The No-cry Sleep Solution (59 page)

Authors: Elizabeth Pantley

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The No-Cry Sleep Solution

Have You Faced Setbacks or

Unusual Situations?

If you have been struggling with your sleep plan because of teething, sickness, vacation, or any other disruption in your family routine, you will find your progress slower than it would have been had all these things not interfered with your baby’s naps and nighttime sleep.

Mother-Speak

“When I first started with my plan, everything was going really well. But it seems that whenever I think we’re making progress, things backfire. First the holidays hit, then he got a bad cold. Now he’s teething, and it’s waking him up every two or three hours again. I think he had a growth spurt in between, too. I told him I was going to sell him to the neighbors this morning, and we both laughed so hard.”

Susan, mother of ten-month-old Luke

Such is the life of a parent! If you were ever bored before a baby entered your life, this new little person has erased the word from your vocabulary. Setbacks are an inevitable issue as you work your way through your sleep plan. Just keep moving forward. Despite all the interruptions, you
can
make progress. And when things settle down, you’re likely to see that success is right around the corner.

Persistence and consistency are the keys. Do your best to stick to your plan despite the setbacks. Even if you can’t manage every step, the ones that you do adhere to will create positive changes for you.

Analyze Your Success

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Typically, when life settles down, baby’s sleep pattern will too.

Here’s a quote from the same mother a few weeks later:
Mother-Speak

“Finally his teeth have erupted, his congestion has ceased, and he is feeling much better. Here is last night’s log—back to normal! This was Luke’s first time sleeping more than six hours straight in about three weeks. I can’t tell you how pleased I am. I guess the neighbors don’t get him after all.”

Susan, mother of ten-month-old Luke

Are There Medical or Developmental Issues

That Are Interfering with Baby’s Sleep?

There may be more to your baby’s inability to sleep than just habits and routines. You may be unaware of a medical or developmental issue that is impairing your baby’s ability to sleep well.

It’s always wise to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about your baby’s health. Here are a few of the most common problems that keep babies up at night.

Teething

The process of teething is a common reason that babies have trouble falling and staying asleep. Think back to the last time you had a toothache, headache, sore back, or stiff neck. Discomforts can disrupt your ability to sleep. Babies can’t tell us what the problem is; they can only cry or fuss. Often this behavior starts long before we see a tooth pop out, so it can be hard to tell that teething is responsible for your baby’s fussiness.