How One Family Reduced Crying and Got Their Baby Sleeping in Days
When Mira’s parents first reached out, you could hear the frustration and exhaustion in their voices. At three and a half months old, Mira was trapped in a grueling cycle: she was up all night crying and feeding, which left her with no appetite during the day. She would only take 2 oz at a time, naps were short, and Mira would wake up crying from every one of them.
Confusing, Contradicting Sleep Training Advice
Having outgrown the rhythmic comfort of her Snoo and beginning to fight the swaddle, her sleep—and her parents’ sanity—had hit a breaking point. They were tag-teaming the long nights, bone-tired and desperate for a change. While their pediatrician gave them the green light for night weaning and sleep training at their 12-week checkup, the prospect felt daunting. They were met with a sea of confusing, contradictory advice online—too many methods, too many opinions, and no clear path forward. They were afraid of doing it “wrong.”
Why “Drowsy But Awake” Was Making Crying Worse
They tried putting Mira down drowsy but awake for every sleep, but it just didn’t work (it rarely does!). Every time they tried, Mira would wake up crying within minutes of putting her down and they’d have to start the whole song and dance of getting her to sleep again. The song and dance could sometimes be hours, and the crying just kept getting worse.
Holistic (and Heartwarming) Approach of a Mommywise Sleep Coach
Desperate for a change, the family reached out to Mommywise, who matched them with their coach, Amy. From their first meeting, the atmosphere in their home shifted. Amy didn’t just bring a “plan”; she brought warmth, confidence, a listening ear, and a holistic approach.
A Clear Plan to Reduce Unnecessary Crying
Instead of a one-size-fits-all sleep plan, Amy took the time to understand Mira’s unique challenges and her parents’ concerns, and she walked them through what changes she recommended and why. Because “drowsy but awake” wasn’t working for Mira and led to so much unnecessary crying, Amy recommended putting Mira down fully awake. This, she explained, would help Mira learn to self-soothe and put herself to sleep, versus being dependent on all the crutches they were using (feeding or rocking to sleep, pacifier, swaddle, etc). The new routine would no longer include feeding or rocking to sleep.
Other changes Amy suggested included:
- Last bottle 30 minutes before bedtime
- Remove swaddle and pacifier
- Move to crib in nursery (with good quality video monitor)
- Add white noise machine on medium setting
- Lower the crib mattress
- Increase overnight diaper size
- Darken the room for naps
- Remove all lovies and blankets from the crib
Prioritizing Baby’s Comfort & Bedtime Routine
From there, Amy personalized an evolving plan that prioritized Mira’s comfort and well-being while giving the parents a clear, actionable map to follow. For the first time, they weren’t just guessing; they were being guided by an expert who deeply cared about their family’s success.
After walking them through their new bedtime routine, Amy modeled how to put Mira down from now on, and then they waited and watched anxiously on the monitor while Mira fell asleep. While their previous bedtime routine took up to 2 hours with nonstop crying, the first night Mira fell asleep within 40 minutes with minimal drama and crying.
What Changed in Just Three Nights
The shift didn’t take months—it took a matter of days. By following Amy’s tailored recommendations, the miraculous happened: Mira began sleeping through the night consistently. Within three nights, Mira was night weaned, eating and napping better, taking 6 oz bottles on a 4-hour feed schedule, and visibly happier with less reflux symptoms and able to play independently for longer stretches.
Good Sleep Changes Everything — For Everyone
The ripple effect of good sleep has changed everything for this family:
- For Mira: She now wakes up rested, happy, and ready for the day. She eats well on a 4-feed schedule and takes 3 restful naps.
- For Her Parents: They got their evenings and bedroom back. There is no more nighttime anxiety, they wake feeling rested and enjoy predictable days.
- For the Home: The clouds of exhaustion have cleared, leaving their home a much more peaceful home with rested, confident parents, and a happy baby.
Sleeping Through the Night Without the “Wild West” of Advice
If you are at your wit’s end, please know that you don’t have to navigate the “wild west” of contradictory sleep advice alone. As this family found, sometimes all you need is a guiding light from a Mommywise Sleep Coach to lead you back to sleep.
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