...back to the drawing board. After a couple of nights of sleeping well, Ellie was awake at 1am Sunday morning and 3am Monday morning. Really, it's not that bad; it's just that we've been spoiled by her good sleeping patterns prior to now. Still, we'd really be happy if we could figure this one out.
-ED
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This is a little part of cyberspace that two proud parents are carving out in an effort to celebrate all things pertaining to their baby girl as well as her baby brother, Colby.
6 comments:
My children both tended to sleep more fitfully right before they hit a major gross motor milestone. So right before crawling, right before pulling to stand, and right before walking, they would all of a sudden wake up in the middle of the night, night after night until they hit the milestone. Then BAM, back to uninterrupted sleep.
The worst by far was pulling to stand. The oldest would half wake up clutching the bars of his crib, crying with closed eyes, as if his body had been trying to do it automatically.
I'm glad you mentioned that, Esbee, because we have wondered if that's a possibility. I just have no idea what motor skill she might be working on. The other thought is teething, but surely EM would confirmed that by now.
For the record, Ellie was up at 4 this morning (not too bad seeing as how EM has to get up at 4:45 anyway).
ED
How does she react when you come in? If she immediately quiets down and is glad to see you, then she's just bored and doesn't know how to put herself back to sleep. [Zeke's doc told us, 'He's playing you.' Like a Stradivarius!] If she is distressed and continues to be when you come in, then I'd talk to the pediatrician. You might help her hit the reset button by calmly, quietly, doing all the bedtime routine stuff.
I found that the children all quieted when I would rock them and pray the rote prayers [couldn't sing at that time of night--too froggy]. Consequently, they all know their prayers pretty early.
She thinks that it is play time. She really doesn't cry. She will fuss on and off for an hour or so. When you go in she is perfectly content to be held. Sometimes she lays on your shoulder, sometimes she looks around for the dogs and talks to them. If we lay her in the crib the fussing continues. Usually time goes by and before we know it it is morning feeding time. I feed her and then she is off to sleep. As ED posted before- it is the power of the boob.
-EM
Based on what you said, it might now be time for some tough love. Comforting her, but not getting her up [for feeding, diapering, OR cuddling] lets her know she has been heard but the soothing talk [and maybe a few rubs on her back or pats on her bottom] will let her know it's time for sleep. I think Zeke cried for two nights, 30 minutes the first night, 15 the second and that was that. Be aware: you'll feel really bad doing this, but if you know she is fine, she'll be O.K. Kids must learn how to soothe themselves back to sleep. Trust me. You've seen I have 3 good sleepers. Now when they awake in the middle of the night [rare] and can't get back to sleep [rarer still], we know it's the real deal.
Point well taken, RAA. Just easier said than done, as you know (said by the man who just suffered 30 minutes of crying prenap).
ED
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