We have been doing the whole routine-at-night-thing and Austin is just not having it.
We let him cry for 5 to 10 minute increments hoping he'll get the hint it's time to go to sleep. He doesn't get it.
We have to rock him for a total of 1.5 hours to get him to finally go to sleep every night. So, usually between the hours of 7pm and 9pm we are fighting to get him to go to sleep which, in turn, makes us exhausted and we nearly rock ourselves to sleep in the process.
We insure he starts his day between 7:30am and 8am with the usual naps throughout the day. He plays, he eats, he gets tired, he naps.... then around 6:30pm he gets cranky so we bathe him, dress him, lotion him with lavender stuff, feed him a bottle in his dimly lit room - it still takes almost until 9pm to finally settle down. And that's if we let him cry and tire out a bit otherwise it would go until 10pm or 11pm.
I have read books, etc, etc and still not sure what to do.
Suji, I know you have mentioned a method you use and I need to read back up on that route.
Until I find the perfect rhythm for Austin or until he finds it I'm taking deep breaths and thanking GOD that Scooter is on vacation right now to help!
P.S. Scooter is upstairs right now lulling Austin to sleep. Crossing fingers.
P.P.S. House hunting is stressful and I can see how high-profile divorces come out of couples attempting to buy a house. I say, "toma-toe" and he says, "I don't want to have to renovate."
6 comments:
Hmmm...Marisa, it sounds like your daily routine is pretty much what I do....wake up, eat, play, nap...
How long is he up between naps? At this point, Ryland is usually up between 2 and 2.5 hours.
What is the longest you've let him cry? In a book I read, they mentioned that they would let their child cry it out for 45 minutes and as the nights progressed the crying time would lessen. If letting him cry it out is too hard for you, you could try telling yourself, "I'm doing this for his own good. I'm teaching him how to fall asleep on his own."
That always helped me. AND I would think, "I DO NOT want to be doing this for the next ____ years!"
Does he fall asleep for his naps on his own?
Ryland as definitely been my more challenging sleeper and I finally made him just cry. BUT I will say it's WAY easier when it's not the first.
Buying our first house almost killed us.
Sounds like Austin is one of "those" kids. A couple of my friends still fight their 3-year old over bed.
I'm sorry he's still not going to bed easy for you guys, that whole process can be so exhausting.
Griffin was a really good sleeper, but sometimes he'd have a week or two stretch here and there where he'd have trouble going down. One thing that worked for us was to lay him in his crib (okay if he starts to fuss or cry), and then I'd lay next to the crib and put my hand through the slats and he'd hold my fingers. He'd usually calm down since he was being touched, but wasn't getting held. After 10 minutes or so he'd usually fall asleep.
Have you also tried a slightly later bedtime? Maybe 8pm to start or 8:30? Even though he's cranky at 6:30, he might not be tired enough to sleep. I'm sure you've tried almost everything by this point though!
Hopefully he decides that going to bed in a good thing soon!
I know this may sound funny, but I think it was part of my problem with my daughter...you may want to try feeding him more - during the day &/or last feeding. I have a bedtime routine that sounds really familiar to yours and I rock her to sleep as well. It was taking FOREVER. Then my mom suggested the feeding thing and I was quite hesitant at first but SO exhausted. Turns out it worked and she was happier during the day too. Go figure...those grandmas. Good luck.
Well my Tina was just like that. I could spend ALL night trying to put her to sleep. I finally realized that we try so hard to put the babies on our schedule and we need to realize their schedule!
I think you might have to wait for a later time. I finally gave up the hope of having a childless evening for the 1st year.
Some people get lucky and get those babies that just lay down and go to sleep at 7pm.
Never was any of my children!
Good luck!
Thanks everyone for the feedback!
Suji, I hear you loud and clear. I do not want to be doing this when he's 12!!!! Or something. Bah. And no he doesn't fall asleep on his own for naps, but usually its 10 minutes tops to get him to fall asleep for a nap. He's up in the morning just 1.5 to 2 hours before the first nap, then up to 3 hours until the next...
One thing I failed to mention: This happens about 75% of the time, not every night. Some nights, this kid is out like light.
Tonight: We started to get him ready for bed at 7pm, fed him (9 ounces) and he fell asleep, woke up once, ate another ounce and was out for the night by 8:30pm.
Rhianna: Good point! We have tried that before too. There have been times we've fed him, no kidding 16 OUNCES within 2 or 3 hours and it was because he was hungry. I didn't know their stomachs could hold that much! So, yeah, we try to feed him as much as he'll eat before going to bed. I've tried to feed him more during the day but he just won't eat if he's not really hungry for it.
Raychel: Oy... I need time with hubby alone. Which is why I try to start Austin's day early. Our situation is different in that Neil and I haven't even been married a year yet so we're trying to juggle that as well. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't mind having Austin up later...
Melody: Ack. Don't say I have one of "those". It sounds like a bad toe rash or something :p A difficult sleeper - yes! I think we just need to work on this more diligently...we really haven't. Just been trying to survive each night.
Sunny: That's a good idea....I think Melody mentioned that to me - reaching through the slats in the crib and lying there.
Ok, I think I responded to everyone!
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