frustrated frustrated frustrated

[Colesmom]

Hi,

my nearly 5 month old DS did better last night.  Woke at 5:20 instead of 3 or 4 (had been waking on tummy)

I'm still having trouble distinguishing his cries.  His cry this morning seemed the same as the one yesterday 1 hour after a feed.  so i didn't think he was hungry.  Did shhh/pat and pupd for 35 minutes then decided he had to be hungry.  He's not yet fully on a four hour EASY, so I figured 11-6:00 am he must be hungry.  fed him, tried to put him back down.  he scooted around the crib...actually calmed and nearly fell asleep on tummy until he jolted...then cried.  he eventually went down at 6:50.  I know i'm supposed to wake him on schedule, but there is no way i was waking him up.  if he doesn't wake on his own at 7:30 i'll get him up.

How/when will i be able to know if he's just a 6am baby?  He's taken 45 minute naps for as long as I can remember and been waking through the night for about 6 weeks.  I have no idea what kind of sleep he's capable of.  Do I just continue to force him until 7am?  or just start his day early?  I know I'm supposed to be "setting his clock" but man, this is just the hardest part of the day.  get him up to feed, then try to make him sleep for 20 or so minutes sometimes.  It doesn't seem to make sense.

We've been working on his naps and he's getting better, but i still have to go in for the 40 minute jolt and yesterday i just couldn't get him back to sleep.  when i put him down for catnap, a train could have gone through his room and he wouldn't have woken. i banged the door going in because i had to wake him to feed and he didn't even flinch.

Now I'm just rambling.  When I'm doing pupd and in that 10 or so minutes when i sit with my hand on his back I have a thousand questions running through my head.  When i get on my pc it's like they've disappeared from my head.  do you think it could be the 6 weeks on 4 hours sleep catching up?  i'm about to cry, I have to go and get him up.

I know the book said it would be hard, but I didn't realize how hard.  I just wish I knew what he was trying to tell me :cry:

Please send encouragement soon!

Thanks

Traci

[marylou]

Hi again,

I PM'ed you but thought I would answer here too!  I know how you feel and I have EXACTLY the same thing happen to me...a thousand questions....and then they are gonzo before I can get them down..type them etc.............go figure!! 

I really think that I traumatized Jacob yesterday as he freaked out like never before when I had to pick him up this morning, only to put a new outfit under him..and put him back down...(like pu/pd??!!)...and he started to SHAKE and scream and kick like crazy....I almost cried......I am trying to keep calm and happy for him...but this is KILLING ME!!!

I am starting to think that I won't be trying to lengthen his naps anymore...whatever happens happens....I will keep him on 3hour easy and....see if he will consolidate on his own.........I feel like I am torturing him.........I know how you feel.

Hope you have a good day.!!!  Chin up and lots of hugs to you!

[Colesmom]

big hugs to you Marylou.

i tell you, this is almost harder than the first two weeks of his life.  at least then i didn't expect so much of myself as i was new to this mothering thing.  Now I doubt every step i'm taking, i'm tip-toeing around the house like it's a prison and spending half of my days next to his crib trying to get him to sleep and then to keep him sleeping.

I know in the long run it will be good for him. I read in another sleep book (gasp-yes, another book) that sleep issues are one thing that carry into toddler and childhood so it will be worth the investment in time, heartache and tears.  If they don't sleep through the night now...that habit will continue and will be harder to break.

Hopefully that will keep us both going for the next little while.

have a good one.

where are you?  it's pouring rain in Toronto today which isn't helping my mood. 

Traci

[marylou]

Hey Traci,

I am actually not too far from you.  I live in Whitby!!!  It is grey and gross here today too. 

I just got back from Chapters with Jacob and bought Tracy's first book!!

I want to learn more about his crying etc....

Good luck today!!!

P.S.  I have good news.....my DH is coming home today!!!!!!!!!!
YAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Colesmom]

I have a friend in Whitby, I'm there all the time.  I live in the East end of scarborough so we're probably about 15 minutes from each other!!!

My friend lives North of #2 and West of Garden....

feel free to PM your details...