Baby sleep lessons 101 and the devil has blonde hair.
At least, that is what he looked like at 4am this morning when he was in my bed trying to evict my eyeballs from their sockets. Blonde hair, blue eyes, a blue and white striped Bonds suit and the most devilish of grins, dimples included.
Why, oh why won’t my babies sleep through the night? When I took them home from the NICU the nurses commented on how lucky we were to have NICU trained babies. ‘They’re in a good routine’, they said, ‘they’ll just wake and feed, wake and feed’, another commented.
Look, don’t get me wrong, that is great when you bring them home, newborn from the hospital.When you are happy to baby gaze and you want to feed them every three hours, when you are floating on the pink fluffy clouds of euphoria. The trouble is, they can’t seem to break that routine and they are ALMOST two!!!! Two! Those pink, fluffy clouds are looking awfully grey and stormy, right about now.
For goodness sake, I am so sleep deprived! I can’t think straight anymore. Give me a break!(Please)
Here are some hints for Ivy and Noah (and any other babies out there who refuse to sleep through the night);
Do NOT come into my bed unless you want to snuggle down and sleep. If you want to seek and destroy, then do it in your own room. Mummies and Daddies need to sleep, otherwise they get cranky in the day. You, know, that time when you want them at their best, so they can dote upon you?
If you wake up very early in the morning, it will not put you in good stead to demand a ‘bockle’ (bottle) and then hit me in the face when it is not forth coming. No amount of hitting will get me or your father up in the freezing cold to get you a drink.
If you wake up in the middle of the night, do not get out of bed and wake up your brother or sister as well. We will be alot friendlier if there is only one baby to put back to sleep. Two wailing babies is just asking for trouble.
If you have to wake up can you please do it half an hour BEFORE we go to bed, not half an hour AFTER? If you haven’t guessed by now, when parents go to bed, they are exhausted and are asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow. Half an hour in is serious REM time and you are interrupting the most restful part of the night.
Finally, if you do happen to wake several times during the night (and expect us to get out of bed to resettle you), when Mummy says it’s time for a day sleep, know that she means it. Know that you running around in overtired hyperactivity mode makes Mummy more tired. Mummy saying time for sleep is not an invitation for you to start up a conversation of babble with your sibling. It is not the time to do a poo in your clean nappy and it is not the time to chant some baby mantra at the top of your lungs. Sleep means sleep (and time out for your worn out caregiver…often a first opportunity to shower and have some nutrition for the day so that she has the energy to bend to your every whim).
P.S. Another little hint; even just one night of full sleep will do wonders for the Mummy and the Daddy. Take that into consideration when you go to bed tonight.
I agree! Babies who absolutely have to wake up at night MUST do it just before the parents go to bed, not within the first hour after. That delta phase sleep is sooo hard to wake from.
Then again I’m not very fond up being woken up at 4.30-5, because then I’m awake for the day….
Comment by Mary — August 28, 2007 @ 4:26 pm
Firstly YAY an Aussie blog. I love to see ‘mum’ not ‘mom’ *relaxes*
Secondly YAY I am not alone with the sleepless thing. It’s nice to know other babies refuse to sleep through.
Thirdly Thankyou for the comment on my SAHM post. Comments are always appreciated.
Comment by Veronica — September 22, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
They are very charming handbags which would immediately bring huge smiles on your faces on the spot. One of the most fascinating traits of Michael Kors handbags is that they retain many luxurious kinds of styles and designs, catching your eyes on the dot
Comment by Michael Kors Bags — February 29, 2012 @ 5:18 pm
The market now is having a very tough competition when it comes to selling designer bags. There are lots of new brand of bags that offer wide range of trends and latest designs.
Comment by Coach Outlet — August 17, 2012 @ 11:10 am
Louis Vuitton Lockit a total of seven models, including: Lockit Monogram, Lockit Vertical, Lockit Epi, Lockit Nomade, Lockit MM, Lockit GM, Lockit PM.
Comment by Louis Vuitton — August 20, 2012 @ 12:59 pm
–!@linli
It is also practical to buy a cheap
Comment by Louis Vuitton Handbags — August 24, 2012 @ 1:55 pm
–!@yibin Wherever you would go, these bags would be taken as a symbol of class and elegance.–!@yibin
Comment by Louis Vuitton Bags — August 31, 2012 @ 5:19 pm
uaineoil, cuntair (Shanghai, Beijing, Qingdao, Dalian); ugg Astráil: Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá, faisean míne, tá olann réasúnta deacair, gcuntar
Comment by UGG Boots Ireland — October 20, 2012 @ 10:29 am