Friday, September 19, 2008

He looks cute, but....






This kid is driving me a bit mad. He does not like to sleep and it takes great effort to get him "down". For example, last night I put him to bed earlier (thinking this would be good after all the sleeping reading I've been doing that says an earlier bedtime may be warranted). To bed at 8pm versus 9pm (Kingsley's bedtime). Well, he woke up at 11pm (instead of 1am) and wanted to be nursed back to sleep, then woke again at 5am (vs 4am). He slept until almost 10am (he usually wakes at 8am). So this throws off his usual nap time of 11am and I try to put him down for his nap at 12:30 (getting really excited thinking the boys may take their naps at the same time today!)---NO GO. As soon as his head hit the mattress, he started bawling, just bawling beside himself. He was more than half asleep when I tried to put him down, just fed, just changed, was rubbing his eyes, yawning not 5 min before this. AAAARRRRGGGHH.

So, I tried letting him fuss, cry it out (I so hate that term), and I hate to even end up with this option, but what to do? Well, every 3-5 min for about 45 min I would go in and rub his back or his tummy and tell him it was time for him to sleep but Mama was right here. His crying would never let up and in fact, became worse when I went in to check on him (I think he was mad because I wouldn't pick him up). I caved and picked him up and started getting Kingsley cleaned up from lunch and ready for his nap. Well, at about 3pm Charlie looks all tired again, clingy, yawning. So, change his diaper, nurse him. Take him off when he's half asleep, creep into his room, lay him down and BAM---awake, crying, as if his bed is made of knives or something (I thought perhaps an ear infection, but really don't think he has one, no other signs?). I can't believe it---this boy needs to sleep!! So, I come on here and let him cry. 15 minutes. I decide not to go in and check on him (I can peek through the crack of the pocket doors, but I don't go in). 15 minutes he cries and now he's out. Why, oh why is sleeping so hard for babies?

And why now? Before 4/5 months of age, Charlie was a great sleeper, sleeping through the night (11am-7am) at 8 weeks. Now he wakes twice/night, despite nursing 6-7 times/day in addition to two solid meals. But, I look back on the last week or so----finally crawling versus the army crawl that has served him so well the last 6-8 weeks, now he's pulling up, sitting up (finally!) unassisted, and cutting his first two teeth. That's a lot for such a little bloke. So much you would think it would tire him out!

Signed,
Exhausted

p.s. Kingsley is 2 hours and 45 minutes into his nap (counting my blessings) and I am half-way through a pint of "light" ice cream (there being no wine in the house). "Light" ice cream---a whole other topic in need of its very own post.

6 comments:

Erin said...

Oh Kelly, this sounds a lot like days at our house. Sean is also a horrible sleeper. If I don't lay him down just right he flips out when he hits the mattress too. I'm feeling your pain :)

Alliegatorfables said...

You poor thing. I wish I could help you in some way. Do they have an ice-cream/wine delivery place near you and I will make a call.

TUTU Monkey said...

Hopefully this is a phase.......

2 hours and 45 minutes for the Big Kingsley ....whoa! I love those days.. hope the rubs off a littel on Charlie

Janis said...

But he's definitely cute!

Sorry sleeping is such a challenge. It always has been for my little guy too. We can remind them of this when they are teenagers and won't get out of bed before noon.

Tonya Staab said...

'light' icecream. Oh honey you sounds to me like you deserve the real stuff, with toppings :)

Unknown said...

So with you on this one! Why is sleeping so hard for babies? You know they are so tired, why is it easier to cry and scream then to just fall asleep? I don't think I will ever understand. Pete is not a great sleeper either. He was getting better, only up 2 times a night, but I fear after a week in WI, we are right back at square one. We'll see how tonight goes... Good luck :)