Sleeping Like a Baby
Taylor has been waking up at 5am, asking to be let out of her crib. I would ignore her, but she’s too loud. (In the middle of some nights, she stirs a little too loudly but goes right back to sleep). But lately, it’s like she’s ready to start her day. I go in and give her a bottle of water. I tell her that it’s still time for sleep, but she shakes her head and says, “Out.” Most mornings, I take her out, walk with her around the house, pour water in her bottle while she stands with me in the kitchen, and lead her back to her crib. She’s usually tired by then. Some mornings, I just give in and nurse her on the couch. This morning, I wanted sleep. I went to bed too late the night before, so I required one more REM cycle. I took her out – just like she had asked – and went back to sleep. She didn’t cry. I heard her telling me to “Up” while she stood next to my bed, but I ignored her. She fell asleep on some blankets where she was standing. I guess she’s the next one to sleep in our room.
Ty started sleeping in our room, on a futon mattress on the floor, when he was 18 months. He would wake from night terrors and run into the living room, screaming. Kyle was never one to sleep with us. He gets out of bed at night and walks himself to the couch, however. Ty stopped sleeping in our room when we moved, two weeks after he turned three. Now I find him on the couch with Kyle when I get up in the morning.
Sleeping through the night is nonexistent in my home. Well, that’s not true. Every once in a while, when I’m really, really good, I get to sleep without interruption.
September 17th, 2007 at 1:28 am
I know exactly what you mean. Brenda wakes me up at least once during the night. Tonight I am just getting her to bed at 1:30a.m. What is a mom to do? She takes her naps far to late in the afternoon. Any suggestions?
September 18th, 2007 at 11:23 am
She stays up that late because you let her. It’s difficult to stay on a routine when both parents aren’t on the same page.
Don’t let her fall back asleep after 7am – or when you come back from working your night shift. She’ll be cranky the first morning, but she’ll nap earlier.
Take a stroll at dusk to get the serototin levels going. Keep the television and any unnecessary lights off after 6pm.
Ask Tom to put her down as soon as he comes back from dropping you off at work. When you aren’t working, start on a bedtime routine at 7pm or a quarter after. The sun is going down earlier now, so she’ll get the hang of going to sleep with the sun – and waking with the sun. You (plural) just have to guide her. I know that your own sleep schedule is wiggety wack because of the night shift.
I suppose that the most important thing is that she gets enough sleep. It’s also important to be on a schedule.