Yes! It is 3:45 am! I do NOT know what to do! Someone HELP me!
When Alexis was two days old, we brought her home from the hospital and she slept ALL night! We had to wake her up the next morning! She's had a few times where she did a little worse at night, but usually just through growth spurts and/or teething. But even those times were easily taken care of with a bottle or a little cuddling!
I'm sure it hasn't helped that we went from Ogden to Poky to Arizona to Poky to Arizona to Saint George to Salt Lake to Poky and soon to New York in 6 months time. She was off and on with good sleeping all this time, but all in all, she's still been pretty good and easily consolable during the night. Just in the past week, though, things have gotten pretty bad.
I know I've been spoiled with such a good baby all in all. She loves her naps, she doesn't cry a ton. She's a picky eater, but we work around that. But I have problems sleeping as it is. And I know Alexis is so tired during the days because of these bad sleeping habits. Here's what's going on: Alexis will (usually) go to sleep at night (around 10) without ANY problem. She's tired and loves going to bed. But for some reason, 2 am rolls around and she wakes up on the dot! I'm sure that's just habit, but that the first habit I want to learn how to break! Secondly, no matter what I do, she won't go back to bed ... unless it's in bed with Jordan and I. I know, I know - you're never supposed to let your kids get in bed with you! But after an hour or two, I give up. That's only been going on for a week now, but it's already bad.
Tonight, Alexis woke up at 2 on the dot. We tried to keep her in her crib as long as possible but she was starting to cry and I didn't want my siblings upstairs to wake up. I got her out and tried to just cuddle her. The second I sat down on the bed while holding her, she pushed away from me and wanted to lay down on our bed! I was sick of it tonight and would not let her do it. I brought her out of the bedroom and tried sitting on a couch with her. She still fussed. I let her get down and walk around. She still fussed. I tried to hold her while I walked around. She still fussed. Finally after an hour, I gave up and let her watch an episode of Backyardigans ... I know that was a mistake because now she's WIDE AWAKE!
Bottom line is: I cannot figure out what to do at night to keep her tired until she's ready to go back to sleep and out of our bed! Does ANYONE know what might help before we go to bed? Something that has helped your kids fall asleep and stay asleep? And even if they wake up, what you did to help them stay tired and go back to bed ... IN THEIR OWN BED?!? I know every kid is different, but I'm getting desperate here! Anyone and everyone with an idea, please leave a comment or email me and let me know.
THANKS SO MUCH! Love you all! Kristen.
Ps. It's now 4 am and I turned to Alexis and said, "Do you want to go na-night now?" She looked up at me, smiled and shook her head no. Little stink! Good thing she's so stinkin' cute! I love this girl!!! :o) Just thought that was funny and cute. Love you all!
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4 comments:
Kids are smart and they know how to work you! I think the best thing to do, even though it's really hard, is to let her stay in her crib and cry =( She knows that if she cries long enough, you will go in and get her. So if you don't pick her up, she will eventually give up and fall asleep. I'd say try and stop the habit before it gets harder =)
Yeah, but the harder part about that is that we are at my parents' house and I can't let her cry because of young siblings that have to go to school and stuff. It'll be like that in New York for the next two months, too! I know that's what I gotta do eventually when we are alone. I just need something to help her in the mean-time. It's hard, I know. Believe me - I don't want to get her out of bed. I just can't let her cry while we're in other people's houses with siblings and stuff. Thanks, though! :o)
One suggestion I can think of is to use a white noise machine or a loud fan or something to muffle the sound of her crying so other people can't hear it as well. Samantha had a phase where she woke up during the night wanting her binki. I was worried about waking people in our apartment building, but just had to eventually let her cry it out. It didn't seem to bother anyone. After a couple nights she didn't wake up any more. In "What to Expect the First Year" pg.367, it talks about separation anxiety being a possible cause of night waking, especially between 12-14 months (can't remember how old Alexis is?). They suggest extra cuddles before bed and if she wakes up soothe her with 'shhh' sounds as you stay by her crib with a gentle hand on her back for 10 mins or so. It says to not stay until she is asleep, but just drowsy and hopefully calm. Then it says not to return if they cry again (once again difficult with not wanting to wake people). Good luck! I understand how frustrating that can be. Sorry this is so long. Maybe it will help though.- Rachelle
Yeah I don't blame you... That's hard when there is other people in the house that you don't want to wake up! Hopefully it won't happen again tonight.. Good luck! =)
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