Desparate for Sleep

I cannot believe I am writing this when my kids are 17 months old. You'd think we'd have the sleep thing down by now. And we did, for a little while. But it has been literally months since I have gotten two nights in a row when the kids (mostly DD) has not woken up during the night. Sometimes she'll go back to sleep easily and sometimes, like last night, it takes her two(!) hours to get back. And it's not like she wants to play or anything; she is really trying to go back to sleep.

Bedtime was always between 6:00 and 6:15 with a regular routine that has not changed. I have tried Motrin before bed (in case of teething), tried pushing bedtime earlier (5:15-5:30), pushing it later (6:30), pushing it much later (7:00, DH's suggestion which is completely not working and he won't admit it). I don't know what else to try.

Any ideas/suggestions are appreciated. I am going to pass out from exhaustion if I don't figure something out soon. Working full-time, taking grad school classes, running a household, etc, with no sleep is just not working out for me.

Regards,
Esther

 

I cannot believe I am writing this when my kids are 17 months old. You'd think we'd have the sleep thing down by now. And we did, for a little while. But it has been literally months since I have gotten two nights in a row when the kids (mostly DD) has not woken up during the night. Sometimes she'll go back to sleep easily and sometimes, like last night, it takes her two(!) hours to get back. And it's not like she wants to play or anything; she is really trying to go back to sleep.

Bedtime was always between 6:00 and 6:15 with a regular routine that has not changed. I have tried Motrin before bed (in case of teething), tried pushing bedtime earlier (5:15-5:30), pushing it later (6:30), pushing it much later (7:00, DH's suggestion which is completely not working and he won't admit it). I don't know what else to try.

Any ideas/suggestions are appreciated. I am going to pass out from exhaustion if I don't figure something out soon. Working full-time, taking grad school classes, running a household, etc, with no sleep is just not working out for me.

Regards,
Esther

 

Maybe it's molars coming in. Hang in there. If it were me, I'd stick with the Motrin at bedtime for a while and maybe even Orajel gums before bed.

Hang in there.

Crystal

 

Awww! few things are worse than lack of sleep

Tell us a little more. . .
like what time do they get up? Naptime{s}?

 

We transitioned to one nap officially within the last few weeks. On really tired days, I try putting DD in for a morning nap but she does not take it. They usually go in for their nap around 11:30 or 12:00, after lunch. DS always takes a better nap than DD, usually 2 hours. DD is notorious for her 45 minute naps but has been getting a little bit better, sometimes between 1 hour 15 and 1 hour 45. They get up for the day between 6:30 and 7:00 but I find that when DD has a particularly bad night, like last night, she wakes up earlier.

Regards,
Esther

 

I don't have any good advice, just a few
I keep thinking I'm doing so much better with my attitude about everything, and then I get bad sleep for a few days and everything seems unbearable. Hang in there!

 

That's the thing. I have really become a very optimistic, positive person and, when I am exhausted, not only do I feel like a depressed sloth, I can't motivate myself to get anything done. Also, I feel so badly for DD because she is really trying to get herself back to sleep when she wakes up at these times. It's not as if she wants to play or anything. I think she is crying more out of frustration than anything else.

Regards,
Esther

 

I'm voting on the molars too. Have you looked in her mouth? It could even be her canine teeth coming. I know it is taking Grace forever to get her molars all the way in. She does the same thing you described and it is random now. She'll sleep ok for two days and then be up 2-3 times a night for the next four. I feel your pain. Motrin doesn't always work and honestly I don't know what else to tell you other than this too shall pass. I know it's hard. I think she is having a growth spurt too because she recently increased her food intake tremendously. Good luck.

Angela

 

Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. Mine are a month younger than yours and my DD does the same thing. Last night she slept through and I woke up panicked b/c I thought the monitor was broken. She never sleeps through the night. One thing that I think has helped is to never pick her up. I will stand next to the crib and say "shhhhhh" while I brush her hair with my hand. This usually helps her calm down enough to fall back asleep. Also, does your DD have a cuddle type item? Mine loves her blanket and binky and she will soothe herself with those much more often now that she is a bit older I've noticed.

 

Esther, So sorry you are going through this, but it WILL PASS. At least it did with mine. I remember it felt like I had them on a great schedule and then around 15 months they started getting all out of whack again. The Dr said molars and by about 20 months things were back to normal again. Is there anyone who could come over for a day and give you a break. Just a complete mommy day? You could use it to sleep, do a hobby, etc. Send an SOS out to maybe mom or hubby? Had to use that little icon, too cute. Even if the advice is terrible...at least you might get a smile from the smiley man. Anyways, I would try and get a day each week you can try and unwind even if for just an hr. You could even stay at home and have someone come over to keep an eye on them while they play or something? Good luck and hang in there. Mandy

 

Thanks for the support! I am sorry for anyone else going through this but it is good to know that I not alone. She actually went through the night last night without me. DS woke up and I know he is cutting a tooth so I gave him Motrin and nursed him. While we were in the glider, I heard her and knew she was awake but she did not seem to care I was there. There was no crying or anything. She just put herself back to sleep. As much as I don't want her to be in pain, I would prefer it be the molars and know that it will pass, as you guys say, rather than just her becoming a bad sleeper. Since I did get some actual sleep, I think I'll get on the elliptical for a little while.

Thanks everyone!

Regards,
Esther