Monday, September 22, 2008

To Dream, the Impossible Dream!

I have never been a very smart mom when it comes to getting a baby on a schedule. When I had Maggie I kind of waited for a schedule to materialize. It never did. She ate, fussed, and napped when she wanted to and I just followed her lead. People would ask me when her nap-time was and I'd have to answer, "Heck if I know."

That worked fine for awhile (about a year) until it became apparent that she needed some consistency. Going to bed at night was the biggest problem. She stayed up until she started to lose it and then it was like herding cats to try and get her to sleep. We used the Sleepeasy Solution [endorsed by Jack Black and Conan O'Brien, two personal favorite funny people of mine] and finally had things straightened out.

But now I've got double trouble. Yes, I realize that these boys are just tiny personages. But they've hit the 10 pound mark (hip, hip, hooray!) and I've heard that at 10 pounds a person is capable of sleeping through the night with no snackies.  How on earth do you get to that point? I'm sure that some of you know [Sarah O. & Vhari--you definitely know... spill].  I've been feeling pretty awesome that my babies will eat at the same time as each other, but now I'm thinking that sleeping more would be super awesome.

Don't worry, I'm a loving mother and I'm not up for leaving these babies to fend for themselves all night, but if I could get me some sleep I'd be better equipped to deal with the day-time mayhem that is my life. 

I met a mother the other day who sat down and told me the exact times her 4 month old eats every day and that she puts her down for bed at 9:30 pm and doesn't hear from her again until 8:30 am.  What the? Lives like that really exist? For now, it's just a dream. An impossible dream.

13 comments:

Dan said...

That's a really good question. I've always wondered that too.

Kati said...

I too am SO SO bad with bed times!!! My sister is one of those crazy people that have EVERYTHING organized and set in stone for feedings and sleeping- and to me- it seems a little more stressful having to have your life revolve arounds such a tight schedule. So there is good in every situation!

Evenson Fam said...

The best sleeping book in the world is called "Healthy sleep habits, happy child." It is seriously a life saver. My kids go to bed at 7 every night and sleep for 12 hours. I love having a little time at night to actually talk to my hubbie.

Jennifer said...

Loved the herding cats video--so funny!! I don't have too much advice for reigning in Maggie at night. (When my kids were big enough to recognize numbers, I gave them clocks in their bedrooms and told them they couldn't come out in the morning until the first number was a 7.) My only "advice" for the babies is really just a "suggestion" since I've never actually tried this--it's just an idea. But if you are trying to get your boys to sleep a little longer (and eventually for 8 hours), you could try putting them off a little when they cry during the night. Start waiting 15 minutes before going in to feed them and just see if they go back to sleep. Then start making your "wait time" longer--20 minutes, 30 minutes. It might be hard at first, but it might pay off in the end. And, yes, you'll definitely be feeling better during the day when you can sleep more! (I'm pretty sure that I got kids who sleep well because I turn into Satan when *I* don't sleep well.) ha!

EmmaP said...

i just figured some kids were born to sleep and some weren't. Keenan slept through the night since day one and has always been a long sleeper; would sleep till noon if i let him. kadin used to fuss in the middle of the night cuz he was hungry. (guess who wtill gets into the pantry in the middle of the night?) And kienna can stay up with the best of them , sleep thru the night, and then wake up bright and early with bells on.

so if there's some sort of trick...well, news to me!

the fellers said...

haha, cat herding,,,too funny! But I do have to say, every baby is so different. I love a schedule, and scoty did so good with a schedule, he was pretty much sleeping through the night at like 2-3 months, and doing so well. Rylee, well it hasnt been so easy, and I dont feel like I have done anything different, at 5 months, she is just now starting to get the hang of sleeping longer at night....dont worry, it will come, every kid is different, you have to do what works best for you! I think you are doing great!

Rachel said...

Oh my gosh Meg's. I am literally splitting a gut from that video! Where do you find these things? Oh my...tears streaming down my face.....

Okay, your babies......getting them to sleep? EASY! Piece of cake! Feed them at about 9:30 P.M. drop them off at your mom's and tell her you'll see her nice and early at 8:30 the next morning!

Ems said...

I have absolutely no baby advice but Megan that cat herding video is hilarious!

cryst said...

Megs, my sister SWEARS by "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child". She has two little girls who both were in bed by 6:30 or 7:00 and slept until 7:00 the next day. She even had them on the same nap schedule (one was 2 1/2 when the other was born) so she could take a nap every day. I have a 12-week old, and I am WAITING ANXIOUSLY for the suggested four-month milestone so that I can teach her to sleep. Good luck--you're an amazing mom, Megs!

Jenae said...

I am also on the "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" band wagon. I asked a ton of people when Ethan was young since he woke up so many times in the night. And it hasn't necessarily been an all-time cure all but I use it as my guide when things get rough or I have questions and it has always helped. We started giving Ethan a bath every night around 7pm to establish a bed time routine, when we wanted his bed time to be and eventually he settled into the early bedtime and now sleeps 12 hours (I don't think he slept through the night until he was 8 or 10months though, which is not very encouraging for you I am sure). The biggest thing I learned from the book, though it is counter-intuitive, is that the EARLIER you put your child to bed, the LONGER they sleep! Has totally worked for us.

Camille said...

Megan, I am Dan's friend from High School. Gee, I hope he'd still claim me as a friend... anyway I saw your comment on Chaci's blog and skipped over here to see just how hilarious you are. I was not disappointed! That clip was hilarious! I am only imagining your mayhem. Go you! My kids were both over ten pounds like day three of their lives (ok, maybe week two) but they both still enjoyed a little snack or four during the night, so that lady who painted such a pretty picture... I don't believe they exist! Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Count me on the "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" train too. Dr. Weissbluth is a pediatrician and has studied sleep for like 30 years, so I felt a lot more comfortable letting our baby cry it out in the methods he recommends, knowing he'd studied it in depth. And boy oh boy - it saved us. I love the schedule because I think it's better for our baby as well as us. It definitely takes backbone though to stick with it. Good luck! And thanks for sharing the cat herding video. I used that for a presentation years ago, and it's still funny every single time.

K said...

If I had a buck for every time I've said, "If I could just get some sleep," and a buck for every time I've heard it, I'd be so rich, I'd sleep like a baby.

Oh - wait -

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