I expected motherhood to be exhausting. I knew the first three months would be around-the-clock nursing, which meant catching some sleep while my daughter napped. But, I didn’t plan for the four-month sleep regression. And out of desperation to be a better (and more rested) mom, I invested in a sleep course that saved my sanity. I want to share a Taking Cara Babies Review – one that’s honest and for the mom who had a stubborn baby.
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My Daughter’s Sleep Journey
I think that it’s important to know my daughter’s personality and what her sleep has been like. Let’s start by saying that she’s strong-willed. She came out screaming so loud that the nurses down the hall could hear her!
After she came home from the NICU…
She was on a three-hour eating schedule. This was one of the very few benefits of having a NICU baby. She was used to sleeping on her own and her little body was like clockwork. Naps and nursing times were pretty consistent. I was so happy with my three-hour stretch of sleep and felt like I was functioning pretty well too!
Then the dreaded FOUR MONTH Sleep Regressions….
One night everything changed. She began nursing every hour and only wanted to be held. I had not prepared for this, so I was clueless as to what to do.
That’s when I stumbled on Taking Cara Babies. I watched EVERY. SINGLE. Instagram Highlight video she had. I implemented things to the best of my ability. There were little improvements followed by huge setbacks.
So…. I bought a cheaper course.
We didn’t really have the money to spend on a sleep course and my husband was very skeptical. So, we tried things on our own.
We rocked her to sleep. I tried bed-sharing. There were glorified versions of cry-it-out, where we sat next to the crib and loved on her.
Once she finally fell asleep, she only slept for 30 minutes before she would do it all over again.
She had never been a comfort nurser, so when that started to work around 6 months, I basically let her snack all night long.
This went on for over three months.
When I brought it up to our pediatrician, she said we just had a stubborn baby and we needed to let her cry it out. My heart sank. I just couldn’t fathom leaving her in the crib.. alone… crying.
But, exhaustion was an understatement.
I was crabby all the time and had no patience for my husband’s needs or my daughter’s cry. It was horrible. I was not the mom I thought I would be.
One night, my husband *surprised* me with the Taking Cara Babies Course.
It saved my life. Now that it’s been 5 months since we started implementing Cara’s tricks, I am BEYOND grateful for this course and believe it’s worth EVERY. SINGLE. PENNY!
My daughter sleeps from 7:30 pm until 5:45 am.
If this sounds like a dream to you, I want you to know that the Taking Cara Babies Course can give you this.It helped me to become the mother I always wanted to be.
Let’s talk about the Pros + Cons of the Taking Cara Babies Sleep Course
Before I get into all the pros and cons of this sleep course, I want you to know that even though it worked for my strong-willed baby, doesn’t mean it’s right for you. I find writing out a list of pros and cons helps me to weigh out whether or not something is right for my family. Grab a pen and a piece of paper, so you can figure out if Taking Cara Babies is right for you!
Pros that MADE My Skeptical Husband Buy the Course
1. There were Tons of Awesome REVIEWS
I sent my husband a bunch ofYoutuberswho had reviewed Taking Cara Babies. This gave him confidence that it would actually work, even though our daughter was really stubborn. I hope that my daughter’s story (which I’ll share how it went for us a little later), will show you just another positive case study.
2. Cara makes you FEEL BETTER about the Crying
I forget which module it’s in, but Cara shares her story about how she didn’t want her daughter to cry. Then she started researching babies crying and found that it doesn’t always mean something is wrong. It’s just the way a baby communicates.
You can watch herFREE videohere about crying
3. Everything is Science and Research Driven
I’ve always been a girl that needs facts andresearchto believe in something. I loved that Cara has done the work for me. Her methods are science-based and research-driven. So, I felt confident knowing that this wouldn’t “mess up” my baby.
4. Cara is a Neonatal Nurse and Wife of a Pediatrician
After finding out she was a baby nurse and her husband was a pediatrician, I felt like Cara had a good sense of infant sleep. She is also a mama, so she gets it. She understands how hard it is to be sleep deprived and the hurt we feel when listening to our baby cry.
Click Here to Learn More about Cara!
5. If you plan on having more kids, it’s an investment
This was one of the ways I pitched the course to my husband (haha call me a saleswoman!). We knew that we wanted more kids, so this sleep course would be a tool we could add to our toolbox.
6. You get a Reference Booklet to Print and Keep!
You must remember to save this to your computer and print it off for future use. This way you can always go back for information that you may have forgotten or missed. It’s jam-packed with information, so this in itself is worth it.
If you need help downloading it, click here for a step-by-step guide!
7. 3 Different Courses Depending on Age
I love that she has resources for babies newborn through 24 months. It’s truly never too late to start. Next time around, I will get the newborn guide, so I can start our next child off on the right foot.
Course Options include:
8. You can pay for Phone Consults!
I didn’t need to use this, but I liked knowing that if I needed to I could get additional help. It’s $75 for a 50 minute session and you can book it online! The catch is that you need to be a Taking Cara Babies Customer. I’ve heard of moms buying the newborn course and utilizing this once baby needs it when they are a bit older.
