Enter: Dixie

I have been struggling with Gus on the sleep front. In the past few weeks, he has been waking-up hourly after midnight until 7am...a painful existence for me and it seems to be getting worse. I go to sleep early or nap to take edge off but it is no way to live. Things are different this time around and I don't have patience to troubleshoot with the Contented Baby book.

My friend Natasha hired Dixie for a similar situation only she lasted 10 months with Nicco not sleeping or napping...Gus is almost 4 months. He naps and sleeps, but needs to me moving (swing, bouncing on ball, etc) or breastfeeding to fall asleep.

So I hired Dixie who came over on Wednesday wearing cowboy boots to assess the situation. Today is first day of sleep training...ugh. David and Oskar have left the house, which is a good thing.

Gus was sleeping as I started writing this post and has just woken up. I have been instructed to start my timer and wait "x" amount of time while he cries, then go in and soothe, and then leave and wait "x + 1minute longer". Not fun, if he stops crying, clock resets. I hate resetting the clock.

I have entered his room a few times this am to find a sweaty baby who is very humbled and exhausted. Dixie is on call via texts.

Betrayal - same as taking to doctor for vaccinations.

The goal is to train him to fall asleep on his own.
Gus is a tough cookie though.
Suppose to be a rough few days and then we will all be sleeping through the night.

If this works, I really wish I had hired Dixie from day one with Gus.
4 months is a long time. Sleep consultant sounds like such a silly idea. She is with us until he sleeps through night and then helps later when/if things change. Not a bad deal. Don't ask price tag.

(Might be able to catch-up on updating the blog this weekend.)