So, just days before Cami was 5 months old, she decided she was ready to sleep through the night, all by herself.
We went to Utah, and that ended pretty quickly. She woke up at least twice a night while we were there. It didn't bother me too much, because I was expecting that to happen...I wouldn't really want to sleep in a pack-and-play either.
Now, she's a week from being 7 months old, and she's back to waking up THREE TIMES a night! I keep having to remind myself about that first month and how I promised that I wouldn't mind waking up with her just for feedings, if she'd just go back to sleep afterward till morning. Now I want more. I want her to SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT.
I know I could let her cry, and maybe it wouldn't take longer than a week for her to get the picture and learn to sleep through again, but why can't I do it? I suddenly have found myself too weak. Her poor cries just kill me. I think to myself: maybe she's not feeling well...maybe she's teething...maybe she's got a blanket over her head and I just need to move it? Everytime I go in there (well, almost) she has already gotten the pacifier back in her mouth on her own, and is actually screaming THROUGH the pacifier. At that point, she's seen me, so any efforts to leave the room will definitely not work.
Last night, she went down at 7:30. Went to sleep without a fuss. Out when she hit the mattress, literally. She was awake again at 10pm. Let her cry for a few minutes, and she went back to sleep. She woke up at 12:30am. Went in there and fed her. Again at 3am. Again at 5:30am. Blair got up with her the next time for morning, and let me sleep until 9:15 (I LOVE snow days).
While, at least this week with all the snow days (today is the third in a row!) I'm getting plenty of sleep, so I can't really complain about that, but why is my baby waking up so much? I do kinda think she may be teething. It is logical...she's almost 7 months, and that usually starts between 6-8 months. But is there something I could be doing to make this easier on everyone involved (but mostly me)?!?!
Any comments or suggestions are appreciated.
Oh...and is anyone else around here getting stir-crazy from all the snow days?!
4 comments:
Keep these kinds of posts coming...they're great birth control!
:)
Stir crazy? yes. definitely!! About Cami... when she wakes up do you feed her to get back to sleep? How do you get her back to sleep? I believe every baby is different and will need a different solution, but I do think that some basic rules apply, so I was curious what you do. She should be old enough to not have to eat in the middle of the night anymore, so if you are, I would start tapering off little by little until she doesn't need to anymore. Joselyn didn't sleep all the way through the night until 8 months, but that was because her pacifier fell out... if we gave it back to her she would go right back to sleep most of the time, but sometimes we would rock her to sleep. Crying it out didn't work for her although if she fussed, we WOULD wait 2-3 minutes before we went in just in case it was something minor. But when the pacifier didn't sooth her, we rocked her... just in case she had a bad dream or it was teething pain. I think that it helped her to know that if she DID cry and DID need us we would be right there for her. And I felt good about that because I hated hearing her cry too! Now that she is older and I know why she is crying (doesn't want to go to sleep) it's easier to let her cry. And if she wakes up to cry in the middle of the night we know it's because something is wrong and no other reason. I would try a few different things for a couple of days at a time until you find something that works for her. She'll eventually go back to sleeping through the night though. I PROMISE. And when she does, it will all be worth it. Just don't get pregnant again right away because then it will be like going 2 years without sleep!!! If you have any more specific questions let me know.
it really is just habit that she's gotten into waking up again. i know it sounds harsh but i'm a firm believer in crying it out. we let alexa do it at 6 months and it only took 3 - 4 days. our pediatrician told us she was plenty old enough by 6 months to sleep through the night wihtout eating. but you're the momma and only you can do what you feel is best for your baby. good luck!
oh and even once they start sleeping through the night, it's never permanent. there's always teething, or a cold or something to break the pattern and you have to go through it all again! it's so much fun being a mom!! :-)
Oh, the life of being a mother. You really do have to find what works for you and Cami, however, I am in favor of crying it out. Wait till you add more kids to the mix. The more you add, the more chances you have of being awake each night!
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