As a mom to three little people, (thank goodness my stepdaughter could already sleep through the night when I met her!), one might think I'd be a seasoned pro at bedtime. Not. the. case.
If anything, it only became more difficult with my youngest, Brendan. Unfortunately for him, as the baby, he was often subject to the schedules of the other more vocal members of our family (that's really 2.5-year-old Fiona that I'm looking at). As he moved well past the three-month mark and nighttime feedings were only increasing, I could feel my daytime composure cracking hard. Worst of all, others could see it too. My nerves were fraying, and I was leaning too hard on caffeine and sugar. It wasn't a sustainable recipe for success. And Brendan also needed more. He was naturally moving into more rhythmic daytime sleeps, but our day-to-day was often getting in the way.
Thank goodness for a timely and somewhat serendipitous introduction to Awilda, founder of Cozy in the Crib, and fellow seasoned mom. We had an introductory phone call and I felt completely understood, and even hopeful that it could get better. With everything that made up our busy life, I didn't see how I was going to get Brendan into any kind of feasible routine. After that first call, however, a little light crept in.
Awilda is well-versed in balancing the needs of families and she had many practical tips from our first conversation. I immediately bought a room dividing curtain that effectively transformed shared space, as well as a sound machine that I could take on the go. Awilda knew that planning for car naps in Brendan's schedule was baked into the cake, and she was going to help me do it most effectively.
Before getting started I was worried, and self-conscious, about sharing our schedule and sleep logs. I didn't think I would be able to follow something similar to what I had tried with my first, and even my second baby. I didn't need to worry. Not only did Awilda put me right at ease, but she was also a cheerleader from the beginning with encouraging texts and flexible responses when things were not going according to plan.
With only a few days behind us in the two-week plan Cozy in the Crib offers for infants, the difference has already been astounding. I am better equipped to plan for Brendan's needs around our long days, while also having my own needs met as a mom who was seriously sleep deprived. The little bub goes down happily at night, all snuggled into his sleep sack after quality time spent together that I was able to carve out and enjoy just with him. There's still work to be done, but with this much change in such a short time, I'm all in on it!
If you are having nap, nighttime, or sleep struggles in general with your infant or toddler, schedule a free consultation call with Awilda at Cozy in the Crib
You can learn more on the website or by following Awilda on Instagram or Facebook.
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