sleep question - is this cruel?

[Meenah]

It is NEVER cruel to try to manipulate anyone or anything to get more sleep!!!!

Honey - if she's sleeping until 7AM you need to go give gifts to the shrine of whatever god oversees sleeping. That is FANTASTIC for an infant. FWIW, pushing back her bedtime probably wouldn't make her sleep later, but actually wake earlier (and then you'd want to smack yourself). Sleep begets sleep. I didn't believe it for the longest time, but when I put the kiddos down earlier, I usually get a wake-up time on the later end of their spectrum.

[alison]

Uh-oh, I think we're in for it tonight. M went to bed at 6:30pm (it's now 10), and we haven't heard a peep out of her. I've been obsessively checking on her and trying to feel her exhale...

I think she'll wake up in the next hour or so, and then we'll pray to the sleep gods that she is tired enough to sleep for another good stretch tonight.

[DCJenn]

What Jenn wrote about "Sleep begets sleep" is 100% true. If you want them to sleep, and sleep well, make them sleep often.

I didn't believe it either but it has held true. Even now at five, there are days he naps for three hours, wakes up and eats, goes back to bed at 8 and doesn't wake up until 8am again.

It's wacky, the kid sleep thing.

Jenn

Feeling jealous of all the good sleepers right now. Kris, seriously, 3 naps!?!?!
Sleep begets sleep does not apply here. DS is still bouncing off the walls at 10:30 because he took a 2 hour nap today. It was nice at the time but I knew we would pay tonight. It is either a half hour nap and reasonable (9pm) bedtime or this. Sigh.

[Pollyanna]

Honey - if she's sleeping until 7AM you need to go give gifts to the shrine of whatever god oversees sleeping. That is FANTASTIC for an infant. FWIW, pushing back her bedtime probably wouldn't make her sleep later, but actually wake earlier (and then you'd want to smack yourself). Sleep begets sleep. I didn't believe it for the longest time, but when I put the kiddos down earlier, I usually get a wake-up time on the later end of their spectrum.

This is so very true. You have a good pattern going, let it ride mama! Plus, she is still very young and the pattern will change. Enjoy the 7am wake up call while you can.

[HouseofWool]

Kirsty - I had a typo. I usually get 2 naps for a total of 3-4 hours. Of which I spend waaaay too much time here.

This is so very true. You have a good pattern going, let it ride mama! Plus, she is still very young and the pattern will change. Enjoy the 7am wake up call while you can.

Yes to this! I've heard rumor of kids who will sleep later but have never experienced this phenomenon myself. I don't blame you for wanting to sleep in once in a while -- its a hard thing to give up.

[Pollyanna]

Murphy's Law of infant sleep states that:

Parents who are early risers and are always on the move will have babies that sleep late in the morning and require 3-4 hour naps.

Parents who are more laid back and would like to take life at a relaxed pace and sleep until the sun has been up for at least an hour will have children that wake between 4 and 5 am.

As far as I know there is nothing a parent can do to change this fact except increase their Starbucks budget.

Tara is wise in the ways of Murphy's Law.

[alison]

Tara--I think that post just made my day!

M slept for 6 hours (6:30pm-1:30am), again from 2-5am, and 5:30-7. I so wish we could move that 6-hour stretch a bit back, but dh said the sweetest thing since M was born: "I'll take the sleep deprivation overnight, because I love that we get the whole evening to be a couple." Yeah, our expectations have gone waaaaaay down.

[alison]

Tara--I think that post just made my day!

M slept for 6 hours (6:30pm-1:30am), again from 2-5am, and 5:30-7. I so wish we could move that 6-hour stretch a bit back, but dh said the sweetest thing since M was born: "I'll take the sleep deprivation overnight, because I love that we get the whole evening to be a couple." Yeah, our expectations have gone waaaaaay down.

Errrr, 6:30-1:30 is SEVEN hours!!!!

I agree that she sounds like an awesome sleeper! My first was like that, 6-7 hour stretches (no matter when) were a common occurance. DD # 2 is now almost 45 and I don't think we've EVE had more than a handful of nights where she didn't get up at 2 and again at 4 ... for no good reason, but enough to wake me. (DD#3 sleeps better again, but either way I'm up )

I don't know about your feeding schdule, but with all my girls I would group the last 3 evening feedings closer together, about every 2 hours, and that was what felt like it helped the most to get them to sleep longer through the night. My first,k the good sleeper, DID and still does sometimes sleep in, till 8 or 9. 2nd and 3rd are ALWAYS up by 7 at the very latest, so yeah, tell yourself it could be worse and get thee to bed early, I guess.

[moonlight]

Murphy's Law of infant sleep states that:

Parents who are early risers and are always on the move will have babies that sleep late in the morning and require 3-4 hour naps.

Parents who are more laid back and would like to take life at a relaxed pace and sleep until the sun has been up for at least an hour will have children that wake between 4 and 5 am.

As far as I know there is nothing a parent can do to change this fact except increase their Starbucks budget.

crap. i'm screwed.

[alison]

Get the sleep now, while you can, Moonlight!!! Seriously, sleep deprivation sucks!