9. It’s a Flexible Schedule
For our lifestyle, I couldn’t do a rigid schedule. I loved that she helps you to form a routine that can flex and change as things come up. She talks a lot about wake windows.
Check Out Cara’s Blog Post on Nap Schedules.
10. You CAN use a Pacifier.
A sleep course that lets you use a pacifier… can I get an AMEN?! Seriously though, this can make a world of a difference.She will teach you how to use a pacifier to help your little one sleep through the night.
Here is a video of Cara teaching a mom how to introduce a pacifier.
11. It works for Formula Fed and Breastfed Babies
Initially, I wasn’t ready to wean my daughter completely from night-time nursing. It was important to me that I keep one feeding since she was still little. I wanted to ensure she was getting enough food, so she would gain the appropriate amount of weight. Cara helps you learn how to do this!!
12. 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
I always trust a product that says this. If they are willing to give you your money back, it feels like no risk. This made it a no-brainer for my husband.
13. Encourages you to stay CONNECTED with Your Baby
I was worried that the connection with my daughter would get lost. That she would feel like I didn’t love her anymore… and worse that I abandoned her. But, Cara’s approach and research helped me to not only stay connected with my daughter but encourage a stronger bond.
14. It has Resources for Travel, Leaps, Teething, and More!
A couple of months into following the course, we needed to travel from the east coast to the west coast. This meant a time change and a new place to sleep, which sounded so scary! But Cara has everything you need to know, to make these transitions as smooth as possible.
Cons that Made Me Wonder if It Was Worth it
1. You only get access for 4 months.
This really frustrated me. Especially since I wanted to use it for multiple kids. But, I just printed the booklet which has all the information I should need for any future kiddos.
2. The Price.
Looking back, I wish this wasn’t a factor. A lot of the reviews I watched talked about their amazing prices, but I found it to be a bit spendy. I would have bought it, no questions asked for $125. Her reviews and reputation is AMAZING though, so now that I’ve gone through it… It’s definitely worth it.
3. You have to Commit to 14 Days.
This isn’t a quick fix. I’ve seen courses claim you can sleep train in a weekend. This wasn’t what I wanted, but 14 sleepless nights was rough. (I’ll share about this in a bit).
4. You will need to invest in some additional products
Keep in mind that you will need to get things like a sound machine, a sleep sack (check out my favorite here), and something to make the room dark. If money is an issue, you really need to factor in these things too!
5. There is some crying.
When I first found this sleep course on Instagram, I was under the impression that there was no crying in Cara’s method. Here is your warning… there is crying…. So if you don’t want that.. steer clear!
You can watch herFREE videohere about crying
6. It doesn’t answer all the “What If..” Questions
I feel like a Facebook group would add SO much more value to her course. She has a good amount of FAQs, but sometimes there is something very specific that another mom might be dealing with too.
We struggled with my daughter not being able to put the pacifier back into her mouth. Eventually, she figured it out, but I would have loved some support on that.
What Taking Cara Babies Sleep Course Taught me:
#1 – Babies need a Routine
#2 – You don’t need to be Rigid with Naps and Bedtime
#3 – How to help my daughter to fall asleep on her own.
#4 – Know that crying doesn’t always mean something is wrong.
#5 – That our words matter when comforting my baby.
#6 – Formal Sleep Training should start around 5 Months.
#7 – That my daughter has different needs around Milestones.
Our Taking Cara Babies Journey
When we started Taking Cara Babies, my daughter was 7 months old and didn’t sleep more than 20-30 minutes on her own.
Night 1+ 2 – she was up every single hour.
Night 3,4, + 5 – we started night weaning, so she cried for hours before falling asleep.
Night 6-10 – she would sleep for a few hours, then wake up and cry for a while before going
Night 11 + 12 – I questioned whether or not she would ever sleep through the night.
Night 13 – woke up halfway through the night and cried for 1.5 hours.
Night 14 – SHE SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT.
6 Months Later….
We had a roller coaster of events that came up after we started Taking Cara Babies. We moved into our 40ft Fifth Wheel and traveled a ton.
All-in-All, my daughter did great! There was a time where we regressed to nighttime feedings because she had been sick and I needed to keep her hydrated. That habit bled over into the weeks that followed because I was pretty tired from traveling.
At 12 months, we officially weaned those middle of the night sessions and she sleeps EVERY NIGHT from 7:30 pm to 5:45 am (ish). Occasionally she will wake up in the middle of the night and let out a cry. Typically it’s because she’s chilly or too hot!
My Final Thoughts…
Taking Cara Babies was the BEST investment we’ve made for our family and marriage! I recommend this to every single one of my friends… or I buy them a gift certificate for when they are ready. Even though my daughter is really stubborn and it took the entire 14 nights, it was absolutely worth it. I hope this Taking Cara Baby Review helps you to make a decision that’s right for you and your baby.
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