.  He was on a 6, 9, 12, 3, 6, 9 schedule but was giving me cues that he needed to go to bed before 9 p.m., so I moved his schedule to have his last feeding at 8 p.m.

When he was a newborn, I was very good about going into his room to read to him, rock him and then put him to sleep.  But in the past few months, I will admit that I've been a bit slack on that.  I read to him every day, but not at bedtime anymore.  It's become more of 'Cody hangs out in the living room with mom and dad until he's almost asleep and then put him to bed' kind of thing.  I know, that's not good.  He needs to be able to have some calming down time before bed...but to be honest, I just love hanging out with my husband and my son, so it was hard to 'break up' that family time.  Silly me! 

After doing my research, I decided to get serious about having a bedtime routine that we can take well into Cody's future. 

Bathtime, book, boob :), one more book if he's not quite ready and then once he is drowsy but not asleep, put him in his crib and walk out.  If he starts to cry, I will wait one minute and then go in to put his paci back in, and try to soothe him without talking or looking him in the eye.  I will stay in there for no longer than a minute, and leave (even if he is still crying).  Then I will go in after three minutes have passed and do the same.  This will continue on if he is not asleep to 5 min. then 7 min. and finally 10 min.  If by this time he has not fallen asleep, I will start over at one.

I have high hopes for this and look forward to posting on whether or not it is working for us!