As I’ve alluded to in previous posts, I haven’t been getting much sleep lately, and not to point any fingers, but it’s mainly due to a little girl whose name starts with an E. So a few days ago, I decided it was time to dust off the sleep book that I’ve used twice before (with much success) and see if it would work just once more. You would think I’d remember at least SOME of what was in that book, but I swear it was like I was reading it for the first time again.
Quickly I realized that I have been letting Emery call the shots for way too long and that going to bed at 10:30 pm for a 6 month old is NOT okay. According to the wise Dr. Weissbluth, she should be going to bed around 7 pm and then waking between 6-7 am. Hmmmm. My first thought was, “How is that going to work when I have two other kids who I try to get to bed around 7 pm and a husband who doesn’t get home early enough to help with the bedtime routine?” Well, I decided to give it my best shot. If I can get K & B to bed by 7 pm (which is a struggle), then I can feed the baby and get her down by around 7:30 pm. Every night this week, I did my best to make that happen. Most nights, I had the baby down around 8 or 8:30, which I felt pretty good about. She still wakes up a couple times during the night, but it wasn’t as frustrating because I knew she was at least getting to bed at a better hour. The worst part has been waking her up at 7 am. She had been sleeping in until almost 9:00, so this was quite a change for her.
Last night, I had her down by 8:30 and then Patrick and I finished watching the season premiere of Lost and we were both in bed before 10:00! Even after waking to feed the baby twice during the night, I was well rested when I woke up at 7:00 this morning—it’s been a long time since I have been able to say that.
Which brings us to tonight: Patrick took K & B to the Charlotte Bobcats game while E and I stayed home. And guess what! She was in bed at 7:30! It is now 9:30 and I have tidied up the house, swept up the spaghetti and broccoli from the kitchen floor, loaded the dishwasher, done some laundry, and cranked out my push-ups and sit-ups for the day. Now I think I’ll go up to my room and watch the Ellen that’s on my DVR from today while I fold laundry and wait for the rest of the troops to come home. Ten years ago, would I have ever thought that not only would this be how I would be spending a Friday night, but that I would have enjoyed it?
Oh, and since we’re on the subject of sleep, Kendall told me yesterday that she never sleeps at night, she just “lays there quietly.” I couldn’t help but burst out laughing when she said that, to which she responded, “Mom, I’m really serious! I never go to sleep at night and I never get tired during the day either! I just lay in my bed quietly and pretend to be asleep and then when Berkeley wakes up in the morning, I get out of bed too.” Apparently I have a child who is part robot—anyone remember Vickie from Small Wonder?
10 comments:
She is so darling! I can only imagine how beautiful she must be when she is asleep ;)
I'm the same way--i have to re-read the sleep stuff with every baby. Haven't looked at it yet because Hayley is doing great, but since that always changes, I'm sure I'll be needing it one of these days. Kendall is funny. I'm sure she believes it. Grant used to insist that he woke up about 2am and never went back to sleep. Yeah, right.
oh my goodness I so remember that show!!! i used to watch it all the time, that and the one with the girl who could point her fingres and freeze time...what was that called?
congrats on getting more sleep.
i'm all right with everything you just posted about except for the bit about you watching elle..are you still doin that??
I thought I remembered all the 80's shows! That is so crazy you found the "Small Wonder" opening! OK- so one question about Emery- your book says she should be going to bed earlier and waking up earlier but says nothing about the fact that she is waking up 2 times a night??? At 6 months, she should be able to go all night without eating. To me, I wouldn't care if she went to bed late and got up late as long as she stayed asleep and i didn't have to get up! I love the Dr. Ferber method in the book called "How to solve your child's sleep problems". I used it anytime we moved or after a baby was sick and they were in the habit of waking up in the night. It only took like 2 or 3 days and they were right back to sleeping through the night. It's the waking up with the baby a couple of times a night that will make you feel so incredibly tired and at 6 months- she can definitely sleep all night I think! Work towards that my friend and you will be so happy!I just helped my friend who has a 5 moth old do it with the help of the book and life is bliss for her and her other 5 children now! I love sleep so much this is the secret reason why there is no number 3 yet! My kids are down at 7:30 pm and up at 7 am. My evenings and nights are ALL MINE (and Thomas'!) :) You know I'm kidding- we have been trying for 7 months for #3. But with Thomas' disease and the economy we feel that there is a reason why no #3 has come.
i have used that book with my older two also. i haven't had a need for it yet with Ezra but I know a time will come when I will also be re-reading.
i LOVED a 'small wonder' when I was a kid. i watched it all the time. thanks for the flashback!
Wow, thanks for that blast from the past. I laughed when I saw Vickie. I am also a huge fan of Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child, as well as Babywise. They seriously changed my life. We didn't sleep train Ben until 7 months because it was our first year at HBS and we had paper thin walls in our apt. and could hear the lady upstairs when she watched TV. Turned out she was totally deaf and blasted her TV super loud so we kicked ourselves for not getting more sleep months earlier. :)
I have that book too -- I read it with Lacey. I'm so glad it's getting better. But I can't believe you have the willpower to wake her up at 7am! I would cheat and let her keep sleeping!
Yeah. She really doesn't sleep. I know those nights I would get up with Tyson in Florida, she was just up talking and hanging out!! Or hanging off the bed snoring!! That's so funny she thinks she doesn't sleep. It's always nice when those babies finally get the idea that sleep is good!!
morgan-- sorry, i love me some Ellen. she cracks me up!
molly-- i was waiting till her 6 month checkup to see what her weight was before i decided to let her cry out those nighttime feedings. my girls are always such tiny babies that i feel like if they're up crying, they probably really are hungry! well, the pediatrician said she thinks i could let her cry it out, so two nights in a row, i tried it and she cried for an hour straight. i finally went in to get her (since they say not to let them cry longer than that) and then fed her and she went right back to sleep. but the past two nights, she's slept all through the night--7:30 to 7:30! things could be looking up! thanks for your advice!
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