This is how I found Gavin after I got out of the shower today. He had been crying but suddenly stopped. Apparently that's because he fell asleep! He had only been awake for two hours, but I guess he was so tired that even jumping couldn't keep him awake.
Gavin is getting pretty good at falling asleep on his own in bed. If he cries at all, it's usually for five minutes or less. I've grown to enjoy our little routine before bed, and I'm so grateful that the going to sleep part of the day is easy. Unfortunately, my sleep training efforts have not helped the duration of his naps AT ALL. He usually only naps for 30-45 minutes at a time. He wakes up very grumpy, obviously tired, and is very difficult for the next hour or two. Then, by dinner time, he is so exhausted and cranky that the house seems ready to implode. He is getting circles under his eyes from lack of sleep. It is ridiculous.
Added to the nap drama is the fact that Gavin is still nursing, and while it's not quite time for him to nurse before his naps, I'm afraid that a hungry tummy is waking him up prematurely. But if I feed him before the nap, he always falls asleep, which gets in the way of him learning to fall asleep on his own.
Gavin still wants to eat in the middle of the night, as well (just once between 3:00 and 4:00). When he cries at that time, I find his binky and tuck him in, but then he screams hysterically for at least half an hour before falling asleep. Then he's back up within in an hour to repeat the cycle. I just don't know what to do.
When I found Gavin asleep in his jumper today, I hoped that the obvious fatigue would keep him asleep for a while. However, in spite of an utterly silent house, Gavin slept for 20 minutes in his crib after I transferred him. I responded when he woke up, but then left him tucked back into bed, hoping he'd go back to sleep. Instead, he screamed for an hour. I checked on him intermittently but after an hour I just couldn't take it any more. I knew he was hungry, so he nursed and then we cuddled and read some stories so he could calm down. Both of us are traumatized and I don't know where to go from here.
I realize this is sounding a little desperate, but I suppose it is. Thanks for listening!
5 comments:
Heidi--I'm not sure you're looking for advice...but in case you are, have you tried "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child"? It's a book that I, and most of my mom friends, swear by. It really helped me to understand timing and signals for my kids needing naps. And, could you give Gavin a little snack before nap instead of nursing him? Like some banana or Goldfish crackers? That way, he won't have an empty tummy and you won't have to nurse right before naps. Isn't it crazy how each kid is so different? In some ways it's like re-learning parenting all over again with each one!
Sorry you are having such a hard time with this. Wish we could figure out the magic combination!
So, we are totally in the same boat right now with Aiden. However, I'm inspired by your tenacity, I've just let it continue to be a problem because it seems too hard to tackle it. So hopefully it comes as some comfort that your are definitely not alone in the sleep deprivation department.
It was great seeing you guys today. I can totally comiserate with you on the pain of the sleepless child. I guess with everything child-wise, sometimes knowing that one day it will get better, as it finally has with Luke, can get you through even if it feels like that day cannot come soon enough!
Sorry, about all this. I wish I had the magic pill but unfortunately I don't. Maybe with Zach and Ty gone to school you'll be able to nap a little when he does sleep.
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