These days people are obsessed with vampires. Supernatural beings that turn into blood-sucking villains when the sun goes down. Me? Not so much. I am far more frightened by a 14-month old that turns into a newborn at the stroke of midnight. He’s literally sucking the life out of me.
I realize that mothers complaining about how little their children sleep is as old as Adam and Eve. And I KNOW she complained. After all she had to mother the human race while camping—ughh. I’m not after your sympathy, just your advice. Crying it out is NOT working. He has an especially sad and violent cry he only uses at night and if we let him go too long I prefer not to turn on the light because I know how blue his plump little lips will look. Not only that, but he can go for well over an hour and then continue the rest and cry pattern until dawn when he somehow turns all babbles and smiles as he patiently waits for us to liberate him from his crib. What gives?
The only thing that gets McKay back to sleep is more milk. I usually ration it 3-4 ounces at a time because I know he’ll be up two or three hours later wanting more. Is it really possible that it takes such frequent feedings to satiate this 26-pound hunk of love? I’ve tried giving him full bottles, but he still wakes. Seriously—HELP!
Matt has stepped in lately and taken the first waking of the night and it has helped tremendously. Only now when Mac has a particularly bad night I am out of practice and more tired than ever. I’m kind of beyond trying to solve the problem and just trying to be grateful at 2am that I have a cherub to wake me at all. Have you had bad sleepers? Did they grow out of it?
You’d think with my third I’d be seasoned enough to figure this out, but McKay is taking me through a series of firsts all his own. Thanks for letting me vent. Things will look rosier once an acceptable hour for a nice cold Diet Coke arrives. I just can't bring myself to pop the top before 10am :).
12 comments:
Hello Mindi...
First I have to say how great it was to meet you in person last week at OC Tanner..you are more beautiful in real life..
I think you need a night time nanny so you know Mac is cared for, you need your rest to be sane...three boys and a hubby. and a job..Help Yikes...
I don't know how you do it all..
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It's 10 a.m.-go get that Diet Coke girlfriend! I have said this to you time and time again...I don't know how you do everything you do, and can completely empathize with the tiredness from your sleepless nights. This too shall pass. It's just so great to hear that he has that much energy and is wailing for you with all his heart! Enjoy that Diet Coke!
That gets hard! Landon to this day & almost 4 yrs. old still gets up and down in the night....For as tired as you sound, I have to say you are still BEAUTIFUL as ever, and you would never know it by looking at cha!
Bring him to my house for a night... I am sure Sheri could handle it with the great help I would also provide.
Grandpa Phil
My heart goes out to you. I am amazed at everything you get done being so sleep deprived. Just thinking about running makes me yawn. You are amazing!
I wish I had more advice. I have some fabulous sleepers, and I have one that is still up nearly every night (she's five). She just sleeps really quite fitfully (is that a word). When I check on them before I go to bed, she is almost always backward or sideways with feet hanging over the edge (good thing we have her on the top bunk, huh) and she despises covers of any sort. By contrast, her two-year-old sister hasn't budged. I have done exactly the same thing with each child as far as sleeping goes - since they were babies. Who knows???
You should just call in the middle of the night and we can chat. Two nights ago, I was up with the twins twice, Macy once, and Paige once. Then, Austin was up at his typical 6:15 (natural morning person - this child must belong to the mailman). I shouldn't complain because (with the exception of Tuesday night) the twins have been sleeping through the night for the past week. But, I can empathize with the lack of sleep. Again...Simply amazed at what you accompish.
I do have a couple of things: Are his tonsils really large? Does he snore at all? I know the last thing you want is another surgery with McKay, but Austin had a hard time sleeping through the night until we got his tonsils and adnoids taken out. He was a completely different kid, and he's been a fabulous sleeper ever since.
Another thing that worked is to have Dad take over. I know you said Matt is taking the first shift. Does McKay act differently toward you verses Matt? I know that I had some babies who would play me for everything I'm worth, but they just seemed to instinctively know that they couldn't mess with dad. Who knows???
Otherwise, just keep up the Diet Coke (if this continues, you might have to move your coke time up to 9:30) and know that we are all sympathizing and pulling for you and your adorable little McKay!
Vent all you want. That is what a blog is for -right??? :)
Mindi,
I had the worst time getting Lindsey to sleep. I really liked the book "Healthy Sleep, Happy Child." Another book recommended to me was the "No Cry Sleep Solution". I didn't follow it, I was too tired and it seemed like it was going to take awhile for all the steps to get implemented. But, it had some great sleep stats and such that helped me. The best thing we did was cry it out, but at it's worst it took 50 min. and Lindsey was 10 months old. It was miserable. But, it sounds like you have tried it. It took probably 4-5 nights for Lindsey to realize what was happening. Good luck, call if you need. I would be happy to talk. I loaned out the books or I could give you the authors names. Sorry.
Hello Mindi...My name is Lee Robinson a friend of your dad.I am an avid reader.You are so gifted at writing it should be your career.My son(now 33..yikes)did the same thing.I put a littlt baby cereal in his bottle at night.I had to enlarge the hole a bit but it WORKED.He slept thru the night after that.I hope this helps
Oh Mindi! Now I love you even more and I didn't even think that was possible. I relate to the Diet Coke need. Bradley did not sleep through the night until he was TWO! I had to feed him in the middle of the night every night. I tried to let him cry it out and that didn't work. I actually moved him into a room with Cole when he was two and it stopped. It will stop for you too! McKay is so dang cute- send him over here (I am up anyways with Mr. Beckham)....therefore I understand the need for a Diet Coke!
Oh boy... I think since you have been up all night, you can start the Diet Coke a little earlier...time is relative if you have already been up for hours!
We have the same problem with Grant...he is a TERRIBLE sleeper. Cardiology told us to work on really elevating his head when he sleeps to help with the Glenn pressures, but to be very cautious in letting him cry it out. Our pediatrician finally told me that though it is a bandaid fix, to give Grant some Benadryl every few nights to insure that I could get some solid sleep and not wear my body down getting us all sick. We also use a white noise machine for him and the noise does seem to help him sleep better. You might also check for some underlying infection that could be irritating him at night! Good luck!
I'm with you sister!!! Maddie does the exact same thing and for awhile, I was thankful...she would get in a few more ounces, always has eaten better at night, calories, calories, calories, right!?! Not so great anymore!!! I have created a sleep MONSTER!!! The kid is up at least 3 times a night and even tries chatting with me. She seriously thinks social hour is at 2am and my hubby is not one to get up so I'm solo on this one. I've started putting her in bed with us so I can sleep a little longer...not great either, another habit to break! I can't believe what I've allowed with her versus the boys!!! She sleeps literally 6 ft. from our bed in her crib (we have a small house) so I can't do the cry-it-out thing, unless I invest in boxes of earplugs. I have heard from more heart mom's on how bad their baby's sleep habits are! Maybe in comes with the territory on some of these kiddos??? But like you, I do cherish those late nights too even if I'm exhausted and weary. I start my caffeine early and it does help but not so good for me. Another habit I'll have to break. OUT OF CONTROL. Anyways....
Oh my! At least I know I'm not alone. If amazing moms like you are wrestling with the same thing, I think I need to buck up and take it like a mom. I will continue to work with Mac, but let's face it--it's not life and death. A wrinkle or two perhaps. Some dark circles below the eyes. A prematurely aged face. A grumpy demeanor...but not life and death :). Much love to all you wonderful mommas!
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