Dear Moms:
I need some advice.
Due to parenting error I can't get my kiddo to sleep.
I have definitely got some work cut out for me. because
#1. I've let him nurse himself to sleep, and
#2. I pick him up when he cries, and rock him back to dreamland.
Gawl, I knew from the beginning these would be difficult practices to reestablish but I love to snug him. It kills me when he cries and I really love to snug him.
So, The past two nights we let him cry, and he freaks. I check on him and try to settle him down but still freakage. Last night he was so upset he threw up and Jon rocked him back to sleep cuz we felt so sad.
Please Mommas, I need some advice and encouragement. and I need some sleep...
(Funny that this would come right after Jon writes a sweet little diddy about how I am such a great momma...Whoops! i've got a lot to work on..)
13 comments:
I feel for you Lyndy! We still struggle with night time awakenings and how to handle them. Lincoln gets so ticked that he pukes too! As for going to bed though, maybe try to keep him awake while nursing. After he's finished, read him a sweet nightime story. Maybe if you change the order of your routine just a little, it won't throw him off too much.
Little babies are smart and they know that if they wake up in the night, they will get to see mommy or daddy so... we've started putting a little book and toy in his crib along with a sippy cup of water so if he wakes in the night, before he gets too ticked, he finds those things and kinda gets distracted. Before long, he drifts back off to sleep. It seems to work quite well most of the time. Good luck and if you come across any great methods, please pass them on to me since we're still working through it ourselves.
The crying thing really does work-It sucks big time though! One of my friends told me to look at it as their exercise and reminded me that they aren't going to die from crying.
The baby whisperer book has a good chapter...if I'm recalling right.
One thing that I did with Auri, is after I laid her in her crib I would sit on a chair next to her for a while until she calmed down and then sneek out. Also it sounds weird but tell them..."Its time to go to sleep, I'll come and get you when its light outside and we'll play" (or something like that)-then they sense that your not deserting them.
One more thing...try not to pick them up after you first lay them down just lay them back down and comfort them from the side of the crib-its hard, but then they realize thats where they're supposed to be at that time of night.
There's my two bits-take them for what its worth...Good Luck!
So I am probably the worst person to comment but here is what I have to say...keep rocking and snuggling that cute kid! I have never been able to let Jack cry it out and to tell you the truth I am glad I didn't! I may have lost a little beauty sleep but I love that time with Jack! He is 14 months now and sleeping through the night just fine.
The one thing I did do is stop feeding him at night and it made a huge difference! Enjoy the time when you can still rock your baby because eventually they will be all grown up!
Rach
Oh boy. I am totally in the same boat as you. My little critter Brynlee this last few weeks has been a monster and doesn't want to sleep. It is totally starting to wear on me.
Oh gosh, that is hard. I nursed my baby to sleep every night and for every nap. I hate the crying though too. It is so hard on a mom because you do want to just snuggle all the time. I guess just nurse him, and put him down. Let him cry for 30 min. and if he still is crying go rock him? I dont know...some people would think this advice is terrible. Good luck!
Lyndy Lou, I feel for ya. The crying thing doies work, but you can not, can not, go in there. At least if he can see you. If he can see you, it's all over with. With both of my girls, it took three nights of hell, and then it was Heaven!! You can do it though. You might even shed some of your own tears because it is so hard. It will be worth it in the end, this I promise you!
Lyndy! this is tough, but you can do it! You just HAVE to let him cry his self to sleep, it will take about 2 weeks but then he will just go to sleep on his own! And i know its hard litsening to them cry but no matter what you cant go in there and you CANT pick him up! otherwise it will never work! I remember Ali crying for 2 hours once but eventually she would fall asleep! good luck and be strong! you can do it!
oh Lyndy... I'm right there with you hun. I STILL rock my babe to sleep and she is 14 months. I LOVE it... and I don't care what anyone else thinks. BUT...it is a hard habit to break, and i've heard that it takes 3 DAYS of letting them cry it out. I never had to do that with Abbey, but I may experience it with Makayla...cuz like you , I love to snug.
Hey Lyndy- This is Jenna (Heinrich) Corry again- the one who is the same age as Kody... Anyway- My 2 year old, Dallin pukes SOOO easy. We tried to let him cry to sleep a few times and it always ended up with puke everywhere. Then. one night, we layed him down, showed him that it was dark outside, and said that when it was light that we would play. Then we layed on the couch by him and "went to sleep". He saw that we were in there and didn't freak out, and just kind of fell asleep on his own. Now we just put him in bed, and he knows that it's time. Also- a routine helps them know too. I don't know if that will really help... But I know how hard it is to listen to them cry- I just couldn't do it. And you are still an awesome mama... it shows in how you want to cuddle him to sleep!
We still wake up at night... not to nurse but because I had the same issue... Now it's weaning from bottle so it is 10x harder... all I can say is that from what I have tried, change his routine to eat, play sleep... that way he is tired out when he sleeps... & make sure that he isn't just nursing to nurse, he will be hungry... it's hard & I hate trying to change his schedule or routine but I'm sure eventually it will work out! Also like your friend said, keep him awake while he eats... I always would rub Brok's toes or put a wipe over his face... it distracts him from sleep because he is uncomfortable... The crying is hard but if possible, try that... if he still wakes up in the night, try a binky or comfort him... Brok does that still but his daddy can't handle letting him cry so we just turn off the monitor & turn up the fan or something... he goes back to sleep fast... what I have heard is that the reason they wake is out of habit, not cause they're hungry... try not to feed him at night... stretch his last feeding til later & then eventually bring it back down... he'll get it!
good luck & keep us posted!
Lou-
I've missed you too! We must get together soon! Good luck with the sleep issues.. Sorry that I have NO advice for you though... How about some cold medicine.. I hear that knocks them right out..:) j/k..
The time goes by so fast, you will come to the point that snuggling your babe is no longer an option! So, if it works for you then do it! I treasure the time I had with Lillie late at night. I struggled with trying to get her to stay asleep in her bed...the first few nights I almost had a breakdown listening to her cry, but each night it got easier and easier & now she sleeps through the night. Good luck - you've got some good advice.
I really don't know how I found your blog - I am a blog stalker! ;-) But this post intrigued me: I will be a new mom in 3months and have really been wondering about this same thing...keep the questions and comments coming - I listen to all advice and am sure I will try everything at least once!
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