Welcome to the February 2013 Natural Living Blog Carnival: Addressing Sleep Challenges.
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Natural Living Blog Carnival hosted by Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project through the Green Moms Network. This month our members have written posts about how they address sleep challenges in their homes.
You would think I’d be an expert on babies and sleep since I’ve got three boys, but nothing could be further from the truth.
My first son was a horrible sleeper as an infant. He woke up 5-10 times each night until at six months we had to let him cry it out a bit so he could sleep on his own. Our pediatrician urged us since he wasn’t getting any sleep, and neither did we. In hindsight, I wish I had just co-slept with him. I wasn’t as much of a green mom as I am now. Plus, I was a first-time mom and really neurotic. The few times he did sleep with me I would wake up distressed anytime I heard a sound out of him – even if he just coughed or fussed for a minute. He’s an excellent sleeper now though but those few nights of crying it out were brutal.
With my second son, we didn’t need to let him cry it out. I was much more relaxed and just tended to him when he needed it. I didn’t rush like my first son and he got the hang of soothing himself so much faster. He even learned how to suck his fingers to pacify himself. He was almost sleeping through the night starting at three months old. I thought I was some kind of baby sleep genius.
Then, with my third son, all of that went out the door. I co-slept with him and never gave him a pacifier. So I’ve become his pacifier. Now at 18 months, I still nurse him to sleep – and though he does sleep in his crib for much of the night – I do bring him to my bed to co-sleep at around 2 or 3 am every night. And I’m exhausted. I’m sore from nursing him for hours on end. My back hurts from my nearly 25 lb. baby trying to lay on me all night. And my husband and I scrunch up on our bed while our little guy tosses and turns through the night.
My three boys share a room, so it’s tough to let my little guy cry it out. I can’t let him sleep in my room or he’d come into my bed sooner. While I want to continue nursing him, I know I’ll need to break the sleeping-at-the-breast habit at night and possibly even in the middle of the night. I know I need to help him learn to soothe himself – though I’m not sure what tactics there are other than crying it out so if you have a suggestion let me know. I’d prefer gentle sleep tactics rather than crying it out.
All I do know is that each child is different. What comes easy for one child may be a challenge to another child. And sleep issues go beyond newborns. My oldest sons still suck their thumbs at bedtime, and I know I need to break that habit too.
What sleep issues do you have with your kids?
Visit Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project to learn more about participating in next month’s Natural Living Blog Carnival.
Please take some time to enjoy the posts our other carnival participants have contributed:
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Visit Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project to learn more about participating in next month’s Natural Living Blog Carnival!
Please take some time to enjoy the posts our other carnival participants have contributed:
This post was written by
Tracey Black is the founder and editor-in-chief for Don't Mess with Mama, the sassy mom's guide to parenting, green living and travel. She is a regular contributor to Redbook's Mamarama blog, and a social media strategist working with eco-friendly brands such as Stonyfield, Juice Beauty and others. She has three boys and lives in San Diego, Calif.
Oh man, I am in close to your boat right now. I too am desperately hoping someone can tell me how to night wean my daughter without crying it out. She’s 13 mos and it is getting really disruptive. You aren’t alone!
That is so frustrating when you’re not sleeping well because you’re trying to co-sleep-I’ve been there! We loved the book “The No Cry Sleep Solution” and found it quite helpful so you might want to check it out
Thanks! I’ve tried the No Cry Sleep Solution but it’s not working for us. I need to find a way to get him to soothe himself. Thanks for the suggestion.
My first was such an excellent sleeper that even my husband I said we were going to be in for it with the second. We were, at least compared to her, he took longer to get to sleep through the night but I think it was because he was just hungrier than her and wanted to nurse more.
PS he still eats more than her!
Leigh recently posted..Advice: How Parents Can Get Some Sleep
I feel like most parents have at least one good sleeper to make up for the one who’s a challenge.
You are so right, every child is different. I wish I could offer you a suggestion, but I never had the opportunity to successfully breastfeed. I’m sure there are other mamas out there that can help. My daughter is starting to procrastinate before bed time. She used to get excited and want to go to bed. Now she wants to play peek-a-boo, pick out lots of books, etc instead of wanting to go to bed. Not only is every child different, they are constantly changing! Just when you think you have it figured out.
Mandi recently posted..Falling Asleep Naturally
Hi Mandi, I know – just when you think you’ve got it figured out they throw you a curveball. Thanks for stopping by.
It’s so true that every kid is different which is why you never really “arrive” as a parent. You never know it all because everything you learned with kid #1, might not work for kid #2.
Brittany @ The Pistachio Project recently posted..5 Ways to Wean From the Pacifier
I totally agree – you never fully arrive as a parent. And as soon as you master one thing, your kids do something new that you have to learn.
Every kid is different. My first one cried every time I leaned over to put her in the crib. The second one, however, I could put in the crib, walk out, and close the door–done!
Asianmommy recently posted..Tokyo in a Box
There always seems to be one who’s a piece of cake and one who gives you a hard time – as long as they don’t do at the same time, you’re golden.
It’s so true every child is different and they change also. I also have multiple kids in the same room and I am always balancing how much crying to allow while sleep training without waking up my other child in the room. I usually end up with at least one little one in my bed at night. It can be exhausting but deep inside I sometimes cherish these moments because they will only be little once and want me to comfort them.
The Dumpling Mama recently posted..Chinese Barbecued Pork (Char Siu)
Thanks for visiting! Yep, that’s what our situation is too – we have 3 boys in the same room so I don’t want to have my little guy cry it out too much. So glad to hear I’m not the only one. Take care!