I feel as if I should rename my blog Schechter Sleeping Blog or something like that. I feel like all I write about it sleep! Abigail is still waking up lots! Last night it was 9 pm, midnight, and 5 am! Andrew's solution is to let her cry-it-out completely (no intervention). I just don't know if I can do that, or if she's old enough! I may have to eventually let him do it. I may need to go spend the night somewhere else, so I don't have to hear her wailing! I just struggle with both sides of this issue. I don't want to just let my child scream and cry because I selfishly want more sleep. If I am doing it to try and help her, that is a different story.
I KNOW she wasn't hungry. She almost ate 2 whole bananas yesterday and one was given to her at 6:30 pm then she nursed before she laid down at 7:30 pm. I think that she was wet when she woke up at 5 am (like her PJ's were wet) since Andrew got up and got her. She was probably uncomfortable. She sleeps on her tummy so sometimes the pee leaks out of her diaper.
She went to sleep very easily last night but just woke up a lot. Anyway, she has a doctors appointment today so I'm going to talk to him about it a little bit.
I managed to make her some chicken puree today so we'll see how she likes it. Seems very gross to me! :) Our blender didn't really do a very good job with it. I need a baby food mill or food processor. I know the food processors are very expensive, so that's probably out of the question. The chicken didn't make nearly as much as I thought it would. I used three chicken breasts, chicken broth, and breastmilk and it only filled up one ice cube tray.
I'm going to try and make some sweet potatoes and veggies this weekend to have on hand for when we introduce them.
14 comments:
Jaime,
I read your blog faithfully and have always kept my comments to myself. I think you need to let Abigail cry herself to sleep. She is definately old enough. I know that it's hard to listen to them crying alone in their cribs, (it used to make me sick to my stomach) but it's a necessary disciplin that they need to learn, even at such a young age. You will all be happier in the long run. You might have to work up to it. Start out letting her cry for 15 minutes the first night and see how she does, than let her go 20 minutes the next night and so on. She will eventually figure out that you are not going to come to her rescue.
You might also try putting her down a little bit later in the evening. I know that that can hamper your plans to get things done around the house but that way you can give her a little snack before bed (Have you tried feeding her cereal before bed?) and maybe that would help tie her over until morning.
Just some ideas. Take em or leave em. But I finally had to give you my 2 cents worth. Hope you don't mind.
Love, Aunt Cindy
No, I don't mind at all! I really do appreciate your input! I was actually thinking of asking for input in the post but I just forgot!
We do let her cry when falling asleep and it usually lasts longer than 15 minutes before we rescue her (pacifer and standing by her crib). I just can't picture myself letting her cry for hours and losing her voice or making herself sick in the process. She's come close to that!
We base her bedtime on when she melts down in the evening. She gets obviously tired by 7 pm and has slept clear through from 7 pm to 6 am on several occasions so I know she can do it! One of the reasons she goes down so early is because she gets up early. No sleeping in for her! Also, I have heard that sometimes if you wait too long they will get overtired and be harder to put to sleep. We've found that to be the case at times. We'll play around with the time and see what happens.
She does nap better during the day if she sleeps less at night, so I guess she is getting sleep somewhere! It was 8 pm before she was in bed last night and then woke up at 9 pm crying.
I appreciate any and all advice/discussions on this matter.
We were never able to let our kids cry themselves to sleep...Nick just slept and Maggie was sort of in the middle and I don't think Graham slept through the night until he was 4! We did try the go in and reassure them that they have not been abandoned thing...pat them on the back...say a few comforting words and leave....that worked sometimes...
I don't think she is old enough to be purposefully torturing (sp?) you and I think she needs to know that you can always be counted on. She needs or wants something...even if it is just your attention.. I KNOW I am in the minority about this and I know that many parenting systems work. I just couldn't do the hard line thing and I don't blame you if you can't either. I also didn't work until Graham was about a year old and that was part time so that makes a differnece too...just another opinion :)
I just read your comment from a while ago about scheduling a family vacation. I think we should efinitely do it! I have been thinking a lot about that, being out here in Colorado. But I think a more central location like Missouri would be great! If I get a few spare moments, I might look into some places. I have found, at least out here, that if you want something good, you have to book way in advance!
