Yes, this is going to be another post about our sleep training woes and successes! Perseverance has paid off and currently we are winning the sleep battle with our daughters. I'm happy to report that the girls (when finally asleep) stay asleep until will the dream feed around 11pm and then both sleep until 7:30-8am. Hallelujah! I almost feel human again.
Many parents would feel proud of their conquest and revel in their new found sleep gains! While pride is high on my emotional gauge these days, so is determination. The idea of putting my daughters to sleep MINUS the tears from at least one of them is so appealing, I've branched out my support network to include the Parent Talk Line in Niagara. What a fabulous resource, to be able to call with a problem and have a nurse provide feedback and support! The Parent Talk Information Line basically will support parents with any questions related to parenting. Amazing!
Late last week I called and left a message describing my twins sleeping issues and a nurse called me back later that day. She attentively listened as I explained all the books and resources I had read about sleep, outlined the Moms I had networked with, the strategies I had tried, my philosophy of sleep training and finally the successes and challenges I had experienced sleep training the Turkettes. When she could finally get a word it, LOL, she informed me that I was a very well read mother and had made a lot of positive choices for my girls. She also reminded me (at least 3 times) that the girls WERE ONLY 5.5 months and were doing really well so far with their sleep. After few more minutes of chatting I finally said to her "So reading between the lines of our conversation, basically you're trying to tell me that my expectations for my 5.5 month old twins might be a little high?????" LOL She said, "perhaps, haha" But to keep trying all of the great strategies I already had in place and eventually the sleep habits will come.
She made the suggestion of putting Abigail (who often has the more difficult time falling asleep) to bed with a sleep object. We have decided to use the half bear/half small blanket that is easy for her to hold and small in size. Not only is it super sweet to see her clutching onto this little bear blanket while sleeping but it seems to be doing the trick! The nurse also offered to send me a few websites about sleep that may be helpful. When I started to give her my email address... teacher.turcotte@... she burst out laughing! "I could have predicted you were a teacher!" she laughed through her apology! I laughed right along with her! I can't help it if I'm that predictable!
My conversation with this nurse and the resources she sent really helped me feel more confident of the progress the Turkettes have made and that helps ME sleep better at night!
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