Let me break it down for you.... I'll underline all of the sleep crutches we need to break.
Since forever, she has been sleeping in her crib with the mattress propped up and in a tucker sling (so she doesn't slide to the bottom of the crib) because she has reflux. One day her naps started sucking majorly (20 minutes long) and I heard about Merlin's Magic Sleep Suit- it was a lifesaver. Her naps got better but then her night time sleep got worse (waking up 4-5 times per night). So I've been transitioning to two naps instead of three. Now her night time sleep is good and her naps are so-so, I'll take it.
The issue is, we need to start breaking all of these sleep crutches. I can't really have a one year old strapped into her crib and smashed into a sleep suit that doesn't fit her, right? So, I started lowering the mattress a little bit at a time and she was doing fine, reflux wise. Today I got crazy and decided to lower the mattress all the way, take out the sling and put her in a sleep sack instead of the magic suit.....all hell broke loose and I am not over exaggerating. She screamed like someone was torturing her for 10 minutes, got herself stuck in a corner, and started kicking off the side of the crib hitting her head on the other side of the crib. Steve and I went in to rescue her and she wouldn't stop crying until we took her out of the room. I broke down and put the sling back in but left the mattress flat. 10 minutes later we put her down again, in her magic suit, strapped in her tucker sling. She cried for 5 minutes and then fell asleep.
Why does my child like to be strapped into her crib?? And how the hell do I do I break these last two sleep crutches??
Baby #2 will be an awesome sleeper, right???
Sorry, I have no advice either but wanted to just say sorry to hear you guys are struggling a bit! :( I have just been thinking the past week about how to break Alidia's sleep crutches. For naps she has a pacifier and that is it (but want to break that soon) and then at night no pacifier but is swaddled still (want to break that soon). We keep trying to break both of these things but have no luck so I am no help at advice on breaking crutches! :/ We put Alidia down on her tummy for naps which she definitely prefers. I know this just adds a new crutch but what happens if you put her down already asleep from rocking or similar? Will she just wake up soon after and do the same? Wish I could help!!
ReplyDeleteWe got rid of the pacifier awhile ago and she actually did fine with that one, hopefully you won't have any problems! Emily is the type that has to put herself to sleep. She hasn't fallen asleep while rocking since she was pretty little. Thanks for the advice!
DeleteI've tried tummy and she just thinks that's play time and gets frustrated.
ReplyDelete:( I don't come bearing advice either, but just wanted to wish you good luck.
ReplyDeleteWe still have the pacifier and Taylor only naps WELL when in her carseat on the family room floor.
Babies are so confusing. Bah.
i did a double take when i saw baby #2... went through and read down and wow, amazing. as for the sleep issues... crutches are so hard. i'm not sure exactly what your set up looks like (can't visualize it) but with our girls when we transitioned out of the swaddles to the sleep sacs it took weeks. one arm out first for a week, then the next, very slowly. eventually they took to the sacs and we haven't looked back.
ReplyDeleteSleep trouble is AWFUL! I really feel for you. I don;t really have any advice for you either. I am sure you have already talked to the doctor to see if they could help. Shane does well at night (knock on wood) but still doesn't usually nap for more than a half hour during the day. Hopefully baby #2 (OMG!) is a fantastic sleeper. I have heard that after kids are walking they sometimes sleep better during the day because they get more tired. Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteI tried to take Piper out of her sleep suit the other day and NO luck, lol. You'll get there! and yes baby #2 will be a perfect sleeper!
ReplyDeleteOur daughter was the WORST sleeper. Hang in there! Before you know it, she'll be sleeping like a champ. It's just hard to see the finish line when you're in the middle of the race. : )
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure, but have you tried sleep training yet? If you check out the blog Troublesome Tots, there is some GREAT info there on it. I know it's not for everyone and I don't want to push anything on you, but it's worth considering if you're desperate. And as you know, I completely understand sleep troubles. We'll get to sleep again one day.
ReplyDeleteI have no advice. Avery still has a lovie, gets wrapped in a blanket and uses a paci.
ReplyDeleteThis is tough...you can either cut both out cold turkey completely or find a way to gradually wean her out of the sling and suit by making them looser/unzipping them more? It's so tough because you guys need your sleep and Emily needs hers as well, but the problem isn't going away that she can't be 18 and still needing to be "strapped in" to go to bed! Lol :-)
ReplyDeleteOur kiddos have sure been challenging when it comes to sleep, it has to be easier with #2. If anyone wins the most patient mommy award it's you Bridget! Hang in there!
Miss Emily!! You little stinker... you need to sleep for your mama!
ReplyDeleteI have no advice that is personally proven... my little guy has been an amazing sleeper since about 6 weeks. We've just never had to deal with him not wanting to sleep at night.
I guess if I were in your position, I would go cold turkey... it seems like there are a lot of factors that may be contributing - the sling, mattress, and sleep suit... all of which she shouldn't need at 8 months. It might be a painful couple of nights for you, but if you set the expectation that she won't have those things anymore when she goes to bed, she'll figure it out.
So sorry to hear about your sleepless nights :(
Well, my older daughter slept in a swaddle until she was almost 9 months old so I understand some of what you're going through. We took it away cold turkey. It was a rough 2-3 nights (we didn't do CIO, it was just hard for her to get to sleep because she had become used to the swaddle) but once it was done, it was done. She was able to get on her tummy and slept MUCH better (at the height of our sleep troubles, she was waking up every 45 minutes; I was almost insane). Now, a week away from 3 years old, she sleeps 11-12 hrs. every night and only wakes up when she is sick. She also takes a 2 hr. afternoon nap. Like you, I was hoping and praying that baby #2 would be a better sleeper. She is. She's still working out her sleep patterns but she's able to put herself to sleep and will take 2-3 naps a day (unlike my 3yo, whose naps were all over the place for the first 9 months).
ReplyDeleteI do hope that you find a solution. Sleep deprivation was horrible. I can only imagine how hard it must be while also dealing with pregnancy exhaustion. Hugs.
Just popping in to drop a word of encouragement. You're doing great. It's probably fine that Emily needs the sleep crutches. She won't forever, and you'll figure out how to wean her.
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