You know our first slept thru the night at 9weeks old and while always
being extremely difficult to get to sleep once asleep slept a minimum of
12 hours. We thought we were great parents (even though we had not done
anything to get her to sleep that long)! Then we had number two...
My partner says this child did not sleep for a full night before he was
7 years old. He is 13 now and at any time through the night you can
whisper to him and he will answer you, he is such a light sleeper,
afraid of the dark etc. The first 11 months he had reflux and was
difficult to breastfeed (my initial let down was very fast). He cried
all the time but it wasnt until his second year that sleep deprivation
became a big issue. Maybe the first year caught up with us...I think the
first year it was clear that he cried for a reason and i was always
trying to comfort him, luckily I never felt angry towards him. My
partner and i fought furiously over the next few years on who to deal
with his sleep...we did a study where his oxygen levels were monitored
all night and we had to watch him and write down when he moved was
restless etc. My partner did this and he said he never got a chance to
be bored because our son never stopped moving. His o2 levels never
signficantly dropped. He was constantly trying to get into bed with us
and my partner was in a mode of putting him back in his bed. This was
exhausting and could be every hour or two with him then upset and having
to calm him etc etc. When I fell pregnant with our third child I stood
my ground and insisted our second stay in bed with us. After a few
months i worked at making him welcome and set up a bed on the floor next
to us, we got some sleep and life got better. i started to make him less
comfy in bed, squashing him to the edge a bit so he was still welcome
and had a cuddle but the bed on the floor became more comfy! Life
definitely got better and my partner realised I was right (as usual!!).
He is better if he is in with a sibling, have you tried putting them
both in the same bed? My sister took her son when he was a small baby to
a chiropractor, he was showing similar behaviour to my son, whatever the
chiro did made a big difference so I would recommend a chiro or even
better an osteopath just to assess your daughter (if you can afford it).
I know everyone says it will get better you will end up getting sleep
but at the time it doesnt feel that way. It is true though, one day you
will be giving support advice to a mother remebring it rather than
living it. Good luck, the main thing I regret looking back is not taking
him to a chiro or osteopath and that I spent wasted years and using up
my limited energy level trying to 'make' him sleep in his own bed. I
really like Pinkys meditation for kids ideas also cd player and music is
worth a try
Belinda
Kate &/or Nick wrote:
Can anyone point me in a direction for 3yo sleep issues?
Mine has always been a bad sleeper but she has got worse in the last year
(with the transition from a cot?). Between the 2 of them (6yo, but 90% Miss
3), I would consider it a good night if I am up 4 times for 20 mins each
time. Bad nights are at least every hour. I'm starting to find that by 6pm I
am exhausted and far too crabby - and so are they. Going to bed isn't a
problem.
Sometimes I go to the crying (last night was 7 times in one hour, plus four
other blocks) but mostly it seems to have no effect. At times I don't think
she even realises I'm there and I can't get through to her. Others she'll
settle, but within 3 minutes, she starts again. Others she'll insist on
coming to my room. Sometimes I don't go in, and she will eventually come to
me.
We have a mattress on the floor right next to me, which is used every night.
It usually doesn't alter the wakenings (but it makes my life a bit easier).
I have slept in her room, with no effect.While my eldest was away in the
school holidays (6 nights), I slept in her room, right next door to Miss 3.
The last couple of nights I was only woken briefly 2-3 times a night, but
that has happened in the past and wasn't enough for me to think it was
anything more than a temporary aberration. It returned to normal with her
sister's return - even though I slept on a mattress outside their rooms.
Being close to me (and she is a definite Mummy's girl) just doesn't seem to
be the solution.
The issue is coming to a head because my husband has had an amazing ability
to sleep through it. He will sometimes wake at 4 or 5 to find me in tears
and has no idea why - usually that I have been up all night and haven't yet
been to sleep. However, for the last month, for some reason, it has been
waking him. So he is at breaking point and telling me we need to do
something.
I'm concerned about heading off to a sleep guru because I have no intention
of locking her in her room - and that's what it will take to keep her in her
room. But it won't stop the crying which I know can go on for hours (and I
can't sleep through it).
The sleep discussion has focussed on infants - but what about older
children? Can anyone give me ideas/point me towards something?
Many thanks
Kate
----- Original Message -----
From: "Barbara Glare & Chris Bright" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 9:46 PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Infant Sleep - UPDATE
Hi,
If you are interested in Elizabeth Pantley's No Cry Sleep Solution, you can
hear her speak at ABA seminars in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and
Adelaide from March 2nd-7th 2006. It's going to be fabulous - heaps of
other great speakers, too. I'd love to be able to direct you to the website
so you can register straight away......but I can't. It's not finished yet.
The brochures will be out soon, so I'll keep you informed. For ABA
subscribers and LRC subscribers, you will get information in Essence and
Breastfeeding Review. The seminars are open to all midwives, mothers,
health professionals of all types, esp those with a passion for
breastfeeding.
Barb
----- Original Message -----
From: "JoFromOz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 3:21 PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Infant Sleep - UPDATE
Thanks so much to everyone who replied with advice and well wishes.
Just thought I'd write a short update on our progress. I have 3 days left
of my non-dairy diet ... I haven't really noticed a change in Will's skin,
or daytime naps, but the nights have been a little better the last 2 or 3.
I have read "The No-Cry Sleep Solution" and began implementing strategies
on Friday. I logged our wakings Thursday night, and they equalled 13...
11 of which I had to actually do something about.
The strategy basically involves removing the suck-to-sleep association
ever so slowly, so that they get used to not having to suck to sleep, and
therefore don't expect to still be sucking on anything when they slightly
rouse in the light sleep phase. I have been waiting until he is almost
asleep and removing the dummy, so the last thing he remembers before going
to sleep is not having anything in his mouth.
It has been working for night sleeps - he goes from about 10:30/11:00pm
till 3. HEAVEN! He then joins us in our bed, where we sleep fairly well,
on and off the breast, until about 7am. He feeds till almost asleep, then
pulls off himself and turns his head away.
Daytime naps need work, but I need to be patient :)
So, things are looking up, and there is no CIO or any other horrible mean
or nasty strategies. As Pinky says, Gently With Love.
Thanks again people!
Love Jo
--
This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics.
Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
--
This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics.
Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
--
This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics.
Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
--
This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics.
Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
