Ugh This Child!!

[spotty_dog]

Here's something I wrote about DS at 9 months: "On a "good" "typical" day he gets up at 6-7am, naps for 45-60 minutes at 8:30-9:30, naps 60-120 minutes at 1-2, goes to bed at 8-9pm and is up around midnight, 3am, 5:30am. But it's new in the past few weeks for him to sleep that glorious 3-4 hour stretch. Also, if his naps get out of whack he'll make up for it with a bonus nap -- today he was only down from 12:45 to 1:15 for his second nap, so he went back down at 5pm. The morning nap is iffy, I think he's transitioning it out."

I also looked at the due date message board group I was in at that time, and all the mamas were talking about sudden changes in eating and sleeping patterns that we all seemed to suspect was a growth spurt? Lots and lots of "They used to be a great sleeper but now they literally don't sleep unless touching me." You're not alone, I guess! The parents of 2007 are right there with you!

Also some mamas reported success with putting the babies down for bed earlier. I know the night owl thing works best for your family...but it really could be that this choppy sleep is the trade-off.

[scrub-jay]

Absolutely. I night nursed and never coslept. The main point is to not let him fall asleep while nursing. He has to be awake when he goes back to bed.

This completely. If he needs the food, that's totally workable. It's not ideal if he's using you to fall back asleep after a normal sleep cycle wakeup though, and the method will allow him to learn other self-soothing techniques to fall asleep. But like LM said, putting him back to bed awake allows you to feed him. Both of mine gave up night nursing on their own with this method, but likely because they were using me as a crutch and they weren't hungry, but it was not something I had to refuse, they just slept through the night. I'm totally going off of memory here, it is much better explained in the book.

[SoonerTexan]

Ok we are going to the library today and I will look for it.

N was never this bad.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

We are in the same place. She will not let me put her down, ever. Ever. NEVER is it ok for me to put her down even if it's on my lap.

[SoonerTexan]

He is just a beast in general. Tried to head butt me for 15 min during church!

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Yeah, the little one is absolutely crazy. And I thought the big one was at a hard age. D is just a wrecking ball right now - so much emotion and completely non verbal but super mobile. Not a great combo.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

"It gets better" says the mom of a 17 mo (I have no helpful advice!)

[SoonerTexan]

And of course sat night he was an angel. "Let's push mommy to the edge and pull back as needed"

[Pollyanna]

I also looked at the due date message board group I was in at that time, and all the mamas were talking about sudden changes in eating and sleeping patterns that we all seemed to suspect was a growth spurt? Lots and lots of "They used to be a great sleeper but now they literally don't sleep unless touching me." You're not alone, I guess! The parents of 2007 are right there with you!

Also some mamas reported success with putting the babies down for bed earlier. I know the night owl thing works best for your family...but it really could be that this choppy sleep is the trade-off.

Agree with Alison. Pretty much all of our kiddos have gone through this at varying levels. The early to bed (although I know it's not ideal for your family) has always been the best solution for our family. Something about a 10pm to 8am sleep is just never as restful as an 8pm to 6am sleep. I can see this issue with our youngest. Since the older kiddos have activities until 9 most nights we can't get her to bed at a decent time and she is by far the worst sleeper of the bunch.

In the end, do what you have to do to get through this phase and know that in short order you'll have to shake him to get him to wake up for school.

Glad he was cooperative this weekend!

[Sheherezade]

No advice, but my son was like this and my daughter was much better. I guess I glad the tough/needy sleeper came first! We always co-slept and night nursed because the benefits outweighed the costs, but I didn't have to wake up early for work, had no other children and could nap with him.

He's a much better sleeper and less needy now at 18.


Angie

[SoonerTexan]

These second ones are stinkers. He's already throwing legit tantrums---banging a toy on the ground and screaming til he gets what he wants. N didn't do that til after her first bday

[Pollyanna]

These second ones are stinkers. He's already throwing legit tantrums---banging a toy on the ground and screaming til he gets what he wants. N didn't do that til after her first bday

He's simply advanced for his age

[SoonerTexan]

It's kind of adorable, actually.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

These second ones are stinkers. He's already throwing legit tantrums---banging a toy on the ground and screaming til he gets what he wants. N didn't do that til after her first bday

D has had more face down absolute screaming tantrums before age 1 than C has had in 2.8 years.

[alotofyarn]

E is a master tantrum thrower already - I can't imagine a second one being worse! She's also started spitting, which is super annoying.