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Almost able to handle a drink mix...

For those of you who read my latest Lipstick & Pearls column, "If you give a mom a drink mix," you probably gathered that things have been *ahem* interesting around here.

Baby 3 has been a sleepless stinker. Love him to death, but nights have been more than a little rough. I'm not sure why that surprises me...I don't get those easy sleepers. All my children have driven me to a sleep-deprived state during their first year.

This time, I vowed not to let it get out of hand. I tried sleep training the "normal" way about a month ago. It was a fail. Big time.

Fast forward...I'm trying it again, but with a way that popped into my head one day (thank you, God, for that inspiration!!!).

I determined that I would lay Case down by himself on a fleece blanket, give him a paci, and then sing a very specific song from a book we own. I sing the song every.single.time. I put him down for a nap and every.single.time. I go back in to soothe him.

The purpose: I want the song to signal to Case that it is time to settle down. I don't want him to need the song to go to sleep...there's a difference.

And so far, it's working...for naps at least. But just that victory gives me a glimmer of hope that he will soon sleep well at night, too. At least sleep for 5-hour stretches, which have thus far eluded us.

So for all of you in the middle of sleep-training (or deprivation), go with your gut! The Ferber method worked great for Jemma...but Case needed a modified version. I didn't ever do a "method" with Gracelyn, and now I wish I would have...she often has trouble falling asleep. She eventually does, but not without lying awake for quite some time.

I'm all for the long-term benefit!

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