Crib Transition for Alyssa

Alyssa has slept in my bed since she was born.  Every nap has been taken in my arms or in the car.  There have been a couple of rare occasions where she has fallen asleep on other people, but like I said, rare!  It was the same way with Addison and I don't have a single regret.  They are only babies for short period of time.

B & I decided it was time for the BIG move since Alyssa is almost 18 months old.  We are doing the transition much later than we did with Addison.  I think mostly because Alyssa is still nursing.  Addison was weaned at 12 months and moved to her crib at 14 months.  I wish that I would have documented her transition better to compare with what I'm doing now.

1/3/12 - Ferber failed me today.  I tried to get her to nap for 30 minutes and it never happened.  I'm not giving up though.
1/4/12 - 12:30 I nursed her for 5 minutes and then put her in the crib for nap.  The first 10 minutes she resisted, but I stuck to it and eventually she settled down.  I told her it was time for a nap and to lay down and I would put cover on her.  She laid down and instead of leaving her again, I patted her and she fell asleep pretty fast.  I know that staying in the room isn't part of the Ferber Method, but I modified it with Addison and am doing it again with Alyssa.  You have to find what works best for you and your baby.
She slept for 1 1/2 hours and I was so proud of us both!

1/5/12 - 12:05 in the crib.  12:12 first check.  12:19 second check.  12:30 third check and I nursed her for a few minutes.  This is much harder than the last two days!  It's supposed to get better....  12:49 got her out.  I'll try again in an hour or so.  If she sleeps today it will be in her crib or not at all.  3:13 just finished a snack and a short nursing session.  She's so sleepy and can barely hold her eyes open.  I put her in the crib, so let the countdown begin, again!  Went in for first check at 3:18 and she had a dirty diaper, so I changed her and rocked her for a few minutes.  Back in the crib at 3:28.  Another check at 3:38 & I just don't think she's going to nap today.  I'll do one more check and then get her out.  Well, she never took a nap.

1/6/2012 - I had to work in the nursery at MDO today, so I knew Alyssa would be getting a late nap.  There's no way I was about to let her cry in the crib and disturb the other babies.  When we got home I nursed her for a few minutes then put her in the crib at 2:45.  2:50 first check.  3:00 second check.  3:10 third check and I nursed her for 5 minutes.  3:30 check (I'm no longer counting the checks at this point).  3:38 another check and nursed her for 2 minutes.  She went right to sleep when I put her in the crib!  What a relief!  I was about to give up on a nap for today too!  She slept for an hour.

1/7/2012 - 12:00 nursed and rocked for 5 minutes then put her in the crib.  She cried, but not like the last few days.  12:11 first check - she had a dirty diaper.  I think she is saving her poops for the crib to try and postpone the inevitable.  Changed her diaper and rocked her for a few minutes.  Put her in the crib at 12:26 with a little whimper and she went right to sleep!  She slept for 45 minutes.

1/8/12 - 11:35 rocked and nursed Alyssa then put her in the crib (drowsy, but awake).  11:45 first check and of course, she had a dirty diaper.  I see a pattern here!  11:53 rocked her for a few minutes then put her in the crib.  12:00 asleep!  She slept for 1 1/2 hours!

1/9/12 - 12:30 rocked and nursed Alyssa then put her in the crib (drowsy, but awake).  12:40 she wasn't crying at all, but I still went in to check on her because she was standing up and not about to lay down on her own.  I rocked her for about 3 minutes and she almost fell asleep in my arms, but I quickly moved her to the crib and she drifted right off to sleep.  It's a dark, gloomy, rainy day today.  I wonder if she will sleep longer today since this is great sleeping weather!  We shall see...  She slept for 1 hour and 40 minutes!

1/10/12 - 12:12 in the crib.  12:21 first check = dirty diaper!  12:30 back in the crib.  12:40 second check.  12:54 third check and all it took was a little pat on the tummy and she was asleep.

It's been a week, so I think I'll stop documenting our journey with the transition to the crib for naps.  Stay tuned for our next journey - the bedtime transition!  I'll probably start that in a week or so.