Sleep(or lack there of) and sanity, head to head. In a battle that will seemingly NEVER end. Which will win? Why are these two forces at battle? It seems as though only to test mom’s and dad’s patience, to see who is the most dedicated, at the sake of their own sanity and sleep.
With endless attempts to get baby into a sleep groove where she will be able to soothe herself to sleep, and not need parental intervention, parents are nearing the breaking point. With baby girl waking up multiple times at night, or not going to bed until after 11, SOMETHING needs to be done.
With this power struggle in mind, mom takes to the bedroom with munchkin in arms, and rocks until baby is drowsy. Baby is squirmy at first, but mom stands up and rocks until the eyes are shut. Proceeding to put baby down, baby is awoken, and shhh shhh shhh’s proceed to fill the room.
At first baby squirms about while mom’s hand is on chest, but while the gate closes, she makes it to a standing position, but mom, armed with the powerful shhh shhh shhh’s keeps baby from flexing the crying pipes. Mom just lays down patiently next to the crib. Eventually baby sits down, and yet no crying, but still will not lay down. Mom still shhh shhh shhhing, puts a hand through the crib slats, and baby sees, and grabs mom’s fingers. She lays down!
With the powerful shhh shhh shhh’s, mom feels like she will finally break up the battle between sleep and sanity, and as baby gets in her comfortable sleeping position and ACTUALLY closes her eyes. The rough part ensues when baby starts to whimper. This is the toughest part, since mom is weak against these cries, and the shhh shhh shhh’s are having to work harder.
Baby whimpers, baby squirming, but eyes shut and in the sleeping position, any moment now she will fully relax and just sleep. It’s tough to get used to a new way of sleeping when used to being rocked to sleep, so yes, baby will cry in the struggle of sleep and sanity, but prevailing through the rough patch is a MUST!
Right when baby seems as though she will give in and just sleep, dad comes, and mom shews him away, but he can’t take it a second longer, so he rushes in and proclaims he can not take the “crying” anymore, and is “coming to the rescue.” Baby wasn’t actually crying, and was so shocked about the whole thing she wakes up and sits up.
All that shhh shhh shhing, for about an hour, WASTED. Baby and daddy playing, and mommy tells daddy “you’ve just earned the job of ALWAYS putting baby to bed by yourself, because mom QUITS!”
Alas, the power struggle continues on. Mom knows exactly how it can be won, but dad doesn’t believe in any amount of discomfort. Dad will have to figure it out on his own, or at least until he breaks down and tells mom he’s sorry, and that he will not EVER interfere again.
~Hale Mom
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Been there done that! Not too willing to go there again. I became a fan of the cry till you’re blue in the face but Momma’s turning off the monitor method. It only took about 3 days before she got the message and she would only cry for about 20 minutes before she gave up each night. And of course hubby’s hand was firmly installed on my arm to keep me from jumping up and going to her aid. It’s harder on Mom to let them just work it out for themselves, but they will. Now I can’t get her out of her crib. She gets mad when I try to take her out.
Have a great Easter weekend!!!!
Ah how familiar! I am with Joy – eventually just letting them cry it out (with periodic…like every 30 minute checks) does the trick, and it’s better for everyone. Both my kids took 3 days or less this way, and it actually leads to happier and healthier kids and parents. Lack of sleep is not healthy for anyone!
With that, I will admit that letting your baby cry and cry until they finally fall asleep is like torture to a parent. I often cried along with the baby =( But, if you keep in mind that it is for everyone’s health, safety, and sanity, you will get through it.
Just tell Daddy to go out with the boys for a few nights while you take care of business =)