Sunday, January 17, 2010
No sleep
I was able to get Iain to sleep by 6:30- 6:45pm last night but he woke up at 7pm. Every time I laid him down in his crib he would wake up crying. By 8pm I had laid him down 15 different times and at 8 o'clock he woke up screaming and I could not get him to fall back to sleep on his own. The only way he would settle down to sleep was if I laid down with him in our bed and hold him all night long.
I have read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child (while my sister-in-law was out here for Christmas. I'm also on a waiting list at the library for this book). But I have tried a lot of things.
Recently, Iain cut out his morning nap and he is trying to cut out another of his two remaining naps.
What should I do?
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3 comments:
I just realized that if you see my blog it looks like I'm totally copying your posts! haha. I just posted about not getting any sleep too, and I also posted about the list of 100 things to do. Well I wish I could help you out on the baby-sleep thing, but I've got no experience with that yet...
Every parent is going to have their own opinion and you're going to have to do what is best for you and you baby. I was moody and awful when Tyler wouldn't sleep. So, I let him cry. I put him in his crib and let him cry. Some people would think this is the worst thing, but it worked for me. He didn't instantly sleep through the night or at nap time, but it did get better. What ever you decide, stick to it! Routine and consistancy and time. It does get better, I promise!
Andrea -- I did the same thing! Actually, I would put Sam down in his crib with his favorite books and a toy or two, turn down the lights (I left a dim lamp on) and left. And then I'd take a shower -- a long one! -- so I wouldn't have to hear him cry. If it was later in the evening and I wanted to go to bed, I put in silicone ear plugs and closed the door. I got a shower, didn't have to hear him cry, and he was usually asleep by the time I had blow dried my hair.
It's not about *you* doing anything more. Learning to fall asleep on his own is a skill -- Iain has to learn how to do it himself. So don't wait til he's asleep to put him down. Rock him for a few minutes, sing to him, and then say "Good night! It's time for you go to bed!" and put him in his crib. For the whole night. Yes, he will cry. He may cry for two hours and then play with books. He may cry all night (that's what the ear plugs are for). He may cry for 30 minutes and the fall asleep. And yes, it may take a while, and he may not sleep completely through the night, but he'll learn.
If he's really crying, you can check in on him every 15 minutes and say "It's ok, Iain. Mom and Dad are still here. But it's time to sleep now. I love you! Good night!" and walk out again. Don't touch him. Repeat every 15 minutes until he gets the picture.
Sometimes, when kids are used to sleep with their parents, it helps to put one of your dirty shirts or pillow cases and one of Brian's in bed with him, so it smells like you.
So yeah -- stop thinking of it as "getting him to sleep" and start thinking of it as "teaching him to put himself to sleep." It takes time, but he will learn, just like he's learning how to crawl and walk and talk.
OH, when Sam wouldn't take a nap, I instituted "Quiet Crib Time." He didn't have to sleep, but he did have to go into his bed at the same time every day and stay there for an hour. He could read, or play with toys, or sometimes I'd turn on music. He'd usually fall asleep anyway, and even if he didn't, he learned that THAT was quiet time to play by himself.
You can do this!!! Iain can do this!!! Email me if you have questions. You know that I'm no good with phones ;-)
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