Friday, April 30, 2010
Sleepless night
For the past couple of months I have been having trouble with Austin sleeping. Some nights during the week are just miserable! Some nights seem like we have a newborn again that we just brought home from the hospital because he gets up so much. I can't understand why a few days out of the week he sleeps pretty well, which my definition of sleeping well would probably not be the same as yours. My version of sleeping well is him waking up once or twice. But anyway I don't understand how one night he can sleep basically all night and then the next night get up 5 times. I have been told to let him "cry it out" So for the last couple of month’s every time I wake up in the middle night to his cry I say to myself, is this the night to let him "cry it out"? Every night that I awake to his cry I say not tonight maybe tomorrow. Part of me says well if I let him cry I won’t sleep regardless so I might as well get him. Then other part says well if you nip it in the bud there is a chance soon you could be sleeping through the night. It’s been a struggle for me. I hear from family and friends it’s the best thing to do. I know it’s the best thing to do. It’s just doing it!! Like every mother it breaks my heart to hear him crying because to me that means I need mommy! I guess one day this struggle will be no more, but until then I’ll be waking up with a battle in my mind and having more sleepless nights.
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"crying it out" has worked amazingly well for us, and I attribute it to a good portion of why we have a great sleeper. Yes, it is tough...on you. Austin will be fine, I promise. It was really tough on me the first few times (and we had to let him cry over an hour sometimes before he'd go back to sleep...each time I was about to give up and go into his room, and of course that's the moment he would finally fall asleep thank goodness so I didn't end up giving up). But it gets easier, especially if you can get yourself to truly believe in your heart that this is what's best for him. It really IS. They need to learn how to self-soothe and figure out how to go back to sleep on their own. The younger the better. I know what you mean too about being torn about either way, you aren't getting sleep, cause you'll just lay there awake listening to him cry. Been there! But it's worth a few horrible nights of no sleep, to have a good sleeper. He definitely doesn't need to be waking up even once or twice at night, at his age now. Especially not for meals. Ask your ped. to verify this of course, but that's my understanding. If you do go into his room when he wakes up, definitely don't feed him, you need to wean him off that habit too. Hang in there! I know it sucks!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I need to do it. I think its time. Its helpful to hear other parents advice. Thanks :)
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