I love our kids. They are awesome in their own ways. But they have both been a challenge in the sleep department. Ben just never wanted to miss out on all the action when he was an infant and hated falling asleep. I thought for sure Madeline would be a better sleeper. Not so much. When she was a newborn, she slept in her bassinet beside me (see photo, from 6 weeks ago) or with me in bed. I put off trying to put her in the crib because I was paranoid about being separated from her, and because she woke up so frequently that it was just easier to keep her beside me.
So last month I tried some sleep training: get her to sleep only in the crib, take longer naps and wake less frequently at night. She falls asleep fairly easily if I notice her sleepy signs. Apparently I missed the signs on this day, because she went from playing to sleeping right in front of me on the floor.
She takes short naps and tends to wake up a lot at night, sometimes up to five times. For several nights in a row. Sometimes it makes me want to cry. I am tired of all the articles that say that at this stage my baby should be sleeping better and have a sleep routine. Maybe I should read those articles to Maddy. Maybe she just never got the memo.
After a few fitful nights in the crib, she was done with the bassinet and only spending nights in her own room. But she still got up at least every 2-3 hours, sometimes every 30 minutes. Several nights of that made me start to lose my sanity. Also, she likes to stay up late (goes to bed between 9 and 10) and sometimes sleeps in until 8 or 9 in the morning, especially if it was a rough night. I have tried waking her up earlier to adjust her schedule and go to bed between 7 and 8 but so far no luck.
Her naps are anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, usually 3 times a day. If I'm really lucky a nap lasts for an hour and a half. This week she is only getting up 2-3 times at night. Once or twice is for food. Sometimes she gets stuck on her tummy. Sometimes she just needs her pacifier. She usually goes back to sleep quickly, so that's something. Notice all these photos of her sleeping on the floor of our living room? That happens in the afternoon; instead of taking her to her room for an actual nap, I let her snooze right where she is. I think it might help her sleep better at night. Or I could be so sleep deprived that I'm delusional.
In her crib, waking up from a nap. I can't stay frustrated at her for very long, not with this smile.
5 comments:
Aww Sarah, I feel for you and hope that she soons gets the memo about sleeping through the night! I can believe that it is exhausting and fustrating. Don't let the articles that you're reading make you feel like she needs to "fit a certain mold". As a baby, my third child was very content and would just nod off while he was lying/playing on the livingroom floor or in his swing/baby bouncer. I often thought that I really should get him in a certain nap routine, but that was what worked best for Austin and our family. He continues at age 5 to fall asleep when he's exhausted anywhere...the bottom of the stairs, draped over a chair, sofa, floor, bed.... I've got tons of pictures of his unusual choice of places to sleep. Don't beat yourself up about fitting into recommended routines. A nap even on the floor gives you a break, and you deserve a break. Having 2 little ones is exhausting! By the way thanks for sharing your lives and your adorable children with us through this blog. Thanks also for all the valuable information to understand Maddie's "little person" condition (hope I said that correct...I'm still learning).
Sorry for such a long comment! ;)
Sleep deprivation is a horrible thing! I hope you get a break soon. But, you are right, how could you possibly be upset with her when you look at that beautiful smile! Love you, Mom
And hang in there, I promise it doesn't last forever.
I am a firm believer that babies that sleep well during the day sleep better at night. Sleeping anywhere is better than sleeping nowhere. Sophie was around 8 or 9 months before she was taking decent naps and not getting up several times at night. It sucks now that our kids aren't stereotypical but when they are older we'll be glad they're not like everyone else (this has become a daily affirmation for me to maintain my sanity).
With that precious smile you just have to love that child! She'll get better sleep patterns as she gets older. You try to take care of yourself. The family really needs you to be happy and healthy! Love, Dad
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