Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Shhhhhh, Baby Sleeping

Or the alternate title could have been Oh, I am losing my mind.

It's been about 3 weeks with E's new schedule and We have most of the kinks worked out .. Except this new sleep/wake up time.

For the past few weeks, I have adjusted MT's bedtime in order to make it age appropriate and conducive to when he is actually tired. E was usually in charge of MT's bedtime up until the new shift change. So, MT had to get used to me putting him to bed. Know that we have now adjusted to me being the one to do the bedtime .. Our routine is quite breezy and mostly stress free.

Now we have a different problem. Wake up time. (and maybe this isn't as big of a problem as I think it is. maybe this is the evolution of sleep) I was used to him sleeping about 12.5-13 hours at night with 2 (40-60 min naps- usually 45) a day. So about 14-16 of sleep a day.

Now, He is sleeping about 9-10 hours a night. Then he wants out of bed with loud protesting. Because he is hearing BIL leave for work and E coming home from work ..... He is not waking up happy or on his own really. He is being woken up by their commotion. I bought a video monitor so that I feel safe enough to pull his door closed to try and keep out all their noise - but that is not working Obviously.

After MT is up and out of the bed and calmed down, I try to give him milk. I have learned to wait to feed him breakfast because he will not eat when he first wakes up. So after we play on the floor and watch some sprout or noggin, he is then ready for breakfast but he is also tired as heck. Because he is not waking up on his own. So some mornings, after breakfast, He wants to go back down for an hour (or more) nap ... (but not every morning- so I never know until he shows sleepiness) because he did not get that last 1 or 2 hours like he needed. So We are constantly suck in a limbo, Will he or won't he need a morning nap. After that nap, he seems like his jovial self.....

After that nap, he is good to go for a few good (3-4) hours. I tried a few techniques that were suggested. I did try to just keep him up, but that was really just miserable. Therefore - that method just made the whole day seem craptacular and I squashed that plan ... Right Now, I have my dad on plan B - Looking for another exit/entry access into our house. Our backdoor is a sliding glass door - Makes it hard to really use as another exit/entry way... But I am hoping that there is a way ... Then there will be strict orders for BIL and E to leave/come through the back door in the mornings. If not, I may be remodeling and putting in new doors because I just can't figure out what else is left to do.

Honestly, We have never been a "shhhh the baby is sleeping" household. MT adjusted to noise quite fine and I liked it that way. I am not used to having a light sleeper. So this is really new/weird to me.

I also would like to thank the eye teeth that we have coming in, and the developmental stage we seem to be in also. He is showing me more and more things he can do every moment. So I know his lil mind is just full of new stuff to show me. I have noticed that his sleeping gets really out of whack with teething and when he is about to hit new milestones. So Maybe my over abundance of hormones are kicking in and making me antsy over my lack of sleep and lessened ability to go with the flow .... I just get tired of hearing my parents tell me "he will sleep in unto 8:45-9am at our house, you should just leave him here" ...... OH it makes me want to leave him over there alright!

19 comments:

Kim said...

I've been slacking on the commenting, but have you thought about trying a noise machine or even just a fan in his room to block out the noise a bit? I keep the fan in the bathroom next to M's room on all of the time because she's such a light sleeper.

Jill Tice said...

What a little stinky pants. :o)

I agree with the white noise suggestion. Hey, it can't hurt!

Josie will hang in her crib (Thankfully!) until we come and get her which is usually around 6:30. She too won't eat right away so she gets some milk. I have found that a 9:00 nap is good and she usually wakes up around 11:00. Then it is more milk and lunch then play until 3:00 or 4:00 then down for another nap until dinner then back down between 8:30 and 9:00. But I can tell you that if Tanner wakes her up, all hell breaks loose in her world and we are messed up, so back to the white noise. :o)

Not that any of that helps you, but it is our routine. :o(

HereWeGoAJen said...

Ergh. I hope that Plan Backdoor works. Otherwise maybe E and BIL can move to your parents' house. ;)

Oooh, it is an omen! My word verification is wayin. Your dad will find a way in through the back door!

Amanda said...

Yuck. Dave is going to be working 6p - 6 a starting in about 2 weeks. He is not a quiet person. And I work 8 - 5. This could suck. I think I will be feeling your pain soon.

