Deep in Sleep Hell August 20, 2007
We’ve been here before, this frustrating place called sleep hell. Things got better for a while there, though. Adam was consistently taking two naps a day in his crib and sleeping pretty well overnight, waking a couple of times to nurse but going back down easily. Now the new helmet and the fact that we can no longer swaddle him are screwing things up again.
Fortunately we’ve seen some improvements in Adam’s night time sleep over the last week. However, naps seem to be getting worse instead of better. He just will not go to sleep. Once he finally (and I mean finally) does, he sleeps ok, but getting there is the hard part.
I just don’t know what to do. Sometimes he’ll nurse down and sometimes he won’t. It doesn’t seem to make a difference, though, because within 10 minutes or so he’s awake again. It doesn’t appear to matter if I try to move him to the crib immediately or wait and let him doze on the nursing pillow a while. He wakes up whether I move him or not.
When we could use the Miracle Blanket, he’d go right to sleep even if he didn’t nurse down. Now he rolls around in his crib and will not settle down. I hate just leaving him in his crib forever and a day until he finally conks out, but I don’t know what else to do. I just wish I knew how to get him to fall asleep. He won’t rock to sleep. Nursing to sleep isn’t the answer anymore. I just don’t know.
I’m sure the helmet isn’t helping matters. I am so ready to run that thing over with my car. I don’t even care that we paid an arm and a leg for it. I know he needs to wear it, so on it stays, but I still hate the darn thing.
I’m hoping things will improve at some point. It’s just hard right now when he’s so tired. Oh Adam, won’t you please go to sleep? Pretty please?
- Posted in : our main man
- Author : amanda
Comments»
When we got to the point where we had to leave Gatito to scream, it was because no other method was working. If I could have walked or rocked him to sleep or whatever, I would have done it, but that stuff wasn’t working either. It only took one night of screaming (for two horrible hours) and now everyone is getting the sleep they need.
See, that’s the thing, though, Cat. He doesn’t cry. He just plays. And rolls. And rolls and plays. Before you know it he’s played all the way until it’s time for him to nurse again, and then the cycle repeats.
I’m sure I’ll be villified by everone for this, but here goes anyway.
When Joe was just learning to roll everywhere in his crib, I put the boppy in there to prevent him from rolling in the first place. So I would place him on his back just a bit away from the side of the crib with the bumper and then I would put the boppy next to his lower half, so his legs couldn’t propel him over. We didn’t have to do it for more than a few weeks and then he started sleeping on his belly on his own anyway.
I should never, ever give sleep advice to anyone because my son is the worst sleeper ever, but here I go…
For nighttime, we had some success in using a sleep sac after giving up the miracle blanket. His arms were free and he could roll around if he really wanted to, but since his legs were in the sac, he seemed to do this less.
Like PJ, we used bolsters (in our case rolled up receiving blankets) to try to keep him from rolling, but this didn’t work and made us nervous.
For naps, how do you feel about his sleeping outside his crib? For a time, the only place The Boy would nap was in his stroller. I didn’t mind this because it freed me up from staying home at naptime, but some people think it’s terrible to get in the habit of sleeping away from the crib.
Hang in there.
My experience is a bit limited, since I only have 1kid, but here’s MHO anyways… if he’s not crying, just leave him be in his crib. Quiet time also gives him a chance to regroup (although not as much as a good nap). Keep to your SCHEDULE - even on the weekends - and make sure there are no fun toys in the crib with him. And keep your cool, kids pick up on our anxiety levels. Hopefully, after a week or so he’ll “get it”.
Hang in there. And good luck!
ugh! I’m so sorry you are having sleep trouble! How long will he have to wear the helmet for? It has to be uncomfortable to sleep with but hopefully it will be worth all of the hassle later.
Hang in there.
I so wish I had an answer for you. We had the same issues with ours, and still do have nap issues. The good news is that now he will generally nurse down and stay asleep for a decent nap in the afternoon. I am extremely envious of my friends whose kids will just lie down and go to sleep. Granted, they all used the ferber method and a pacifier! I’ve been promised that it will get better eventually, and that I’ll have forgotten about this when he’s a teenager and won’t get out of bed to go to school. Good luck!
It’s just a phase, it will pass eventually. Sleep issues are no fun at all, hope it passes quickly
He will eventually get to a point where one nap a day will be all he needs. I’m with Ani–if he’s happy and not screaming in his crib, enjoy the peace for a while.
Leave him in his crib for forever and a day until he conks out. That is what I do with my little “I want to play all day” man, Asher. He’s a week younger than Adam. Good luck!
Rach
pipsylou.typepad.com
Getting my son to sleep has been a struggle too. I finally realized that he will NOT sleep lying down during the day. He will nap in his stroller. Also, he goes to sleep when we go for a walk and he’s in his Baby Bjorn. The other thing that works is if I put him in his bouncy chair in his crib with the lights off and I rock him to sleep. If he’s tired, he’s out like a light within five minutes. I guess you just need to keep trying. Nothing is more frustrating than a baby who won’t sleep.
Getting my son to sleep has been a struggle too. I finally realized that he will NOT sleep lying down during the day. He will nap in his stroller. Also, he goes to sleep when we go for a walk and he’s in his Baby Bjorn. The other thing that works is if I put him in his bouncy chair in his crib with the lights off and I rock him to sleep. If he’s tired, he’s out like a light within five minutes. I guess you just need to keep trying. Nothing is more frustrating than a baby who won’t sleep.
Ugh, sleep issues are the worst - we’re in the 2 - 1 nap transition phase right now - joy!
If he’s just playing and rolling until he goes to sleep that’s fine isn’t it? Not all kids go straight to sleep - some need to let off some steam first. I usually take A up a bit early b/c she NEVER goes to sleep straightaway - that way she doesn’t get overtired. Are you doing the 2.3.4 method?
Hope A is sleeping better Amanda.
I put Benjamin to sleep using a baby carrier, and it works like a charm. He gets that swaddled feeling that he likes and gets to be close to mommy. Sometimes I let him sleep on me and sometimes I move him to his crib.