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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

advice anyone?

For awhile Jack was only waking up once a night and it felt like Christmas. Then he started waking up like he was 4 weeks old again...3 and 4 times a night. He was getting close to being four months and I was sure rice cereal would do the trick. At four months we gave him rice cereal and he only woke up once...but it went down hill again after that. I'm not trying to complain..broken sleep eventually becomes easier but..wait...thats not a good word...maybe you get used to it...no not completely...I don't know. I guess there are no good words to describe it...I just know that I deal with it---I still go one with my day and of course I don't get frustrated with my little man who can't help it and smiles so sweetly when I go to pick him up at 2 am. I pretty much just roll with it...but I would like any advice if you've got it. I feel like I've tried everything from keeping him up later...changing his afternoon nap to earlier...letting him "cry" it out a little...rocking him back to sleep rather than nursing him...giving him formula instead of breast milk before bed...making sure he's warm...patting him rather than picking him up when he crys...changing him...pacifiers...I feel like theres nothing else, but maybe one of you experienced moms will have some other idea ;) My mom says I was like that...I guess what goes around comes around :)

5 comments:

Haley said...

well..all I can say is God bless you! This is what I do for Parker: feed 6PM & 8PM, bath @9:00, and feed around 9:30PM. He usually falls asleep while nursing and he sleeps 'til about 5-6AM. BUT- all babies are different and it sounds like maybe it is just a habit he has formed--he may smell you during the night- we moved Park to his room 4 days ago and he started sleeping longer!

Laura said...

Kaia's sleep patterns were strange when she went through growth spurts, but it sounds like you are doing everything known to woman to settle Jack. Try not to make many changes to his routine as you try new things and let him get used to what is expected of him at night. Given that, he's a baby and is going to do what he wants, when he wants : ) AND, I'm probably not the best one to give advice - since I'm so tired with this pregnancy, Kaia has learned that she can start fussing in the night (usually around 3am or so) and gets *rewarded* by getting to come into bed with me. Not the best thing for any situation, but it lets me sleep a little more at that moment. My recommendation... don't even THINK about starting that!!

Good luck! If you learn anything more, please share - I'll be revisiting those days in a few months!

Maria said...

I came across your blog by accident and read your post. I have a 4 month old who is sleeping through the night (10-11 hours, wakes up to feed, plays for an hour than goes back down for 1-2 hours.) I know not all babies can do that, but I will tell you the trick that worked for us that many of my friends have had success with.

1) Try to span feedings to 2-3 hours...lots of creative diversions needed. We use baby einstein videos, walks outside ,etc.

2) Keep baby awake for at least one hour after feeding......this is the hard one but I think it's the key. If babies associate going to sleep with having to feed...they may not be able to put themselves back to sleep in the middle of the night. I'd have to lie my daughter on a blanket on the floor to wake up her. I would even take her out of my own mother's arms if the baby fell asleep after a feeding.

3) Don't let baby take naps longer than 2 hours during the day. It's hard to wake up a sleeping baby - because you're cutting into your rest time, but just remember your goal....sleeping through the night.

I worked my tail off for the first 3 months to do these things. When people tell me how lucky I am to have a baby who sleeps through the night, I quickly correct them. "It's about 10% luck and about 80% hard work." But now all of us sleep all night long. Hallelujiah. Much luck to you.

Maria said...

Oops. I meant to type 10% luck and 90% hard work.

Anonymous said...

I have a two year old and and a 12 week old. All I can say is that babies go through phases. My oldest will still have a week of crazy sleep patterns. My 12 week old slept better at 6 weeks then she does now. I tried everything and anything with my oldest and nothing really worked. I did the whole Baby Wise thing. I even thougt about writing the author to let them know it didn't work with my child. I was very anal with my first and now with my second I am just letting things go. I am just going to follow her lead and do what my instinct tells me to do. Mommy knows best even in the middle of the night. I think you are doing everything you possibly can.Some kids sleep longer then others. Grayson has never slept longer then 11 hours at night. He just doesn't need to. We have learned to live with it. Also your son could be going through a growth spurt or even may begin teething. Rub his bottom gums to see if you feel any bumps. My son got two teeth all of a sudden at four months. Again one day when your son is five you are going to miss these nightly visits with him:)