So I’m looking for some advice, fellow moms. Isaac is a pretty resilient baby, and he seems to be handling my going back to work fairly well. He loves Mindy and gets a kick out of watching Addison buzz around all day long. And he loves the quality time with Daddy he’s been getting when he’s home with Kevin. There’s only one thing wrong lately - since I came back to work to be precise - Isaac wakes up several times through the night. He wakes up usually around an hour or so just after we have put him down. And then usually in the wee morning hours, sometimes every hour on the hour (like last night: 1am, 2am, 3am, 4:50am). And so far all he needs is some reassurance that he’s not alone. All it takes is one of us putting his paci back in his mouth and shushing him a little bit, and he’s out like a light. But then other times the only thing that will calm him is if we rock him or I bring him into bed with me. He’s not always interested in eating, just wants to be held and cuddled. He’ll seem to be asleep, but as soon as we put him back down he starts to cry again.
So I was reading up about infant sleep last night, and I discovered that it could be a number of things. Perhaps he is adjusting to not being with me every day. Or he isn’t getting enough sleep during the day. Or he could possibly be starting to teeth early. Maybe he’s going through a growth spurt or his sleeping patterns are changing. I’m not really sure, but it’s been two weeks of this, and I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do about it… I just feel bad for him and secretly hope that it’s not my fault because I’m leaving him during the day...
Any advice?
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10 comments:
i don't have a lot of personal experience with that, but it sounds like he just wants his mama. i know the lack of sleep is absolutely killer, but maybe just snuggle with him at night until he gets a little more adjusted and know that it's a phase that will pass. i always think you can never love on them too much. but this is coming from the person who's son didn't sleep through the night until he was 2 1/2. good luck and i'll be praying for you... that you have energy and wisdom!
Rachel,
You are doing a fine job. This won't be the 1st time that his sleep schedule takes a crazy turn, unfortunately. Just when you have their routine down and everything flows smoothly, then it changes and you have to adapt again. It is still uncommon for Hunter to sleep through the night for very long and he will be 10 yrs old tomorrow! Hang in there--your instincts will direct you. Pray to God for the answer and then listen...even at 2a.m.! lol Kids do react in different ways to "stress" than adults. Isaac's environment and daily routine has changed--but don't blame yourself. This won't be the last time change will occur. He will even out again--hopefully sooner than later! Hunter slept in the crook of my arm in our bed for 6 months as a baby-it was the only we could sleep ourselves. Moving him to his crib proved to be almost impossible. We just came up with a system that worked for us. Hang in there. Sleep will come again soon. Prayin' for ya'll always,~~Amy
I used a very scheduled approach with both the boys ... which moms either like or hate. I LOVE sleep too much to deal with waking up!! I used Babywise and also read The Baby Whisperer ... which is a FANTASTIC book. Similar concept to Babywise but perhaps a bit less "rigid." Both boys were sleeping through the night (8+ hours) by 8 weeks and 12+ hours by 10 weeks. You have to do what works best for you but The Baby Whisperer might be worth a read?
Well, the thing is that Isaac was sleeping through the night and had a very consistent sleeping pattern... until I started working. But The Baby Whisperer might be worth checking into for insight. :) Thanks for the suggestion.
Rachel
Very true. When Joshua was in daycare ... it was quite frustrating that he wasn't on his "normal" schedule anymore. He would sleep for 2+ hours at home and at daycare ... they'd pick him up after 15 minutes. That is a different variable. When he went to my mom's (after getting every disease known to mankind at daycare) ... she was great about sticking more to the typical schedule. That might be it. Just too many switches in his little mind ... not sure when he's to be sleeping anymore??? Maybe TBW would still have suggestions? I read the post ... and then totally forgot about the daycare element when I responded the first time. Sorry about that!!
Oh I have so been there! Right when you think you have it figured out it changes. My advice: Don't expect anything. Just go with what works for the time being. But still try to stick to a schedule a much as possible. After Nate was born I also read "Babywise" and thought this sleeping thing was a breeze. Nate slept through the night beautifully up until 1 year old (unless he was teething or sick...) and then everything changed. This whole summer he slept with us alot because I wouldn't have gotten any sleep otherwise! Now he is finally back to sleeping through the night but waking up around 5, so then I usually put him in bed with us till we're ready to get up.
Good luck, Rach! I'll be praying for God's strength for you as I know how wearing it can be.
He's probably just trying to figure out the new routine. I would indulge him for as long as he needs it and let him sleep with you until he's not so clingy(babies don't set out to manipulate you that young-all they know to do is be needy-they figure out the other stuff later on. They can't be spoiled rotten at this age.). Rebecca had a rough time going to and staying in bed (we were more firm with her-fearing she would never sleep in her own bed.) and Sarah slept the first 4 months with me and 2 months in the crib in our room and then moved into Rebecca's room at that point. She took it in stride.
I got much better sleep doing it different with Sarah than how I did it with Rebecca.
I think the more reassurance he gets now the less needy he will be later. Maybe. Some kids are just high needs-Rebecca just can't stand to be by herself and slept much better at night once Sarah moved into their room.
The Baby Book by Dr. William Sears and Martha Sears helped me the most.
So much good advice! Thank you all for your encouragement and input. I really appreciate it! :) I'm really thinking about all that you have said, and it's really helpful.
Rachel
I really have no great advice for you, I have just been thinking of you and want you to know, by one more person, that you are not alone. Both my kids seems to change things every 2 weeks, some more dramatic than others, and I do my best to be patient...and like Erica said, try to do what works for now and what I can handle because work or not, lots of times the baby just wants mommy. Some weeks the sleeping all night seems mastered and I love it, but then others are bad due to exactly the things you talked about: teething, sick, bad dreams, needing more touch or Mommy time. And I have been home all day everyday! :) SO best wishes my friend, this will pass and he will change and grow and learn. You are a great Mom!
ha can you believe I did that to my son? :) Actually the boots were 2 sizes big for emmy, and 2 sizes small for Isaiah - but because they are fluffy purple moon type winter boots, they fit them both, strangly. And yes, our kids too have been mstaken for the wrong gender, even when Emmy is wearing nothing but pink and purple, people still think she is a boy...maybe it's the lack of hair.
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