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Nobody told me that sleep training would make my baby sleep worse than when I started …

I am back to ‘whateverworksville’ after learning that when Wesley goes to sleep on his own in the crib (without rocking or breastfeeding to sleep), he actually sleeps worse than when I soothe him to the edge of slumber. After almost an hour spent trying to fall asleep, Wesley wakes after a half hour or less of sleep mad as hell and incapable of soothing (let alone self-soothing). After a week of no sleep at night and no rest during the day, I’m done with that experiment.

Sleep experts, I deny thee!

As soon as I went back to my old habits, Wes returned to his 40-minute nap schedule and hour- to two-hour sleep cycle. It’s not great, but it’s a lot better than 20-minute catnaps day and night. We’re even getting the occasional nap that’s almost two hours long. Amazing!

The good news is that it’s generally taking much less time to put Wes down for naps and even bedtime - now 5-20 minutes from 40-60 minutes.

The bad news is that he’s added a banshee wail to his arsenal of nighttime vocalizations. The second he wakes up he shrieks. And shrieks. And shrieks. Sometimes a soother or nursing will calm him, and sometimes rocking, and sometimes none of the above. It’s a horrible, horrible sound to wake up to, let alone to stay awake to.

Maybe it’s teething? Or a growth spurt? Or a developmental leap? Or just vocal chord practice. Or whatever.