SLEEEEEEEEP! Pt.1

Oh, Mamas!
Sleep is a juggernaut topic.
First, I just want to say if anyone is out there struggling with sleep challenges:  Hang in there!  You are not alone!  You are an amazing Mama!!!!!!
Second, One of my friends gave me great advice:  "Sleep is the greatest gift you can give your child.  The ability to learn to fall asleep and remain asleep through the night unassisted by "tools" (i.e. bottles, rocking, etc.) is paramount to their happiness and yours! There are different methods to achieve this goal; so find what works for you and don't be afraid of some "tough love" or crying.  As parents it's about making hard choices and giving our children the tools to survive and thrive in this world - so by giving them sleep for their brains to grow and rest for their bodies, you are doing just that."
Third, every baby is different.
So how can any singular sleep suggestion/system/theory apply?
Most of my fellow Mamas have tried several disciplines and, typically, they've come up with a 'mix' of things that work for them.  Here is my mix:
NETFLIX!! During those first few hazy weeks (or months, hello!) of newborn life, I had little brain capacity, energy or time to actually read a book.  So I rented DVDs!  I highly recommend this for speed and efficiency purposes as it's like having a personal instructor in your house with you!  Here are three that helped us tremendously.  I sometimes refer to them as our Holy Trinity of Sleep Guides:

HAPPIEST BABY ON THE BLOCK (DVD) explained how newborns LOVE being swaddled (emulating the womb) and loud ambient noise (inside the womb is as loud as a vacuum cleaner!! what?!!).  There are great soothing techniques, swaddling directions, and other good info.  It's also VERY helpful to actually see demonstrations of the above.  Techniques worked for us immediately.  Not all were consistent right off the bat, but good to know and try again when all else failed.  (i.e. one time BabyGirl was particularly ornery and I literally held her in my arms while I vacuumed until she fell asleep which took about 15 mins.)  Also, we still "ssshhhhhhhh" to this day.  Not as loud as we originally did, but at a much lower volume, and not just for sleeping.  It also helps when she's crying even if it's for a few seconds.

TRACY HOGG: THE BABY WHISPERER (DVD) had a variety of helpful hints from sleeping to bathing to activity time.  At the end of the DVD, she walks you through a table display of products she uses and believes in (she doesn't have endorsement deals with any of the companies either).  Her E.A.S.Y. approach was completely applicable to BabyGirl.  Eat.Activity.Sleep.You. = Genius!  Once BabyGirl was around 6 weeks, I began to notice that this was in fact her pattern: Eat, Activity, Sleep.  If we tried to alter that in any way...All hell would break loose!  This order, coupled with a few of the tidbits from HBOTB came in very handy!   (Side Note: Great visual instruction on how to get your wet and very slippery newborn out of the washbasin tub proved to be superb for us as well!!)

HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS, HAPPY CHILD (Book) A Mama down in N.C. recommended this book to me after she and her fellow Mamas found great success with it!  I agreed whole heartedly!
HSHHC stresses just how important sleep is to baby's BRAIN DEVELOPMENT.  This lit a fire for me.
"Perfect Timing Equals No Crying" is a mantra of HSHHC.  It also encourages parents to write down the current schedule of your baby's sleep/awake times to look at any patterns.  This was extremely helpful in understanding the natural cycle of our baby, to see where she stood in terms of her short sleeps and big sleeps, length of sleeps, etc.  The first part of the book is general information, then it breaks out in age range.  The patterning went along with HOGG's E.A.S.Y., and coupled with the 2-hour awake time window discussed in HSHHC, I started to see the light!
Once the light bulb went off, I was fairly militant about the sleep schedule.  I still am.
I like to equate it to Pavlovian Conditioning.  You remember from high school psychology, I'm sure... dogs, food, bells, salivating.... Repeat.  This is where being a creature of habit comes in handy.
I also don't keep anything, but a mobile on the crib.  Crib time is sleep time.
I remember when BabyGirl first slept from about midnight to five in the morning.  We considered that sleeping through the night.  And soon, we were manipulating feedings and crib time to try and extend it.  Slowly but surely... We had some some setbacks, but we kept working.  And it, whatever "mix" you find will work for you!!  Just remember, you're LOOKIN' GOOD, MAMA!!