The battle is on.
Nolan doesn't want to sleep. He's never been a good sleeper, really, but he's generally been quick to go back down when he wakes up in the middle of the night, and has, at least half of the time, napped OK. Sometimes even in his bed. . .
Lately, though, there is a war raging. between 4 & 5 every morning he wakes up and doesn't want to go back to sleep. He ends up in our bed with us after about an hour of fussing, and often sleeps on his father's chest for the next couple of hours. On days I work from home, he is a mess. As long as I'm looking him in the eye and playing with him, great. But if I look away for more than 30 seconds. . . He becomes the king of whine.
There are very few things in this wold that I despise more than a whining kid. It's a little bit better when it's my own kid. . . but only a little bit. It is all I can do sometimes not to yell "WHAT?!" at him. And I mean ALL I can do.
The thing is, he's tired. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see what all of the eye rubbing means. The problem is, he won't go to sleep! He fights it. It ranges from whining in the morning to screaming in the evening, with varying degrees in between. He has little patience for any form of distraction. It only takes 5-10 minutes before he is decidedly done. And though the fact that he can roll across the floor now is exciting to him, he sort of picks a direction (usually toward the television) and will only roll that way. Which means he gets stuck a lot. Usually up against the entertainment center.
All of this adds up to parents who are particularly exhausted, and therefore lacking in patience (at least in my case), and a baby too stubborn to just crash. I am officially ready for some cry-it-out sleep training. . . but as we'll be at my parent's house for the weekend, I'm not sure if I have it in me to try in on a week night.
4.5 months of this is plenty. I have to get a good night's sleep. Otherwise, I may snap.
(and yes, I sense the irony in the fact that my sleeplessness is also causing me to whine. I'm done now. Sorry)
Nolan doesn't want to sleep. He's never been a good sleeper, really, but he's generally been quick to go back down when he wakes up in the middle of the night, and has, at least half of the time, napped OK. Sometimes even in his bed. . .
Lately, though, there is a war raging. between 4 & 5 every morning he wakes up and doesn't want to go back to sleep. He ends up in our bed with us after about an hour of fussing, and often sleeps on his father's chest for the next couple of hours. On days I work from home, he is a mess. As long as I'm looking him in the eye and playing with him, great. But if I look away for more than 30 seconds. . . He becomes the king of whine.
There are very few things in this wold that I despise more than a whining kid. It's a little bit better when it's my own kid. . . but only a little bit. It is all I can do sometimes not to yell "WHAT?!" at him. And I mean ALL I can do.
The thing is, he's tired. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see what all of the eye rubbing means. The problem is, he won't go to sleep! He fights it. It ranges from whining in the morning to screaming in the evening, with varying degrees in between. He has little patience for any form of distraction. It only takes 5-10 minutes before he is decidedly done. And though the fact that he can roll across the floor now is exciting to him, he sort of picks a direction (usually toward the television) and will only roll that way. Which means he gets stuck a lot. Usually up against the entertainment center.
All of this adds up to parents who are particularly exhausted, and therefore lacking in patience (at least in my case), and a baby too stubborn to just crash. I am officially ready for some cry-it-out sleep training. . . but as we'll be at my parent's house for the weekend, I'm not sure if I have it in me to try in on a week night.
4.5 months of this is plenty. I have to get a good night's sleep. Otherwise, I may snap.
(and yes, I sense the irony in the fact that my sleeplessness is also causing me to whine. I'm done now. Sorry)
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6 comments:
I have some observations, realizations and epiphanies on the crying it out thing. Feel free to email me if you want to hear them...
At least your whiner is a cutie bug!
:) Small consolation, I know. My babe is currently, this very minute, fighting a nap as well. Boo.
I 100%, totally and completely think that lack of sleep is the hardest part of parenthood - if you and/or your child is tired EVERYTHING is harder. Sorry Mel - I feel for you and will send sleep vibes your way! :)
I think we have a whiner on our hands too -- and I think I may be to blame. I often also wonder how much 'accidental parenting' I may be doing. So, I feel your pain, and agree with emily -- having a cute whiner at least makes it a little easier to stomach!!
a little swig of alcohol.. knock him right out.
....aren't we glad i don't have children? :)
Emily, I'd love to hear your observations. I tried emailing you through BBC, but I'm sort of a dork and I'm not sure i did it right. You can find me at melaniewhess at gmail
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