...I said this afternoon, as we watched my mom leave to go back to Chicago. I don't know how I'm going to handle working full time and taking care of a baby. With Craig traveling it's like being a part time single mom. I don't know how real single moms do it. I was better prepared to deal about a month ago when Ava would go down to bed with not even a fuss....I have NO IDEA why suddenly, at three months, she's decided to freak out at bedtime. I'm finding out that my previous idea about how I'd be as a mother and the reality of how I am are two totally different things: for instance, I thought I'd have no problem letting my baby "cry it out" when necessary, and people who didn't let their babies cry were total suckers. Turns out those people are what we call "normal" because hearing your baby crying is like having someone rip your heart out of your chest. It's a heck of a lot harder to let her cry than it is to go pick her up...tonight, after numerous attempts to get Ava to sleep, I watched her for a moment in her crib while she screamed her head off. I knew she wasn't hungry, I knew she wasn't really gassy or otherwise in pain, her diaper was clean, she was warm enough...and I noticed she kept putting her arms up by her face and trying to suck her thumb, which she does when she's falling asleep. She'd scrunch up into this position and quiet down then jump like she was startled and start screaming all over again...this happened a few times and I realized that her body was trying very hard to fall asleep and when it didn't happen, she freaked out. I also realized that by picking her up or even reaching in the crib and touching her, I was making it even harder for her to fall asleep. So I let her cry, and even scream a bit....left the door open and the hall light on and her mobile on so it didn't feel like I was totally neglecting her and after about 10 minutes of on-and-off screaming and then some furious thumb sucking, she was sound asleep. The entire process, starting from when I began her bedtime feeding until she went down, took a good two hours.
Anyhow, I'm just wondering if anyone else noticed anything similar with their kids at around the same age....how did you handle it? What worked or didn't work? I have no plan and feel like every day I am just winging it. Is that just how it is??? Why did she go down so good for the first three months of life and then go psycho?????
*sigh* Guess I should try to sleep while I can. I may never get a full night of rest again....
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4 comments:
Even though I don't have a kid, I was wondering how about some soothing bath for her? I know that sounds strange, but like give her a warm bath before you go to bed with something like lavender and chamomile. Works wonders I've heard.
The regular supermarket is good in carrying those things, and even the organic ones carry better. Honestly, you find some really good stuff at organic supermarkets, and usually I pooh-pooh some witchery, but there's a lot of good sense in alternative medicine too. At least it's worth a shot and the wash shouldn't break a bank. Hey, maybe you and Ava could take a bath together and chill!
Just wait till she starts dating....These are some relatively easy days for you....the dating days are...well....gruelling...
Maybe she is just adjusting to the change in routine now that you are back to work?
Does she take a pacifier?
Any chance she is sick or teething? (Nicholas got his first tooth at 3 months)
I read "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and found it to be a good guide, but I didn't agree with everything. I read several books actually & didn't think any one book had the "right" answer, but then again, if there was one "right" answer Mommy's all over the world wouldn't be asking for advice! Just know you are not alone.
Nicholas is still not sleeping through the night and he's one. William started sleeping through the night when he was 13 months old.
Hope things get better soon.
I give her a bath before her final feeding/bedtime and she likes it but it doesn't seem to make her any calmer. I did get that lavendar nighttime baby bath though...anything to help soothe her is welcome! Plus, I steal it and use it in the shower after I put her down because it mellows me out! ;o)
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