That Sleeping Thing

While we were in Belleville for 2 nights Charlotte actually slept really well. When we came home, however, there was hell to pay for disturbing her precious routine. For the first few nights back she was up every hour or so. Ahhhhhhhhh. The only good part of all this was it became quite clear that although the acid reflux meds have solved the 7:30 to midnight waking/puking problem, the midnight to 7:00 am waking/crying/needing to be held problem was mostly related to a need to feel secure.

So, we decided on a 1-2-3 punch experiment. We put milk back in her diet (she was really, really missing yogurt), started watering down her middle of the night bottle(s), and put a double mattress on the floor of her room so that one of us can sleep with her. Why not just move her in to our room? There are a couple of reasons (1) she is a very restless sleeper and whenever we’ve tried 3 in the bed it just hasn’t worked, and (2) this way at least one parent gets a good night’s sleep.

ANYWAY, I am both pleased and bummed to report that it is working. We put her down in her crib for the first part of the night, and she is fine with that. By 3:00, however someone has to move in with her. It is a little like musical beds, but here’s why I’m pleased: Pre-midnight wakings have remained down at only one quick hug. She still wakes between 11:30 pm and midnight for a bottle, but now that we are watering it down she is drinking less and less and getting back to sleep more quickly. There is usually one to 2 other wake ups, around 3:00 am and 5:30 or so, but with someone there she settles within 10 minutes or so. This is a lovely change from the previous model where she would stay awake for the 2 hours between 3:00 and 5:00!!

Our shift work plan is also working really well (for me anyway.) During the week Steve does the pre-midnight wake ups, and I am on second shift. On the weekends we switch. It has actually become a bit of a game around midnight. For example, on Thursday night she woke up at 11:30, but last night it was 12:30! When we hear her now we both leap up and eagerly look at the clock to see who will need to drag their sorry ass out of the nice, warm bed. There is usually an “Aw man,” and a “Ha, ha, your turn!” that follows.

This is not my idea of a perfect night’s sleep. But hell, I feel soooooooooo much more rested than before. And you know what? If this is what Charlotte needs right now to feel comfortable, then I’m happy to do it. She won’t need us to sleep with her when she is 16, after all. Right? Right?!!!

Naturally, she is still waking up happy as ever. Her favourite game in the morning is to have someone play "This little piggy" on her toes. This photo shows AJ at work!