Steve and I have been rubbing our eyes latley. Seems like Madeline doesn't want anything to do with sleep right now. Her naps have gotten shorter and shorter and her nighttime routine has gotten reeeeeeeeally iffy. We are doing everything the same but SHE isn't. She's waking up about 2 hours after she goes down and when she wakes up she cannot be consoled unless picked up. Once she's up - she's great! So that's how I know she's being a little faker.
I took her into the Pediatrician's office today just to make sure she doesn't have an ear infection. Considering she's had more ear infections than Van Gogh, who eventually cut off his ear, no doubt due to ear infections! But, she was clear clear clear. The doctor said it was normal at this time of life and to..bum bum BUM cry it out. Now - that's like saying cut out your heart to lower your blood pressure. But - the other option is to swing/sing/dance/amuse/read/sleep in our bed instead of her own/watching Baby Einstein for 3 hours. The doctor said tonight will be the worst but the succeeding nights should get better, little by little.
I remember alllll those people who told me to get alll the sleep I could while I was pregnant. Little did I know!
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3 comments:
Erin/Uma :), I hate to say it, but CIO is the ONLY thing that worked to get Beau to sleep through the night. They just have to learn to get themselves back to sleep if they wake up... when you give in to her, it solidifies for her that crying=companionship at night. I know it is heart-wrenching, but after a few nights all of the crying is over! Good luck...
hey uma...
sorry, but crying it out was the best thing that ever happened to me...and jackson. he has slept 10-12 hrs. a night since 3months. do it!!! it's HARD...but oh so worth it!
hey there,
really enjoying your blog. just wanted to pop in and say that my daughter (who is going on 4), loved to cry when she couldn't get us to stay until she was asleep.
i spoke to my doc and she said that some kids just tend to "separation anxiety" when they know that they won't see their mom and dad for a "long time". so she suggested that we stay in the room, hold a hand (but not rub a back) to let them know you are there. then when they are ALMOST asleep- you kiss them gently and walk away. if they cry while you are leaving the room- you may come back ONCE, and kiss them again. reassure them a good nights sleep. then walk away again. then if they cry again. you say good night and walk out of the room. let the kiddo cry for increments. first 7 to 10 minutes, go in and kiss them or rub the back a little to calm them down (don't pick them up), then the next increments should be about evey 5 minutes... just to let them calm down. eventually the crying will tucker them out. and they will fall asleep. if the babes wakes up in the middle of the night fussy- let her cry for about 5 minutes before you go in the room. they usually fall back asleep before then, sort of "giving up" that someone will be there to go and pick them up. if she continues... you return the original ritual and let them cry in segments.
that was a bit long winded... sorry.
it worked wonders for us and by 4 months our youngin' was out like a light for the whole night.
hope that helps.
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