Dealing with Light Sleeper
Read MG’s post about ways of putting babies to sleep. I did ALL the wrong things mentioned by books, and will carry, rock, nurse or just anything to put Justin to sleep.
When Justin was a newborn, I had to nurse him on demands, and he’s a frequent eater. After each feed, he’d poo and I needed to clean him up. By the time everything is done, and he fell asleep for a while, then he’s up feeding again. This cycle has to repeat itself every 1.5 - 2 hourly. I was really tired and complaint to hubby and my paed that Justin just won’t sleep!!!
The only one who’s really cool about this is my MIL who has lots of experiences with babies. She told me that my hubby who’s born premature had digestion problem, and would throw up his milk at every feeding. It’s a lot of work to do, and hubby also refused to sleep because he might be hungry or just not feeling well. MIL and FIL would take turns to carry and rock him at night, without sarong cradle or pacifier. Then, at 6am she needed to prepare breakfast for the whole extended families while FIL needed to go to work. She said it’s normal to have a difficult baby, and most babies will grow up healthily and things will get better. That’s what keep me shut my mouth from complaining and “cherish” every waking moment I had with Justin.
She’s right, things really got better. Now at 15 months old, Justin still wakes up a few times at night, but with some patting, comforting, singing, or maybe a night feed, he is able to fall back to sleep. I’m still yet to have a night which I can sleep thru like a pig (not baby lah), but I find that I feel so much better about the condition.
Of coz, some people will try everything to make their babies sleep thru the night, like let them cry until tired, feed water but not milk, give some chinese medicine, etc, so the carer can sleep well too. I didn’t try any of those.
I know in a few more weeks, I maybe going through the whole sleepless process again. But I told myself it’s part of motherhood. And at least this time I’m more experienced, not kelam kabut like before.
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March 29th, 2006 at 9:42 pm
yeah lor… until now my son still switch his sleeping schedule… me end up like Panda only
March 29th, 2006 at 9:53 pm
Egghead, you get up or J get up?
Don’t worry lah, next time we’ll miss all this moment.
March 29th, 2006 at 10:42 pm
True to say, we have to endure with the different phases a baby is going thru. It’s definite no easy job raising and taking care of a child esp. when there’s nobody around to help.
I had my bad days too when Destinee was a baby. She was indeed a difficult baby. It was exactly like what ur MIL went thru except for the making of breakfast. The thought of it makes me shudders now.
As days past, she was a lot better and now she sleeps thru the nite but not without me waking every now and then to check on her. So, *we can shake hands*, I still have yet to have a nite which I can sleep thru like a pig which I really miss (heehee, unless I go for a trip without her which I’m planning to do so).
March 30th, 2006 at 12:09 am
Wah.. you are so cool about it.. but I guess it’s part of being a mother loh.
In the beginning when Zara was an infant.. I really got very depressed. I used to sleep from 11pm till 8am daily.. Must have 8hrs sleep at least, or else I’ll go very grouchy. When Zara came, I can’t even sleep 3hrs straight. I almost broke down! Thn Daddy help with one feed, so I can at least have 6hrs uninterrupted sleep.
By 6weeks, Zara slept through.
Now, in the night if she has night mare, she’ll wake up and cry, I just have to hug her a bit, she’ll be ok. Or just let her nurse a while.
And I’m perfectly well to just have 6hrs of sleep.. no more like pig.
March 30th, 2006 at 4:46 am
Tracy, lets shake hands! Destinee is much older now but still can’t sleep thru? Oh boy, this is really one long journey of motherhood. I can’t sleep well if Justin is not with me, weird huh? I’d rather be lack of sleep then sleeping without him.
Zara’s mama, you’re lucky to have hubby helping out at night feedings, and Zara’s sleep thru so young! I heard of babies who sleep thru at such early age, but too bad, I’m not that lucky lah.
March 30th, 2006 at 9:28 am
Same here, Carter also wake up quite often at nite when he is baby. Dunno why he can sleep through the nite after his sister born and came from hospital.
Dun worry the day should be soon, cause your baby want to come out liao..haha.
March 30th, 2006 at 9:17 pm
Lucky you got such a supportive MIL eh? I remember once my 24 hour day was a blur of trying to breastfeed, cup feeding, pumping milk, sterelize equipment and repeat (cos by the time I had finished the cycle another one begins) I don’t think I slept at all the first two months and I didn’t have any confinement lady or mum or MIL to help me, only hubby… but thats good because he knows firsthand how hard it is. Hehehe.
March 30th, 2006 at 9:42 pm
I weened off the night feed when baby was 1+. The last feeds were normally at 9ish,
April 1st, 2006 at 8:48 am
Don’t trust those books too much. I personally feel cuddling & rocking baby is better because more human contact. Baby need assurance. I rather suffer those early years.
April 4th, 2006 at 6:55 am
Previously my boy could sleep through the night. But now at 4 months, he wakes up more often for feed. Is it a sign for semi solid food?