Not that I'm keeping score or anything, but I lost the battle last night. He started whimpering about 4:10 am, and we did our little song and dance until, blessedly, at 5:15, he calmed down enough to go back to sleep.
I don't want to become dependent on Tylenol, for I'm not convinced that I can tell when it's his teeth that are bothering him (and I don't just want to drug him unnecessarily), but it was the only thing that worked last night.
Okay, moms-who-read-my-blog. What else can I do to get us back on track of healthy sleep?
3 comments:
I found your blog through Sara B's blog. I now have 3 boys and each has been so different. My first did not sleep through the night until 18 months and still gets up at times. Second little guy came along and was sleeping through the night by 4 months and still is a great sleeper. Now my 4 month old seems to be following my oldest son's pattern. I have done the same thing w/ all 3 boys...go figure. They are all so different. DS #3 doesn't take a binkie (compared to the other 2 who did) which is presenting a challenge for us. (((hugs)))...I know how difficult it can be.
Hey Monica,
I think the best thing to do is let him cry it out - it also may be the hardest thing for you (it always seems to be for us mommies :-) but he now knows (even at his young age) that you are going to come in and do "your little song and dance" and he is becoming dependent on it! With my two - they both went through phases where they would wake up for an hour or so (after they had been sleeping through the night) and after a couple of nights of trying to figure out what was wrong- I determined - nothing - and found that although it broke my heart - the best thing for them and us - was to let them cry it out - and learn to fall back asleep on their own. They usually break themselves of the habit after just a few nights - and sleep better for it. Hope you get some zzzzz this weekend.
Okay, my short answer is "cry it out"...What I used to have to do with Zeke is when he started crying, let it go 10 minutes, go in & tell him that it was okay, pat him on the tushy or wipe his face but DO NOT PICK HIM UP. Tell him it is bed time & try to convince him to lay down. Once he calms down, I'd leave the room. Sometimes the crying would end there, sometimes it wouldn't. If it didn't, I'd give him 15 min., go in & remind him that everything was okay...then 20 min....then 30 min...eventually he'd get the idea & stop. This only lasted a week. It was a LOOOONG week, but by the end of it, he wasn't doing it any more & really only the first 3 or 4 days were the worst. If I picked him up, he won & then I was stuck b/c putting him down led to bigger midnight tantrums. It is SOOOO hard, but once he figures out the "routine" for nightime wake-ups, it'll be worth it. Good luck. *hugs*
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