We seem to have hit a beautiful milestone that I didn't think would ever arrive.At five weeks old, my precious bundle of joy began sleeping long stretches at night with no interruptions. Almost every night would find her sleeping a little bit longer at a go and her Mama and Daddy rejoiced with their amazingly gifted child.
We were prepared for a downturn in the sleeping to come around month four, which is truly did. In reading different parenting sites and advice blogs I heard about the Wonder Weeks. According to this research, there are 8 key times in your baby's development when their sleep patterns (and practically everything else they do) are affected by what is currently developing in their brains. Week 16 is one of the main spurts. Basically, their brain is on overdrive and their bodies can't quite keep up! Sometimes it causes extra sleep and other times it keeps them awake at all hours.
Randall recovered a few weeks later and started sleeping heartily again. Until the six month stint hit along with her deciding to push out a bunch of teeth. From six months until very recently, baby girl had a rough time sleeping. As all parents know from the start, sleep is a precious commodity to be treasured at every turn. We had some nights where she would wake every 5-10 minutes for up to two hours and other nights it was once an hour all night long. She always went to bed very easily but fussing would ensue at any time.
There were colds and changes in her schedule, travel and lots of teething. We did a bit of cry-it-out, a bit of rock-it-out and a bit of please-God-make-her-sleep. I think we had resigned ourselves to the fact that we would never get a full night's sleep again.
However, something must have finally clicked in her head. My girl is healthy, happy and once again sleeping like a champ for 12 hours straight, in spite of another tooth popping out at the moment. Her Mama and Daddy are so proud, knowing that we can really take none of the credit. (also knowing that it could change at a moment's notice.)
Darn it, this kid is the best.
7 comments:
Yeah!! So cute :)
Awesome! I hope the good sleeping lasts for a long time- like till she's 18!
oh WHEW! I'm so glad, Anne!!! Sweet dreams to you and Andy. :)
Okay, week 16, huh...?? oh dear...
Yes, we don't take big chunks of sleep for granted anymore!
Seems like as soon as you get used to it, that is the minute it gets taken back :(
Stinkers they are! But so sweet!
My son just went through the 6 month sleep disruption. No fun! It was always a case of "hold me and I'll be happy." Thankfully, he's back to sleeping 12 hours straight again. Until the teeth start making an appearance, I'm sure!
Enjoy your sleep!
happy sleeping to all!!!
We just went through tough naps with both kids at about 13 months - One day i watched him cry for 45 minutes then fall over, asleep, from exhaustion. After about 2 week he quit. My daughter... would only lay down if we were in the room so I got some R & R with my feet in her room and my head in the hallway. She just completed a "crib gynmastics" class where she'd jump, throw, crawl, play etc. for 60 minutes prior to sleep. I might need this "Wonder Weeks" book...
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