From the start (week 5), we have tried the middle of the road approach. We let her fall asleep on her own but if she screams too long, I do pick her up. I always try to get her back into the crib awake. We got these ideas from The baby Whisperer. Lately the reassurance thing backfires however, because she starts to scream harder when we come in to reassure and then leave. We always end up standing by her crib until she falls asleep.
Yes Laura, that sounds great. I know that my mom is very interested in doing something like that. We are reserving all of our 2009 vacation time for my family, since they got/get none this year! :)
Just to claify, we are visiting my family at Christmas (didn't want to scare anyone) but Andrew's office is closed the week after so no vacation time will need to be used!
We did have to let Andrew cry it out when he was around 4-6 months old. I don't remember having a hard time with Jennie. I am not sure if that was because it was easier with the second one or that she went to bed easier.
It was a traumatic week because he cried for at least an hour (maybe longer) the first night. We sat outside the door for part of the time. The second night was only about 20 minutes and so on. We did usually keep our kids up later because I was working full time from the time they were 2-3 months old and they also had to get up early. That sentence doesn't really make sense, but we wanted to spend more time with them in the evening. But now I can't remember if they napped late in the day or not. I wish I had written more detailed notes about their schedules, etc. so that you might figure out a good solution.
I also think that each child is individual and what works with one doesn't necessarily work for another. I just had another idea that might help and that is getting attached to some type of blanket or stuffed animal that can provide comfort for her when you aren't there.
As hard as it is, try not to feel guilty about wanting to get a good night's sleep. It is important for everyone.
On another note, if you want to cook some sweet potatoes, etc. at our house and puree in our food processor, you are welcome to do that. I don't think you are going to be able to make your own baby food without the right equipment and that includes a good food processor. It is difficult enough to do this without the right tool for the job.
It is so hard when they wake up throughout the night. Since Jackson sleeps with a passi, every time he has woken up throughout the night he has had an ear infection or on the verge of getting sick so that could be what is wrong with Abigail. I will be interested to hear what the doctor says.
Does Abigail (love the name obviously) sleep with a pacifier? How long does she sleep during the day (she might be sleeping too much during the day)?
We had to move in with my husband's parents when Jackson was 9 months old (because of our fire) and I had to learn to just let him cry it out when I laid him down to go to sleep. They were so much help during this time, and me and Charlie would just leave the house. It only took three nights, and then he never cried when we went to lay him down...it was a miracle. I used to get him to go to sleep by laying with him and then putting him in the crib once he was really asleep...it was crazy.
Keep us updated on how it goes and solutions work with her...every baby is different!
This is an interesting conversation. I think that Cindy has some great points...not unlike all the ones I have been telling Jaime about for the past month.
I, in no way, think that Abigail is purposefully crying to torture us and make us comfort her. Rather, she is crying because she wants someone to comfort her and that has worked in the past, so why not continue. The only way to teach her is to give her the opportunity to learn for herself that crying will not solve all her problems and that nighttime is for sleep.
Carol, your example is perfect:
...Good sleeper = good job at Boeing
...OK sleeper = Ok job at retail clothing store
...Bad sleeper = Asylum
Andrew, you are bad but I must say that I laughed! I wonder if Graham reads this anymore.
Susan, I guess Andrew turned out ok (sometimes, I wonder) even though he cried a bit. He is pretty stable emotionally and he doesn't seem to harbor any grudges toward you or Wayne now (this is making me laugh). I will definitely come over and use the food processor. I actually think the blender woke her up last night at 9 pm and then she was really wet (her PJ's) at 5 am. Let me know when the kitchen is free and I'll make a big batch of something. I have tried to get her to sleep with her little lovey blanket or bear but she is just not interested in either one yet.
Emily, yes she sleeps with a paci. I doubt she is getting sick since she has acted this way (give or take a night or two) since about month four. She went to sleep much easier before that. I will have the doctor check everything, however. She only naps for 1 1/2 to 3 hours, usually. I don't think she's oversleeping during the day.
I don't mind waking once a night but more than that is exhausting!
I had to share Andrew's funny comments with a friend here at work and she said that her son was a horrible sleeper and has a very good job!
Andrew...I am laughing out loud! that was hilarious...did it come to you or did you have to think that one out??? Actually, I don't think Graham sleeps through the night now :)
That sleep/job comparison came to me instantly. LOL!
Post a Comment