Success!

I can't begin to describe my elation this morning!  Last night, while not a full night of straight sleep, was by far the best night we have had with Abigail in a long time. 

Ever since early May, we've been dealing with setbacks in her sleeping habits including separation anxiety, severe crying, needing to be rocked completely asleep, and waking multiple times in the night crying.  A few weeks ago, I bought the "No-Cry Sleep Solution" books for babies and for toddlers, and I read them cover to cover.  I have been trying some new tactics but finding it hard to complete the process, because I can't easily sit next to Abbie in her crib to comfort her- she must be picked up and rocked.  I got it in my head that somehow I might be able to make her like her bed again if I could cuddle up with her and show her that it's a safe place.  That's hard to do when there's a tall gate separating us!

Well, time has continued to pass, and we've traveled a lot, therefore making little progress on fixing our bedtime routines.  And, it's gotten to the point that we are both really frustrated and ready to try the cry-it-out approach.  Actually, I was and still am on the fence about that.  Apparently, it's easier for guys to handle than girls, and I'm still not sure that it's the right method for us.

During all of this hemming and hawing, in the back of my mind has been the idea of switching Abigail to a "big-girl bed".  Only problem?  She hasn't mastered the art of getting down from a raised surface without smashing her face, which would be a big problem considering she has been waking multiple times per night in the past week.  I was chatting about this with a friend at the pool yesterday when another mother overheard and said "Why don't you just put the mattress on the floor?  That's what I did!".  Well, I had thought about that, but for some reason hesitated previously because of the ability it would give Abbie to "escape".  She pointed out that a "big-girl bed" would give her the same freedom (Duh!  Don't know what I was thinking!). So, the encouragement of this other mother gave me the push I needed to make it happen.

Last night I took the mattress out of the crib and placed it on the floor in the far corner of Abbie's room, moving furniture around to make sure she had a safe sleep space.  I padded the side of the mattress with pillows and placed her loveys there.  We read our bedtime story in bed (she loved that), and on attempt #2 to put her to bed, I was able to rock for 5-10 minutes then lay down with her on the mattress and soothe her to sleep.

Throughout the night, Abbie woke twice, but I got to her before she had crawled more than a foot from the bed and before she felt the need to cry.  She soothed back to sleep with very little effort both times. 

And the most beautiful thing?  Whereas, Abbie has recently been waking between 4am and 5:45am, fussing and thinking it was time to get up, this morning she slept until 6:40am and woke up HAPPY!  Yes, that's right: HAPPY!  She crawled right out of bed, picked up a book to read, and looked up and smiled at me when I came in to greet her!

OK, so, there's no telling if this is the permanent solution.  Of course, I know that babies' sleep habits change as they grow, and there will occasionally be setbacks.  But, if this could happen again for the next few nights, we just might be making a new pattern!  So far, it has worked twice: last night and just now when I put her down for her nap.  I've got all my fingers and toes crossed that it will keep working and possibly even progress to us being able to leave her in the room while she's still awake.  I know, I know, I might be getting my hopes up here.  But, after such a great morning, I can't help but feel optimistic!