sleep deprivation looks terrible on me
We are back to sleepless nights. I don’t quite know how we got here, but we’re here. And it is not pleasant.
A little over two weeks ago, he started waking in the middle of the night. Midnight or 1 a.m. and one night it was 4 a.m. I could get him back to sleep by rubbing his back. When I walk into his room in those wee hours of the night, I can tell him to lay down and he does. But he only stops crying when I rub his back. (I can even have my hand on his back, and he will reach back there and pat my hand, motioning for me to start up again.)
It’s exhausting.
And then he was diagnosed with his double-ear infection. I thought we’d be back to sleep, for sure, when the sickness went away.
Occasionally he would sleep all the way through the night. He slept last Wednesday night, and I mentioned it to the doctor on Thursday at his well visit. His ears were cleared up, he was healthy, he just isn’t sleeping.
We could be dealing with so many things:
–teeth. His second one-year molar is cutting through. I can feel a swollen two-year molar. Not cool.
–illness. I think we can cross this one off. 10 days of antibiotics should have killed any illness.
–18-month sleep regression. Oh yes. He has hit every. single. sleep regression like clockwork.
–new skills. He can climb! He can talk! He’s learning new stuff every day and wants to practice at 2 a.m.!
–awful sleeper.
I think we’re dealing with all of the above.
Last night, we were up for over two hours from midnight until 2:30 a.m. I’m still not sure if he fell asleep, or if I was just finally able to fall asleep while he cried. He cried this morning too. The kid has lungs made of steel, I tell you. Oh, and I think we’re going back to the “chapter 5” training. We worked on that last night. For two hours, I tell you.
Today I look/feel awful. I’m making mistakes at work, and I really need to be on my game. We all need sleep.
So if you could send some good sleep vibes our way, we would greatly appreciate it!
hey girl- not sure if you knew you are a no-reply blogger? I tried to email you back but am glad I came here instead to read your post. I’m sure you have had lots of advice on the matter and are doing anything and everything in your power to get through the night. I went through this with my son and have to say that Bribery was what worked. I got a colorful chart from a teacher’s store and knew what his prized possession would be if he could go get it at the store and also knew how important Chuck E Cheese was to him. I pinned the measuring chart on his wall and at night before we went to bed, I showed it to him. I had a picture of BUZZ Lightyear at the halfway point– the big BUZZ and explained that if you can stay in your bed, for 2 nights, you will get BUZZ! Then, at the end of a WEEK, if he could make it the full week we would take him to Chuck E Cheese and invite family and friends to celebrate. It worked. We also got a flashlight and let him have it and played a game before bed with the flash light showing him there was nothing in or under anything in his room and if he got scared, turn on the flash light b/c it makes all the scary stuff go away. Just my tips, but realize every kid is different. Good Luck. Luckily its just a phase.
thanks for letting me know! It’s now been fixed (I thought I had changed it LONG ago!)
I’m definitely going to keep your tips for future use. I don’t know that Lucas is quite old enough for bribery, but this will definitely come in handy!
The other thing I did was had a wrapped toy he could open (dollar store) and each morning building up to Buzz & Chuck E Cheese, he got a reward. I celebrated the snot out of each day with him so he knew how proud I was– anyway, that’s all.
oh, and we celebrate a LOT when he sleeps through the night! Those are very happy mornings!!
Yea, I’m so glad you commented on my blog about bottle warmers. Iwas leaning toward not getting one for exactly the erasons you talked about. My only concern was going from breast to bottle and back and you addressed that!
Anyway now I’ve found your blog and I’m so glad to find a nother running/blogging/mommy!
Amber