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Your privacy is a PRIMARY consideration of AskDrSears.com. Your e-mail address is used ONLY by AskDrSears.com for the purpose of announcing news, events and special offers available only AskDrSears.com registered users. WEEK ONE - FEBRUARY 2002
The first night - Feb. 21 - Sleepless in Fountain Valley
Joshua was born at 6 p.m. I guess he didn't realize that this was close to his bedtime, because he didn't go to sleep at all the first night. This was fine for the first few hours - you know, bonding time and all. But around 2 or 3 in the morning, I was ready for sleep.
Many parents come into my office begging for ways to get their baby to sleep better. My two older kids are 9 and almost 6, so I had long forgotten what it is like to function on no sleep. My usual answer to these parents has been "life's rough, you signed up for this." Oh, sure, I phrase it a little more nicely, but now I know, once again, how these parents feel! I think I managed to catch an hour of sleep at some point. Joshua was quite the fusser that first night. I started to think, "Oh no! We got a high-need baby!" He fussed and fussed for hours despite walking around, nursing, and bouncing. We tried everything (or so we had thought). Then suddenly, he let out a tremendous burp! Oh yeah. We had forgotten to burp him. Oops. It's amazing the things you forget. After that, he was peaceful and happy. The first day - Feb. 22 - to sleep or not to sleep
Of course, as soon as the sun was up, Joshua crashed and slept almost the whole day. He woke up only briefly for feedings. We went home around noon.
So here was the dilemma. Do we let him sleep all day, and catch up on our own sleep, or do we try to keep him awake, so that he will sleep tonight? My wife voted for the first choice, but I wanted the second. You know who won of course.
The second night - won't he PLEASE just sleep!
Now I know why so many parents whine about their baby not sleeping. Joshua spent another night awake and nursing vigorously. Being the dutiful husband, and new father, I tried to stay awake to help. However, Joshua soon figured out that I didn't have any breasts, and my wife figured out just how useless I am at night with a new baby, and I snored most of the night away.
Feb. 23 - ok, today we will keep him awake!
Joshua still slept half the day, but we managed to keep him awake all evening, so even my wife got to sleep some tonight.
Feb. 24 - scaring the older kids away.
Well, we figured out a way to get our 9 and 5 year old boys to stay in their own
beds at night. Our older boy often stumbles into our room around 4 a.m. and goes back to sleep on a futon on the floor. Well, Joshua is a major screamer during diaper changes. This woke up our son on the futon, and he covered his head with the pillow in a vain attempt to drown out the noise. He told us the next morning, "I am NEVER coming into your room at night again!"
Feb. 25 - settling into a routine.
Cheryl's milk has come in, and Joshua is finally getting satisfied after nursing. He is what you would call "an easy baby" (now that we actually burp him after feedings). Hmmm, kind of makes me wonder what else we might be forgetting to do.
Our 9 year old told us he woke up during the night once, heard Joshua screaming, and decided to stay in bed. Feb. 26 - sleeping through the night.
Wow, who ever thought it could be this easy (I know those of you with high-need babies probably hate me by now). Joshua wakes up once or twice perhaps, but my wife is now finally getting some sleep too.
So much for the kids not coming into our bedroom at night anymore. Now that Joshua is quiet at night, they seem to wind up on the futon again some nights. Oh well, that's ok. Feb. 27 - why all the focus on sleep?
It's funny. My entire diary for the first several days was all focused on sleep. That also seems to be the most common parenting problem that we hear about in our office and on our website. And now I know why. For those of us who are lucky, we forget what an issue it can be for parents with a high-need baby. Those few days without sleep have reminded me to be more empathetic to parents who come into the office for help with sleep problems.
Did you miss one of our previous diary entries?
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