Nursing and Napping.....one thing that is still not consistent in my household. Justin usually nurses to sleep and I hold him....I am getting really tired of this routine, so as of this afternoon I am not going to do it anymore (so I say this now, but if he cries for hours on end, and then we nurse and he falls asleep-then what do I do)???? We are also very tired of this waking up multiple times during the night....Todd and I are both so very tired....I think our only resolution is let him "cry it out"...I feel horrible because it keeps Todd up all night long when he cries for hours...and I can nap during the day and Todd can't.
Justin usually takes 2 naps a day, but just read that he could start taking one nap a day at 12 months..today he didn't get a morning nap, just his snooze as he nursed, then he woke up as I tried to put him down. this past weekend, he only napped 1 time each day..and slept a little better at night, but not great.
He does so well at night getting to sleep at first, we have our routine, and he goes down without a peep - but wakes up between 12-2 and then again 2 hours later, etc...
I really enjoy nursing, so I don't want to give it up, but the night nursing has to end...he doesn't need it..and he is eating plenty. We now have snacks during the day, and just for lunch today he ate a whole vegi-dog (no bun) and some crackers.....I think for a 13.5 month old, that is a lot? ? ?
Anyone had similar issues? Resolutions? I hate hearing the crying, but am ready for me time and some sleep!
Update--1:32pm - Justin has been crying for 37 minutes and I think he is asleep...I might try to get some zzz's too...
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I wish I could be of assistance, but I am trying to work things out here as well. Carsten is 21 months and I am getting ready to be done, but he isn't showing any signs. He does show the sign for more milk however! He also nurses for nap and then I lay him down. This isn't working every day now and I too am trying to figure out what to do next. He cries for hours-literally-if I let him. Oh, joy.
One thing we learned thru the Baby Whisperer is that babies have a big enough stomach that, if they are fed enough during the day, they do NOT need to nurse during the night after about 4 months. My second was weaned from the night nursing then. However, that does not mean she doesn't still wake up at night. ARGH!
Also, babies should not be nursed to sleep. You can nurse them to almost asleep, but lay them in their crib when they are still aware and they fall asleep on their own. At your stage, you may have to do some training. I would suggest trying to give Justin a bottle or sippy cup of water in his crib. Go into him, give him that, try not to pick him up, lay him down again, and keep your hand on his back, or something to let him know you are there.
When our first was 13 months old, we decided it was time to let him cry it out. I was getting up and going in to him at night and getting madder and madder each time. So! It took one week and he learned to deal and go back to sleep on his own. We haven't done that with our 18 month old because they share a room (and I am 2 years older, and tireder!)
I weaned my first from two to one naps a day at 18 months. My second weaned herself at about 16 months. Now Jonathan, the oldest has decided at 3 1/2, he no longer needs a nap. Another ARGH!
This is a lot to comment, but I feel for you. I, by no means, have all the answers, but maybe a suggestion or two that may help. Good luck!
I'm glad I didn't read the same book as you. Rory took 2 naps until a couple weeks before his 2nd birthday- and slept fine at night too. Was essential as it gave me the extra naps I needed when I was pregnant with Jace!
I weaned night nursing by putting a sippy cup (nuby and gerber don't leak) of water in bed with them. Had to break that with potty training R but it helped for a long time. I think the ferber thing was helpful too, on the occasions they did wake up.
However, let me just say that while it will get somewhat better, I think a full night of sleep regularly is a long way off. Like maybe elementary school. I don't actually, as we're not there yet! For us its logistics with 2 kids, potty issues, nightmares etc. Maybe we'll all qualify for the navy seals or something that requires minimal sleep when all is said and done. :)
Thank you all for your input...I do know we will never always get a full night of sleep - my brother reminds me of this all the time....the stories he calls to tell me - so fun times.
