This week, I feel totally unequipped as a parent.
We're trying really hard to get Jackson on a consistent schedule - particularly a bedtime routine. To date we've pretty much let him dictate, well, everything. But it's time to establish a more consistent routine. Kids need structure. I need structure. It's time for some structure.
Step one was moving him to his crib. That part was easy. In fact, the first night he slept 5 1/2 hours in one stretch. I thought we were golden. I was wrong. Since that night, he has progressively slept shorter and shorter stretches - leading us to last night where we saw every hour on the clock. Ouch.
We started the bedtime routine at 8:00 pm. Put on jammies, read books, nursed and then to bed. He woke up at 9:00 but was easily soothed back to sleep. He woke up again at 12:30. It had been 4 1/2 hours since his last feeding, so he ate and went right back to sleep. From then on we saw every hour. He would wake up crying but was not hungry. Once we picked him up he would fall asleep easily on our shoulder and go right back to bed. Only to wake up 45 minutes later and repeat. He's never been successful at putting himself to sleep - something I want him to learn so badly but have no idea how to teach him.
I've analyzed it to death. Maybe he needs to eat more during the day so he doesn't wake up hungry. Should I increase his ounces? We're very close to starting cereal - will that help fill his tummy and make him sleep longer? Maybe we need to shorten his morning nap. He's been drooling and chewing on his fist an extra lot lately - could he be teething already? He loves tummy to tummy contact - dare I break the "back to sleep" rule and put him on his tummy now that he has good head control? Maybe he's having a growth spurt. Maybe he's cold. Maybe it was just an off day.
I have no answers. And frankly, I'm tired of thinking about it. But most of all...I'm just tired.
1 comment:
Hey girl! We are battling some of the same things with Ashlyn, and she is 7 months, so it is good that you are starting now while he is younger. I would say try the cereal in the evening before bed. We did that with Ash, which I think helped some, but she still had her "off" nights. We let her sleep on her tummy, after seeing how much better and longer she sleeps in that position...I think we started that around 5 months or so (can't really remember). I would definitely have his ears checked, Ashlyn just got over her second ear infection in two months :( Those really suck, because just when you think you are making progress on routine, she ends up with a cold, ear infection, or both. Keep us posted on how things progress. We will be sending prayers your way :) Take care and tell Drew hello and give Jack a hug for us!
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