It started in early December with her waking several times a night. We would go in, lay her down, she would go back to sleep fairly quickly (repeat that about 2-3 times). But by around 3-5am she would fight going back to sleep and we were exhausted, so she would end up in bed with us.
The only good part was she was going to sleep on her own at bedtime. After rocking her to sleep for about 6 plus months, now I would only have to rock her for about 10 minutes, lay her down awake, put on her music aquarium and leave. It's kind of funny how the two changes happened simultaneously.
It then turned into her only waking up around 3-5 and we would just bring her in with us. That was slightly tolerable.
The past week has been getting worse. Waking earlier each night and fighting going to sleep at bedtime. When we lay her down, she keeps checking to see if I am there (notice I said "I". She loves her daddy but does not want him at bedtime). For several nights, I sat on her floor with my back to her. That works, but doesn't solve the middle of the night issue. The past two nights, it took her 45 minutes to finally crash. I don't really enjoy sitting on her floor for that long when I am so exhausted myself.
Well, last night she woke at 11:50pm. She fought going laying down and we knew she only wanted to be in bed with us. I decided to sleep on her floor in hopes of breaking the waking pattern. She did fall asleep by 12:30 and stayed asleep until 6am. She kept trying to stand up and I would say firmly "lay down". She finally did and fell asleep until 7:15. My hopes are that a few nights of one of us in there, that she will feel secure enough and not wake looking for us. Probably not going to work, but we need to stop the shared bed thing, Brad and I don't do well with extra people in the bed. I'm progressively getting more and more tired and cranky.
Just now as I was typing this, I put her in the crib awake. She stood and was playing/jumping. Every now and then I would hear a little groan or whimper. Never real tears. I glance down at the monitor and see this....
Yes, that would be Grace asleep standing up! Too funny! Usually naptime is super easy. I rock her for about 2 minutes and she is out cold. Just today she started being difficult. I'm kind of glad I didn't go in right away, because she put herself to sleep knowing I wasn't in the room. I did go up and lay her down :)
When do I know when I am able to let her cry it out? Today is 8 months since Gotcha Day! I love her to pieces, but want my bed back!!!!!!
12 comments:
she is too much!!!
Hi Jeanette! So funny...I have just put my 1 year old down for the night (we live in Scotland so its 7.15pm here) and Im sitting just outside her room waiting for her to go to sleep! She is kinda wimpering...I hate to hear her upset but I know she will go over really soon. Her name is Grace too by the way!
Good luck!
How does she get out of crib? She cries and you take her out? Hope has some nightmares at times, but thats it. I'm keeping her in a crib till she climbs out.
Jeannie
Just so I'm clear... we pick her up and bring her in when she gets really mad and won't lay down anymore (even when we physically try to lay her down).
That photo is precious!! I let our son cry it out about two months after he came home. I also rocked him every night and at nap time. But after about 2 months of waking around 5 am every morning, then it went to 3 am and finally I just sweetly went in, checked him, changed diaper etc. and then said "Mommy's just too tired and "I love you". He cried horribly - for ten minutes, before he fell back asleep and that was it. Now wake ups in the middle of the night are so rare that I don't mind them, because I know he really needs me! Good luck!
So funny! (The sleeping standing up part, not the her in your bed part :) Good luck!
Giiiirl,
I soooo remember all of this. We went through this big time. I tried everything. Well, except for putting her in our bed. I knew that was a "dangerous" road to go down. ;-)
I think I eventually let her cry it out after checking to make sure she was all right. I had music on in her room on "repeat", had a night light on and would rock her before laying her down.
I admit I had nights of desperation where I gave her some benadryl.
She has been home for 8 months, I feel (believe me, I am aware that many would disagree)she will be just fine if you let her cry it out. It is only temporary. My theory is a grumpy, sleepy miserable mommy is worse than letting a baby cry it out for a couple of nights. It worked for me! :-)
I have no wonderful advice as I kept letting Dylan climp into our bed until he was waaay over 3, and would have with Anna too but she wants nothing to do with it. I worry a bit about attachment as she really loves to go to sleep in her crib and doesn't want to cuddle or lay with me when shes tired.
But I LOVE that picture!!!!!!! Priceless :o) So great you captured it.
Oh Jeanette - not good. But the picture is precious. We've had a few sleep issues too but they don't happen with much frequency, thank goodness. I'll take Marina waking up at 6 a.m. every day (like she does, so much for sleeping in)over waking up consistently during the night. I think it's ok for her to cry it out, but I know that will be hard for you guys. Good luck!
Hi! 1. That picture is ridiculously adorable. 2. I have no idea re the sleep issues - Natalia recently having similar waking spells in the middle of the night and there were many many nights where I've been tempted to let her cry it out...BUT, we're more newly home than you are and (I think) Natalia is younger than Grace. Bottom line, I'm wondering the same thing...I wonder if you could post on FRUA or something to get advice? 3. I'm sorry - I'm sure you're exhausted and that is miserable.
Oh I totally agree with Amy. I would never allow any of my kids in my bed with us...slippery slope there. I would try and let her cry it out, could only take a few nights worth. I would totally go in and comfort her and talk quitely to her and let her know that when it is morning you would be glad to get her. Did your boys have these issues at all? I do love the picture of her sleeping while standing. I think tthat shows you that she is capable of doing it on her own.
I am cracking up that she is standing up asleep!
Well I can not say much on this issue. We are living like the three bears + 1! I have the girls in 2 toddler beds in our bedroom!
I have to have my sleep too or I am crazy!
She is soooo cute!But just like my two so much cuter when it is not in the middle of the night :)
Nicole
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