As a former smoker I know just how hard it is to give up a habit once started. So I knew when it came time to break Rocky of his habit that it would be equally as difficult for him. Of course he isn't a smoker, and his habit isn't impeeding his health in any way but at 5 months I decided "because I'm your mother and I said so" that it was time for the Swaddleme to go. Ok, so it wasn't just because I'm your mother and I said so, but rather because it was starting to affect nap time. By everyones admision Rocky is a super star baby. He has been sleeping through the night since 5 weeks old and doesn't need to be rocked, fed, or patted to get him in that state. No, you simply put a binky in his mouth, wind up his mobile, and wrap his swaddleme around him in such a way that Houdini couldn't escape. However nap time was more of a challenge...
For nap time I lost the super star baby and gained the typical "I need to be held and rocked" version. This I generally don't mind, I love cuddling a sleeping baby-however I also like to be able to put said sleeping baby in to his or her crib and be able to take care of my own bodily functions during the hour or so that I expect said baby to be asleep. Alas, that wasn't happening. Sure Rocky would fall asleep well enough. Binky, cuddle boom asleep, but the second I'd tip toe out of his room and head back up the hall he would emit an ear piercing, blood curdling scream of terror that he was in his crib-alone-unswaddled. By the end of my second week of being a stay at home mom that found me falling asleep on the couch with him just because I couldn't move for fear he'd wake up I knew something had to give...and last night it did.
Last night I decided it was time to practice tough love. I was breaking the swaddleme habit cold turkey. 8:00 p.m. rolled around, PJ's were put on, kisses given, and a binky put in a rose bud mouth. "I love you Rocky" I told him as I left the room and waited. As if on cue 5 minutes later he started to fuss. I went back in and gave him his binky, and told him I loved him again-please note we do NOT and will NEVER utilize cry it out. If he fusses we see why. On cue again he started to fuss again. "Did you forget to swaddle him?" Barney asked after he replaced Rocky's binky. "Nope, I didn't forget I chose not too" Barney looked at me perplexed and I then explained what a mean Mommy I am and that I was literally taking Rocky's security blanket away.
Well last night it took 90 minutes for him to fall asleep. Once he did however I was not awaken at 4 a.m. to replace a bink. Instead he slept until 7:30 and likely would have slept longer if we didn't need to be out the door by 8:30 thus I woke him myself. Tonight it only took 20 minutes, nd three binky replacements before I discovered that again he is sleeping soundly. Of course we still haven't put this into practice for nap time...and I fully expect this to all go straigh to Hades when we move next week...but for at least the next few nights I'm going to relish that I succeded in my first mission of tough love...and that Rocky can sleep unswaddled!



