11 Aug 2010 3 Comments
Sleep & Walking
When we brought the Small Fry home from the hospital, he was sleeping in our bedroom in the co-sleeper up until he was too big to fit in it. It was a struggle getting him to sleep in the crib in his room. But when he finally did sleep in his crib, he started day care and got sick so we brought him to our King bed. I actually like snuggling with him and kissing him at night. However it was hard for me and Michael to do things around the house at night after he goes to sleep like washing dishes, preparing stuff for day care the next day, etc. because one of us need to stay with the Small Fry in the room to make sure that he won’t wake up (he wakes up every hour or two – believe it or not!) and fall off the bed.
Back when the Small Fry just turned six months old, a lot of people who would ask about his sleeping habits seems to have some comment or solution and it was getting pretty irritating to hear what they think I should be doing. They kept telling me that at this age he should be sleeping through the night and I am spoiling him by holding him and nursing him to sleep and that I should just let him cry it out (which I did for a few days and knew that it wasn’t for him). However I find it ironic that moms who criticize me for doing what I do are the one whose children has practically been sleeping through the night since birth. Go figure!
So, I keep hearing all these magnificent stories about how mothers brought their babies home and they slept through the night on the 4th or 8th week, and some even the 1st week! Here’s my son now 10 months old and still hasn’t slept throught the night once. It was so frustrating in the beginning but I have to admit, I have gotten used to it. I’ve just come to the conclusion that he will sleep through the night when he is good and ready. I know he is close to sleeping through the night though because this week, he’s been sleepin in his Pack ‘N’ Play in our room. I didn’t even have to rock him or anything. I just tried putting him there and he slept on his own doing 3-5 hour stretches! Needless to say, I’m thrilled but a little sad at the same time because it’s just another reminder that my baby is growing up too fast especially now that he’s been consistently walking while pushing his wagon. Still hesistant to let go but he’s getting there.
Aug 20, 2010 @ 05:47:23
Only one out of my 3 ever slept much. I can tell you that doesn’t change much as they get older either. Sadly I think they inherited the “I don’t want to waste time sleeping” gene from me. Now the 15 year old (during the summer) wakes me up raiding the kitchen at 2am and I feel like I have a baby again.
Cherish those moments rocking them to sleep..they are little for such a short time. Eventually he will fall into a nightly pattern. Hang in there. :)
Aug 20, 2010 @ 00:01:20
I know you haven’t been able to write in a while, and I hope Jordan gets better soon! But I just wanted to let you know that I left an award for you on my blog. :)
Hope to read posts from you soon!
Aug 12, 2010 @ 02:03:51
Yay Jordan! He’s gonna get to the sleeping through the night, when he’s good and ready, like you said – that’s for sure! I have no good advice – Sophie started sleeping through the night on her own, with no help from me nor the hubby, LOL. She still likes to be rocked and sung to though. I don’t mind, I love that we still have that – she’s growing up too fast! :(
P.S. – You’re right to disregard comments and ‘helpful suggestions’ from the ‘perfect people’. Every child is different, as is ever parenting style. We shouldn’t let anyone second-guess ourselves as parents. :)