Sleep - or lack there of

"How is your baby sleeping?" - this is the question that popped up in my email inbox today. Isn't that ironic? My biggest challenge, right now, is getting Colton settled with a nighttime sleep pattern that works for all of us. The struggle I am facing, is to be sure that Colton is getting enough "snuggle time" to feel comfortable and safe but make sure I'm allowing him to form good sleeping habits (i.e. self soothing, be able to put himself back to sleep, able to sleep by himself, etc..). It's really tough for me to determine when I need to let him cry (I think because he cried so much during weeks 5 - 7) and when he really just needs Mommy to hold him. It's a fine line that I'm sure most new Moms face, so I'm just trying to listen to my motherly instincts, keep my mind open to all options and my ears open to all helpful tips and tricks.

Another challenge I am facing with Colton's nighttime sleeping is the fact that he does not like to sleep in a crib, a pack-n-play or a cradle but he LOVES to sleep in his swing and his "bouncy seat". At first, since the little guy was so colicky and miserable, I was so thankful when he would sleep at all, that I let him sleep in his "bouncy seat" - even at bedtime - just so I could get a few hours of sleep myself. The "bouncy seat" is not a bed...and getting Colton in a crib is something we are working really hard on.

I know that routine is key for a baby's well-sleeping! We have started a bedtime routine with Colton - starting with his bath, followed by feeding and then rocking/snuggling. This routine works great...until I put him down in his crib. You would think the kid had been pinched or worse by the sound of his cries. This is where my inner struggle begins. Do I pick him up or let him cry? Nine-week-old babies are still too young for the "Ferber Method" (the method that teaches parents to let infants and toddlers cry for progressively longer periods until they accept a sleeping arrangement).  This method is not recommended until babies are at least six months old. Because I don't want to let Colton "cry it out" until he is a little older, and I haven't wanted to commit to hours of re-rocking/soothing and putting back in the crib (and repeat), is why Colton has been sleeping in his "bouncy seat" during the night. However, I am determined to get him sleeping in his crib this week. Wish me luck!
 
So many people told me "get all the sleep you can before the baby is born" - and I thought, yeah, I know, I know. I had no idea. If I could go back and do anything differently during my pregnancy, it would be to take full advantage of all the sleep I could get. And if I can pass on any advice to my pregnant friends - get all the sleep you can before your baby is born!