Where are my babies? What have you done with them?
I used to have two cute little happy babies that would happily lull themselves to sleep...unassisted.
They played. They sang. They talked to each other. They walked around their cribs like it was the Modern Museum of Art.
Where have they gone? How has this Change come about?
Hailey is now taking up to an hour to put herself to sleep. She is standing in the corner of her crib - closest to the door (just so we don't miss a note) - and wailing away.
Is anything wrong? Nope...dry diaper, no boogies, has her bink, has her lovey, everything is perfect.
Except she won't lay* down and go to sleep. She just cries.
Trying the Ferber method, but it's not my friend this time. Every time she sees me, she reaches out with desperation I haven't seen since the Others were running away from the Black Smoke (Lost reference in case you don't watch the show). She clutches at the air just trying to get picked up...like she is scared, but what could she be scared of?
I get that she wants to spend more time with me. I'm fun...I read to her, laugh with her, tickle her, but Mama needs a break too!
I believe that Matt actually fell asleep standing up last night. He had been sleeping, but Hailey's cries woke him up (spontaneously causing his lovey and bink to levitate out of the crib). I went up there to soothe him, but he wouldn't lay* down. Twenty minutes later, I hear a noise. It's immediately followed by crying. Yes, Baby Boy had actually fallen asleep standing up and when his sleepy little legs wouldn't hold him up any longer, he fell down...well, duh. What did you think would happen?
Oh, and yes, this series of events woke Hailey from her hard earned slumber. Awesome...
How long has this been happening?
Not that long...
I'm so dramatic.
It's only been yesterday's nap and last night's bedtime...I'm such a loser.
I know that many parents have it much worse than this (rocking your child to bed? rubbing your child's back until he/she falls to sleep? picking your child up every time he/she cries? sleeping in the same bed with your child?)...there are certain things I just wouldn't do.
This Change is just not my cup of tea...sleep little babies...Mama needs some quiet time!
Cross your fingers that this will go back to normal...I may just lose my mind!
* - I am still struggling with when to use "lay" and when to use "lie." I hate grammatical errors when reading other people's blogs...can anyone think of a good method to use when trying to remember which word to use? Did I use it correctly in this post? I need a goddamn 8th grade English lesson to write my freaking blog...great!
It would make for some interesting blog posts though...hmmm...
Ummm...Please Don't Steal My Craziness...Okay? Thanks!
People I Love...follow along if you're so inclined!
8 comments:
Haha...I'm the same way--getting all dramatic about a night or two of interrupted sleep. I worry that it will start a bad pattern! And I've never been able to do the Ferber thing-mine get WAY more upset when I go in to check on them than if I just let them fuss.
Lay vs. lie? I've never been clear on that one, but the way you used it sounds right to me! : )
You too funny! Couple of things....
1) is there a little night light in their room? 2) maybe move their cribs around the room... could be a draft or something else bothering them 3) go for a walk outside after dinner and make them run around a little.
Hang in there sometimes baby's just have an off day. Hopefully no one is getting sick!! and ps... happy birthday! You're a spring chicken compared to my 39!
Sleep regression is AWFUL, and even more so when you have had a good pattern in the past!
As someone who didn't get serious about my kids putting themselves to sleep until they were 3 and 4-years-old, commend you for sticking to your routine and allowing them to figure out how to soothe themselves and get to sleep on their own.
I hope this phase is just that and passes quickly!
Not sure on lay vs. lie. But I think lie is right on the one with the asterisk.
We are going through the crying at bedtime, too. Not everynight, but some nights. Even WORSE is that one of mine is getting up at 1 or 2 or 3 am and screaming bloody murder. I don't know what to do with this middle of the night stuff. I want to die. We've been bringing her in the room with us and I've NEVER done that.
I love your self-confidence "I'm fun" LOL
Oh Rebecca, you do make me laugh.
Of course, no advice for you on the sleep or on the lay/ lie (but will ask D who is someone who gets paid to figure this stuff out).
P.S. It also drives me nuts. My worst is the apostrophe in the wrong place and you're/ your.
*fingers crossed* It's just a phase. (she says with confidence even though her first born didn't sleep through the night until she was sixteen-ish months old)
loved your Lost reference! Hope the sleep issues don't last for long. We've had a decent stretch for a while now *knock on wood*
Our girls are almost 15 months old, and I have gotten the occasional "AAAGH...I'M SCARED!!!" crying, which has lasted for up to a couple of days. I've just worked through it very cautiously, taking an extra long walk from the door to the crib, for example, to try to get the scaredy-cat to relax a bit.
On the lie/lay question (because I can't resist a good grammar challenge...yes, I'm a dork...), "lay" requires a direct object. Think about the prayer "Now I lay ME down to sleep". "Me" is the direct object. Also, chickens "lay" eggs. :) I am from the deep south, and although I know the grammatical rules, I still mess that one up when I speak from time to time. I'm trying to be better in front of the kiddos, though! LOL
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