...---...
In case you don't recognize it, that title is an SOS (first used when...anyone? Anyone? By the foundering Titanic in April, 1912, supplanting the older CQD) that I'm sending out to any & all experienced parents out there.
See, Miss Tessmacher & I are experiencing a Renaissance, a rebirth, if you will, of The Rozzle not sleeping. And by "not sleeping" I mean, REALLY not sleeping. Like, hardly sleeping at all last night, much to the VERY exasperated chagrin of her glassy-eyed parents. My previous blog, which detailed the astonishing development of Roz sleeping through the night, has been steadily eroding until we hit last night when I doubt that any of the three of us got more than 2 contiguous hours of sleep. So, I need either some suggestions or, at the very least, calming reassurance that we haven't broken the baby. Here are the particulars, as we know them:
• The last time she reliably slept for 8-10 hours at a stretch was, perhaps not coincidentally, just before she got her vaccinations (on Dec. 18th) AND at exactly the same time we started giving her food. This began with banana in the morning and avocado in the evening, quickly followed by the addition of sweet potato(e) and, just recently, rice cereal.
• Our schedules have changed - slightly - for being on winter break, but ONLY slightly. Roz is still going to bed between 6:30 and 7:30, and reliably wants to get up about 12 hours later. Tess & I are staying up a LITTLE later than our normal 9:30 bedtime, but not much.
• Roz is still napping during the day, usually for an hour at a time, after having been awake for 1 to 2.5 hours.
• Yes, we have been on-the-go quite a bit: first to Tess' folks, then to mine, and now up to Mackinac. Still, Roz didn't exhibit NEARLY the lack of quality night sleeping at my mom's (where she had gone for the first time) than she currently is at Mackinac, where she's been several times already. And, all the people she has been around are familiar: grandparents and close "aunts" & "uncles."
That's all that I can really think of. Even now, she's in the bedroom fussing and crying, but not, y'know, REALLY going to it...but, she's also not sleeping. Both Tess & I are driven to distraction by simply NOT KNOWING what the problem is, nor why Rozzle has been getting steadily worse at seeming to be able to 1) put herself to sleep, and more importantly 2) to STAY asleep. Any helpful comments or suggestions are gratefully and graciously welcome.
See, Miss Tessmacher & I are experiencing a Renaissance, a rebirth, if you will, of The Rozzle not sleeping. And by "not sleeping" I mean, REALLY not sleeping. Like, hardly sleeping at all last night, much to the VERY exasperated chagrin of her glassy-eyed parents. My previous blog, which detailed the astonishing development of Roz sleeping through the night, has been steadily eroding until we hit last night when I doubt that any of the three of us got more than 2 contiguous hours of sleep. So, I need either some suggestions or, at the very least, calming reassurance that we haven't broken the baby. Here are the particulars, as we know them:
• The last time she reliably slept for 8-10 hours at a stretch was, perhaps not coincidentally, just before she got her vaccinations (on Dec. 18th) AND at exactly the same time we started giving her food. This began with banana in the morning and avocado in the evening, quickly followed by the addition of sweet potato(e) and, just recently, rice cereal.
• Our schedules have changed - slightly - for being on winter break, but ONLY slightly. Roz is still going to bed between 6:30 and 7:30, and reliably wants to get up about 12 hours later. Tess & I are staying up a LITTLE later than our normal 9:30 bedtime, but not much.
• Roz is still napping during the day, usually for an hour at a time, after having been awake for 1 to 2.5 hours.
• Yes, we have been on-the-go quite a bit: first to Tess' folks, then to mine, and now up to Mackinac. Still, Roz didn't exhibit NEARLY the lack of quality night sleeping at my mom's (where she had gone for the first time) than she currently is at Mackinac, where she's been several times already. And, all the people she has been around are familiar: grandparents and close "aunts" & "uncles."
That's all that I can really think of. Even now, she's in the bedroom fussing and crying, but not, y'know, REALLY going to it...but, she's also not sleeping. Both Tess & I are driven to distraction by simply NOT KNOWING what the problem is, nor why Rozzle has been getting steadily worse at seeming to be able to 1) put herself to sleep, and more importantly 2) to STAY asleep. Any helpful comments or suggestions are gratefully and graciously welcome.
posted by Animal at 5:40 PM
8 Comments:
Oh, Scott, I'm so sorry poor Roz is back on the sleepless loop, though of course I'm no better equipped to advise you than a cat.
Big Happy New Year to you and Tess. Miss you, miss you, miss you.
The best thing you can do is be consistent on her schedule. Don't stray from it. Keep doing what you're doing as far as bedtime, bedtime rituals, naps, etc. The less change, the better.
Also, as distracting as it is to hear her fuss, allow her to soothe herself to sleep. She will quickly pick up on cues that include you going to her every time she cries out.
Be strong...I know it's difficult. Trust me, I know. Tyler was a definite challenge for weeks on end.
Email me if you want, and we can continue the discussion.
Hey sweetie...I agree with Lisa. Let her fuss, do not give in if a contious effort to ignore her is started. I found with Grace, a warm bath at bed time really started to do the trick. And she...did not sleep through the night until she was almost a year old! Check all the signs before letting her fuss...diaper, hungry etc. And sit down with a glass of wine and cry as you ignore her fussing! XO
We took a different tactic with our little Sophie than the above two commentors. You have to do what is right for your family but we found our salvation after reading the "No-Cry Sleep Solution". This book changed our perspective on Sophie's sleeping and after about three days of using the book, Sophie was sleeping through the night. I am sure your local library will have a copy.
While you are at the library or bookstore, you should also look at the "Read Aloud Handbook". This is an amazing book and the best part is that the last half is a list of books broken down by age group. I think every parent should have a copy on their shelf.
Good luck.
It could just be a bit of a growth spurt for her. She'll be starting to get teeth soon, that's uncomfortable and could be keeping her awake (and crabby).
I agree with Lisa & Laurio, let her fuss herself to sleep. You guys will get sleep again, soon...I promise!
We just went through a similar situation. Combine traveling with being sick and Hannah was all out of sorts - staying up 3 hours later than normal and eating in the middle of the night. We felt like she was a complete mystery!!
Once health again, we went back to letting her cry it out at night. It took a week to get back on track.
As far as proof that you are NOT terrible parents.....based on the stories you told about Roz starting to eat, we ditched our own unsuccessful approach and Hannah is now happily eating rice cereal.
Sleep was hell until Daniel was 14 months old, so I don't have great advice (except DON'T buy the Baby Whisperer and then throw it across the room in a fury like I did) --- but how old is she? 5, 6 months? She could be cutting a tooth. That's very normal at this age and it really affects some babies more than others.
Good luck.
And you're not bad parents. Trust me. Babies have a way of thwarting the best-laid plans and routines by the most attentive parents.
i've never been a fan of strict routines for kids. i prefer they know their life revolves around my schedule at not vice versa....don't get me wrong, i love the brats and all, but fun guv and i kept the kids adaptable to any surrondings. Seeing as you and Tess spend a lot of time away from home with her, give it a thought.
Great bookou there....about helicopters, drill sargents, and coach...or something like that. This will pass.
Just think of the regression of sleep habits as the first of many, many, many questioning moments as a parent, and all things being equal, not too difficult. Wait till she comes home with her navel pierced at 14.
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