I have just had one of those days. LO (14 weeks old) used to be an awesome sleeper, but about 3-4 weeks ago that changed all of a sudden. Now she fights naps, and if I'm lucky I can get her to take a couple 45 minute naps a day. Now she also fights bedtime. It takes an average of 1-1 1/2 to get her to fall asleep for the night. I don't have it in me to do CIO, and I've tried everything else we can think of. I know she's exhausted, but she refuses to go to sleep! And once she is asleep, she usually wakes 2-3 times as soon as I put her down, before she finally stays asleep. It's extrememly frustrating to me to feel like I'm doing something wrong, and that I can't help her. I feel like I spend such a big amount of our day together trying to get her to get the rest I know she needs, and I feel like I'm missing out. Tonight it finally became too much. She just wouldn't go to sleep, and became more and more fussy. I got so frustrated with her and myself that I had to just put her in her crib for a few minutes, shut the door, and walk away. And it made me feel horrible. I know she's too small still to understand, but she looked at me like she didn't understand why I was leaving her there and not helping her. After about 5 minutes, I went back in and rocked her and cried until she FINALLY fell asleep, because I felt so bad for getting frustrated with her. I just need to know that it's normal to feel like this sometimes, and that it will get better.
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It gets better! And it's totally normal to feel frustrated...
Baby sleep is so crazy and the smallest thing can affect/change it..Hang in there!
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Totally normal to get frustrated. And you did the right thing by stepping away for a few minutes to collect yourself. Sometimes what it takes to be a good parent is to just remove yourself from the situation for a little while. I hope your daughter's sleep improves really soon! Have you tried the 5 S's from the Happiest Baby on he Block? My baby fights sleep like crazy too, but the 5 S's work pretty well for us.
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So... is she teething maybe? I know that's the catch-all excuse but my LO is 14 weeks also. She started fighting naps HARD about a week ago. She would force herself awake all day and be a crabby mess and screaming all day. I finally checked her gums about 3 days ago and lo and behold, you could see the bumps on her bottom gum. After I started giving her meds for it regularly, she's back to napping MUCH better again.
Please don't feel bad because you needed to put her down and walk away. Babies feed off of emotion and when you're upset or angry, it makes her more upset. I don't know a mother who has not had to do that at one point or another. I've done it.
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This is all completely normal. I often say it is one step forward and ten steps back. It seems like there is one thing after another that features sleep: teething, growing, wonder week.
Around 12 weeks is a wonder week and that can mess with sleep.
As far as putting her down, we started that when my son was 7 days old. He cried constantly in our arms or not and we eventually just had to take a break.
We have gotten to the point ( I felt like you in that I spent all my time on sleep) that daddy is in charge of sleep. And he sleeps with us (reverse cycle).
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Totally normal, if she was a good sleeper before, chances are she'll get back to it. There is so much going on for babies between growth spurts, wonder weeks, sleep regressions, and teething that it often seems to all fall apart. Just accept that things will be different for a bit, but it's just a stage!
And I second the 5 S's from Happiest Baby on the Block.
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Oh my god, I get SO frustrated with our baby. At least once a week I think I end up stepping away when she's being fussy. Being a mom is so hard and I am constantly questioning what I'm doing. That's the hardest part for me - that theres no one way to do things. I just wish someone could just tell me what to do. One thing I have learned is that there are plenty of ups and downs, so just know that you're in a valley right now but things will get better - there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
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Thank you all! I'm feeling better today
@skibobrown: The 5 S's will help to calm her down, but they don't help her go to sleep. Or stay asleep for naps unfortunately. And it seems the closer she gets to sleep, the harder she fights!
@zippylef: I've actually considered that as well. She started drooling a few weeks ago but I still don't feel any teeth coming in. I tried giving her tylenol a couple of days to see if she was in pain, but it didn't seem to make a difference. What are you giving your LO?
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@jennylynn: We have teething gel (a UK brand), the Hyland's teething tablets and infant Tylenol. The Tylenol seems to make the most difference.
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Yes! Completely normal!!!! When I get really frustrated and I need to walk away (especially when it comes to LO's napping), I tell myself that LO is completely safe in his crib and that it is more than ok for me to take a few minutes to collect myself.
Like others have mentioned (and many people have reminded ME), babies change soooo much during their first year. You can't get too comfortable with a situation because they go thru so much development that can affect their sleep and disposition. Hang in there!
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