But, I am still going to be hopeful for a night or two here and there. Last night J woke up at 10:30 and I went in to cuddle with him, then again at 2am so I nursed him on one side only. Then at 4am he woke up and cried...I ignored him...and finally said from our room, that it was still night night time and he calmed down and finally fell back asleep...he woke again at 5:30 but again I ignored him and he fell asleep quicker....SO, maybe we can get into a one night feeding and he will learn to sleep the rest of the time, but on the other hand, maybe me going in at 2am isn't helping either, teaching him that I do come when he cries...oh who knows...but I do know I did get better sleep this morning when I ignored him and didn't have him flopping around in bed with me :)
As for the 2 naps....he fell asleep while nursing (10am). I did nurse him at 7 and he wanted to nurse at 9:30, but I told him he had to wait a 1/2 hour, so then I nursed him at 10 and he fell asleep....I will nurse again at 1 and see how that goes...and then again at 4...maybe we can get on a schedule with nursing at least.
Thanks everyone for your support...any idea works for me...might try the sippy sometime too.
I am no expert on this subject and I think different things work for everyone. My youngest is 3 now and we did the "cry it out" thing with all three of our children before they were even a year. You can kind of figure out when they are ready for it. It's hard at first but it does them and you a world of GOOD to finally get to sleep all night. I rarely have to get up with any of them in the night. Potty, Sickness and Growing pains sometimes disrupt our nights but these things pass. Hang in there Mom's with babies. I remember thinking it would never end!
Another thing I have done for the past year and a half is I play the piano for a while after I put them to bed. They all have their favorite hymns they want me to play and then I just play more. I am not a professional piano player and I am not even good at reading music but with my nightly playing I am getting better and they love it. I think it is important to put them to bed in an atmosphere of love and peace so they can settle down and have a restful sleep.
Hi everyone! Let's see 5 kids and I don't know how to sleep through the night anymore!! Not really that bad, but it does change your habits. For the crying it out -- they younger you are able to do it the better, as they get older it doesn't work so well. And the BIGGY there is no easy answer - each kiddo is different! Everyone of mine were different! I have to say I've forgotten how bad some of them were - until my mom reminds me!! So the good news is it does pass - but like for all of you it is very hard - to be so tired you aren't sure if you can even think! Good luck mommies! I am glad I am finally beyond that stage - although I do miss the cuddly babies!
Great topic. I read several books when Lauryn was having her sleeping issues. My favorite book by far was Healthy sleep habits, happy child by Marc Weissbluth. It makes a lot of sense. I am just going to call you Alicia (my sis just phoned me with you number). best of luck to you all.
Update from last night...so we ended up eating later than normal (around 7pm)....we did our normal routine and Justin slept until 3:15...I decided I would wait 10 minutes to see if he was still awake and after 3 minutes he was back asleep...I didn't even nurse him. He woke 2 more times before 7am, but they were short and he fell back asleep...so I went all night without nursing..this is a first for me. I am so happy though.
I did wake up at 12:30 and then again at after the 3:15 I couldn't sleep, I layed awake for an hour...
at 7 am we had a full 20 to 30 minutes of nursing time and I think comfort for Justin...it was great!
Paula - I got your message late last night....will try to call you later today, but don't want to call too early....
I used a book called 12 hours of sleep by 12 weeks, by Susie Giordano. I didn't use it with my 1st son until he was 4 months old but it worked. I used it with my 2nd son immediately. The premise is that you put them on a feeding/napping schedule during the day (she teaches you how to accomplish that) and then you get them into a bed routine and they will sleep through t5he night without needing to nurse or wake needing you. I was reluctant at first but it really worked for us, our boys 19 months and 5 months sleep though the night 8:30pm to 7:30 am everynight and she says it works once your kids are older too. If you go to babycoach.net you can buy a book for super cheap (3.99)
Good Luck.
Thanks for the heads up on 12 hours of sleep....I did order the bookl...for 3.99 I will try it. We did really well for about 7 nights - Justin started sleeping in his own room, still waking up, but I didn't go in...and now he is teething, so he is having tantrums in the middle of the night...and won't go back down unless I nurse him....I am hoping the book works and that this teething issue passes quickly . . . thanks for the help!
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