More Whining About Not Sleeping

Yesterday at ECFE I mentioned that Dahlia still refuses to sleep - and after we all talked a little, the entire class was devoted to talking about how Dahlia is the non-sleeper. (it was a little embarrassing actually). Dahlia slept through the night on Sunday night which was such an anomaly I knew it wouldn't last. And it didn't.

So at class I told them that Dahlia wakes up lately between 1:30 and 2 and cries, no SCREAMS, for an hour or longer. We haven't been going in there....we're at wit's end.

Well, until last night. We have been really good and just letting her CIO and it hasn't been *too bad* because usually after an hour or so shes quiets down. Last night - no such luck. She SCREAMED! Screamed her head off for and hour and a half. Steve had already gotten up and gone in there (much to my chagrin!!!!!) and that didn't help and after another 45 minutes or so I couldn't take it any more, and Steve was getting super pissed because he hadn't slept AT ALL that night (took over 2 hours for him to fall asleep in the first place)....and I ended up bringing her back to bed with me (Steve retired to the other room because he was so annoyed). *sigh* I was so mad at myself for giving in because I know it undermines everything but I just couldn't stand it any more!

We got a little sleep - Dahlia was snuggly for a while thank god. but it's disheartening to know that we "failed" again. We have a few more ideas to try - how to put her to bed differently, earlier, etc but I'm losing hope that she'll ever sleep like a normal kid. *sigh*

Comments

Anonymous said…
You haven't failed.

My 20 month often wakes up at night. I have a theory that she has acid reflux. She spit up a lot as a baby....A LOT. Most of the time we try to ignore her. If we go in we end up staying in there all night and rocking her. I never bring her to bed with us. I didn't want her to get in the habit. It is bad enough sitting in the rocking chair...snuggling. She sleeps...I don't.

Have you brought her into the doctor? When I was at my wits end, with sleep, I went to the ped, just to make sure she was ok. No ear infection, etc.
9:09 AM
Sarita said…
You have NOT failed. You don't need to be embarrassed. There comes a point where a mom & dad just need to do whatever they can to get some sleep.

Thank goodness you have a place where you can talk about these things. I hope your ECFE group is kind.

I don't have any suggestions, we go t super lucky in that area. I just want you to know that I think you are a great mom, who loves her kid ferociously. Not to mention, you're a pretty amazing woman. You will figure this out. (or at least Dahlia will figure it out as she grows)
9:57 AM
Anonymous said…
Another thing I thought of was how do you put her to bed? When we were having a ton of trouble I had heard that if you put her down awake and she learns to fall asleep on her own then when she wakes up at night she will be more likely to be able to get herself back to sleep. It won't be as much of a shock because she was the one that put herself to sleep vs. you doing it and then she wakes up and is like WTF where did mommy go? Just a thought.
Another time, when our baby (she was about 18 mo) woke up, I went in and snuggled and then put her back in and kept telling her that it was still bed time and she needed to sleep in her crib and that I would stay in there till she fell back to sleep. It worked, but took FOREVER! Part of the time I layed on the floor and she kept lifting her head and looking to see if I was still there.
12:01 PM
J. said…
Honestly cannot believe that I would spend so much time thinking about getting kids to sleep. Benjamin has been such a nightmare from 2 1/2 until now - we've tried everything and honestly at 2am it's really hard to think rationally. We all give in sometimes - for our own sanity and the sanity of marriage as well! I did have someone once suggest ear plugs! Hang in there.....
7:51 PM
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