I was telling my mom the other day that if I just knew what the trouble was, I would fix it. She could be having a growth spurt, or teething, or waking up when her pacifier falls out of her mouth, or waking up because she just now has gotten really comfortable flipping over front/back, back/front (and if she's sleeping while doing this it could be waking her up) or it could be ANY combination of these! Or even something else entirely.
I typically wind up bringing her in bed with me to finish the morning's sleep, after Daniel has left for work, since I'm so exhausted from the wakeful night that all I want to do is sleep in. I don't disagree with co-sleeping, but I haven't really enjoyed it since Naomi turned into a wriggling octopus at about 3 months of age. I sleep MUCH better when she's not in the bed with me. Unless I'm ridiculously exhausted, like I have been lately.
Some parents will say, just let them "cry it out". I don't believe in cry it out for our family, (not that it doesn't have its place for some families) but here's my personal reason: When I was about a year and 1/2 old, my mom put me down for the night in my crib. I'm sure I'd been 90% asleep before that. But I woke up, stood at the end of my crib, crying for just one more hug, and I watched her walk away. It broke my heart, and I felt abandoned. And I remember it to this day. It's one of my earliest memories. Now, don't get me wrong, my mom is a wonderful person, falling only below my husband and daughter in my Most Important People In My Life. But even wonderful people can create tragic memories. I don't believe that babies are too young to remember things. If it's traumatic enough, it can and will affect them and they will remember it. I am bound and determined that Naomi's first memory will be a happy one, so therefore, I don't believe in "cry it out".
Naomi (age 2 mo) demonstrates "sleeping like a baby"
We used the No Cry Sleep Solution and really liked it. If you just love reading sleep books, you could try that one next! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Erin! I'll have to look that one up! :-)
ReplyDeletehey shelley, i understand your opposition to cry it out. i do really. i tend that way myself. i think there is a middle ground though. i started by doing checks on KL. . . . would pick her up to calm her and then back down. you can still be there for her and still teach its time to sleep. I am CERTAINLY no expert as i am going through a LOT of the same stuff. But lately I can see when KL is overtired and unhappy. what she needs is sleep and sowmtimes the only way she can get that is by fussing a little. I never let it go on long. . it usually doesn;t take very long. but sometimes she has to fuss. or NONe of us sleep . . especialy not her. she may fall asleep on me but it is not restful sleep. she never goes into a deep sleep so i know she is not resting well. HSHHC really helped and is still helping us. Like i said i certainly don;t have all the answers but i'm right there with you . . learning as i go! hang in there!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement, Laura! I do know what you mean. Occasionally I will let Naomi fuss, but I can tell a huge difference from when she is fussing to when she's actually crying. From what I've read in the book so far, I really think Naomi has been overtired lately. I hope we can get her caught up and soon!
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