make my child sleep? (Well, children really, but Aidan's just a babe so I'll give him a little slack...)
Olivia's in a serious pattern of being overtired and not sleeping enough. I've been consistent with bedtimes, consistent with (trying to make her) nap...
She lays in bed forever playing and talking to herself (no toys, no nothing, just her imagination), She just fell asleep about 10 minutes ago...it's 9:15. She's been getting up at 5:30 the past two days...and she refused to nap at daycare today.
Not enough sleep = crabby girl.
Crabby girl = easily frustrated Mama.
Easily frustrated Mama = No one is happy.
Don't worry, I know it's just a phase and we'll get through it. I'm trying hard to live each day individually and not let history play into our mornings...but it's hard when I'm tired!!
As for Aidan? Well here's to hoping he sleeps through the night when he's 10! Have any of you had really tough night sleepers? Olivia always has slept awesome at night (besides these episodes of laying awake before falling asleep). Aidan is SO the opposite. We've had a few spurts, a week here or there, where he's only been up 1 time during the night. Most nights average 2-4 times a night. I'm not a total cry-it-out person, but do let him cry for 5-10 min. depending on the severity. I can usually tell by his cry if he'll put himself back to sleep or if I have to get up. I recently have been able to just hold him for at least one of his wakings, and then he'll sleep for another couple hours. I can't just pat his back and he'll fall back to sleep.
Tonight I'm tired...and dreading the night...and the early morning...so hence my post. :)
It's a good week though! I'm happy and love my kids and my hubby! His mercies are new every morning!
5 comments:
I have a hard time with nap and bedtimes also. I just wish they would just go to bed, just like that, but reality is, well you know my kids. Gabe still wakes up in the night =( Hang in there, you are a great mom, and it takes a lot of work and patience, but God knows your heartache, and he will get us through.
I wish I had advice to give, but I don't. I do, however, have empathy. Lola was up 4, maybe 5, times last night. She was like that the night before that, and the night before that. I think the lack of sleep is what is making --
OK, case in point, I had to stop typing my response because she just woke up, ha! --
my cold feel like it is never going to end.
Hang in there, E.
I'm right there with you; Sophie's been getting up at 3:30-5 every morning. I don't know what else to do. We try putting her to sleep later at night - maybe she's not taking enough or too long of naps during the day - I don't know, but I'm TIRED....
My children are exactly the same as yours in the same order....you know about Annika's and Olivia's similarities. On the same note, Sofie didn't seem to sleep through the night until 18 months or something (that is probably an exaggeration, but certainly how it felt!). She is a good sleeper now (except when we travel). And unlike Annika, she falls asleep each night immediately. It's awesome!
We STRONGLY recommend the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child by Dr. Weissbluth. With that said, we, too, are currently struggling with early awake times. It is maddening! I've started calling Elijah my "early bird," so now when I go to get him in the morning he yells, "Early bird!" Yes, Child, you are indeed.
Good luck!!
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