Anonymous said...

Hi Farah!

I totally agree with the white noise. We have a humidifier that we use -- we just don't fill up the water tank -- and we turn it on high for the noise.

As for sleeping, it sounds like MT gets plenty! My sweetpea gets about 14 hours of sleep a day -- down at 7:30 pm and up at 6:30 am; 1 hour nap from 9-10 and then a 2 hour nap from 2-4 -- so about 14 hours total per day.

Sleep issues truely suck, and I wish you the best as you try to figure this out!!

Studentrntiffany said...

I hope you get your sleep schedule back!!

Best of luck!!

Anonymous said...

I don't know if men get it, ever. I hope you can figure out a way to keep them quiet.

Unknown said...

hopefully you guys can find a solution... or like another reader said.. send the men to your parents :) Ha!

Anonymous said...

Im sorry MTs sleep has been so crazy lately. If it makes you feel any better we appear to be in the same boat as Lemy is learning to run and also getting like a million teeth too. Ugh! ((many hugs)) and hopes that MT starts sleeping more soundly soon!

Courtney said...

Struggling with sleep schedules is just not any fun at all. We were using a humidifier for awhile because E needed one, and I found that just that bit of noise seemed to cause less interruptions during sleep/nap times.

Crossing my fingers that you find the perfect solution!

Adriane said...

OMG! We are so "shhhhh, babies are sleeping" here. These girls drive me bananas!

I wish I had some advice. White noise may help....also, what about room darkening shades? I'm certainly no expert - my girls only sleep about 12 hrs total each day. :-( Hope this phase is over soon - perhaps it really is due to the teething??

Geohde said...

Oh, it's tough when sleep goes a bit pear. I hope things pick up soon, and you find a good solution. I heart my sleep.

g

Cibele said...

lyla's sleeping schedule went crazy between 13 -15 months. I was going crazy , then she went back to a normal schedule. I hope it gets better, you both need some rest

A New Beginning said...

I agree that I cannot stand when my parents say "oh, well she did not get up until 8 at our house". All I can think then, is that they have gotten her schedule all screwed up, and not she is not going to go to bed when she is supposed to that night.

I agree with the white noise or fan. Maybe that would help.

Good luck!

christina(apronstrings) said...

Have you read "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child"? I hate to be that person! But it really did change my life and Cate's. I used his techniques-a very kind CIO-, got room darkening shades and put her to sleep three times a day at the same time. Period. She goes to sleep on her own now. She'll reach for the crib when we walk into her room. We also use a heartbeat bear-but it is on a timer so that wouldn't work. That book suggests white noise makers-even an old radio on a non-station.
Just to give you an 'out' if you want one : ) I am a proponent of CIO (not the stereotyped let baby scream for an hour CIO). Next to food -nothing is more important than sleep to a baby. You know .Cate cried and cried for three days (about 10 mins every-time I put her down) Sometimes now she'll lightly fuss but that's seldom.
Ok, seriously someone stop me with all the assvice.
No matter what I hope it works out.
xoxox

Mazzy said...

Everyone else has already suggested it, but I would try a noise maker, too. I have a sleep sheep in L's crib that I can crank up quite loud and it drowns out all background noises. My best friend uses a loud box fan for her daughter and another friend I know uses white noise CDs. I hope you can find a solution... baby needs sleep and dangit mommy needs that time while baby sleeps!
*hugs*

Kristen said...

I feel ya, girl. Nate's teething has really screwed up his sleep ever since he learned how to STTN. He'll typically sleep 10-12 hours at night (waking up once during the night sometimes). Then he'll have 1-2 hours of naps during the day. So, about 12-14 hours of sleep a day. I think the noise machine is a good idea. Hopefully, that will help drown out some of the commotion. (((HUGS)))

Searching said...

He is getting so big! It's both wonderful and not wonderful that he runs and is now a toddler who will get into everything. ;) Sorry to hear about the GD, but I know you will do whatever you have to. VERY happy to hear A's heart is just perfect!

tryingin2007 said...

the subject of sleep. UGH!
I got tired just reading this post (and I'm not even pregnant.)

our house is in utter turmoil now because of lack of sleep -- all of us! when dd does nap I get so jealous.

go for the white noise! the ocean is brilliant.