Jack has a problem. Okay, I have a problem, but it's affecting Jack, so it's his problem, too.
I can NOT get him to go to bed without it being a huge ordeal. I've done all sorts of things--I've established a nightly routine where I feed him dinner in the high chair, give him a bath (with the special nighttime baby shampoo and lotion, even!), get him in his jammies, then rock him, hum to him, nurse him, and listen to classical music while he gets sleepy (Doesn't that make me sound like a good mom? I only say that, because I feel like anything but a good mom right now). Then I lay him down.
Now, one of two things happens: One, I've nursed him long enough that he's actually sound asleep, so when I lay him down, he rolls over and goes right to sleep. Or two, I nurse him for the exact same amount of time as the other times, sometimes even longer, but he's not asleep yet. So he screams.
And screams.
And screams.
Then, I either feel bad and go in and get him out of the crib, calm him down, and try to nurse him till he falls asleep for real this time, or I just let him cry it out. I hate letting him cry it out. It makes me feel like the worst mother in the world to hear my baby crying for me like that and not going in to make it better.
Tonight was a "crying it out" night. I was tired and sore from our trip, and I just didn't have it in me to keep letting him try to nurse. So I laid him down and started giving Steve a haircut, so I wouldn't be able to go back in and get him.
He cried for half an hour, and then finally quieted down. When I went in to check on him, I found this:
I really feel like a terrible mother.
I can NOT get him to go to bed without it being a huge ordeal. I've done all sorts of things--I've established a nightly routine where I feed him dinner in the high chair, give him a bath (with the special nighttime baby shampoo and lotion, even!), get him in his jammies, then rock him, hum to him, nurse him, and listen to classical music while he gets sleepy (Doesn't that make me sound like a good mom? I only say that, because I feel like anything but a good mom right now). Then I lay him down.
Now, one of two things happens: One, I've nursed him long enough that he's actually sound asleep, so when I lay him down, he rolls over and goes right to sleep. Or two, I nurse him for the exact same amount of time as the other times, sometimes even longer, but he's not asleep yet. So he screams.
And screams.
And screams.
Then, I either feel bad and go in and get him out of the crib, calm him down, and try to nurse him till he falls asleep for real this time, or I just let him cry it out. I hate letting him cry it out. It makes me feel like the worst mother in the world to hear my baby crying for me like that and not going in to make it better.
Tonight was a "crying it out" night. I was tired and sore from our trip, and I just didn't have it in me to keep letting him try to nurse. So I laid him down and started giving Steve a haircut, so I wouldn't be able to go back in and get him.
He cried for half an hour, and then finally quieted down. When I went in to check on him, I found this:
I really feel like a terrible mother.
Comments
Now about this "terrible mother" business, you better stop that right now or I will have to...to...yeah, I don't know what I'll do but you better stop feeling like you're a terrible mom! Because, really, if YOU'RE terrible mom, I'm scared to think of the type of mother I'll be. Yikes.
It just takes time and patience. Try getting him the little sea horse at wal-mart. When you push his tummy it lights up and soft classical music plays. Ever since we've put that toy in baby girl's crip months ago, she's never cried when we laid her down. It's worth a try.
You're doing a great job though. You look beautiful and your son is so cute! Tell steve, Darin and Kira say hi!
....and remember...."This too shall pass!"
I love the picture! My friend has one on her blog of her little boy...It's actually a picture of the door to his room with little fingers sticking out from under it. They have to basically lock him in his room to get him to fall asleep...and that how they found him one night!