I’m so tired I could cry
For the past few nights, Sophia has been waking up in the middle of the night screaming. I don’t mean just a little cry, it’s one of those piercing bloody murder screams.
I’d go in to check on her, change her diaper, give her milk thinking that would ease whatever’s bothering her (she’s not teething, or sick) and she would go back to sleep. But exactly half an hour later, the screaming starts again and I’d go in to check on her again and try putting her back to sleep…but she wouldn’t.
I would let her cry it out (in her crib, I know some moms are shuddering at this practice right about now) while lying in my own bed, with my pillow over my head trying to muffle out the screams so I can go back to whatever little sleep left. All this time, my hubbie snores like a bear, hibernating for the winter, next to me and all I want to do is shake him out of his deep slumber so we can both suffer through this sleep-deprived torture together.
An hour goes by, the boys slept through the whole screaming (thank goodness!) including my log of a husband, and Sophia is still screaming. What do I do to keep my sanity and at the same time trying to erase all these horrible thoughts that I might do to my 19 month-old little girl? It’s shameful to have to admit that in writing, but that’s what sleep deprived people do folks. So, please don’t be too judgmental or call DSS on me.
I waved my little white flag, brought Sophia downstairs so she can sleep on my belly, and not waking up my grizzly snoring hubbie, but then again…what was I thinking? I should have put her in our bed together so she can wake him up too. Yeah, I’m considerate like that.
If you have a 19 month-old baby and you’re going through the same thing, do share with me your method of successful sleep. This is our third child, so we have been through all different stages of sleep deprived and tried pretty much everything, but maybe you have other methods that might help me. HELP ME PEOPLE!!
Just in time for Halloween, if you see a disheveled looking woman with bloodshot eyes going trick or treating tomorrow with the kids, that would be me looking like a zombie, but I’m not in costume though.
For the past few nights, Sophia has been waking up in the middle of the night screaming. I don’t mean just a little cry, it’s one of those piercing bloody murder screams.
I’d go in to check on her, change her diaper, give her milk thinking that would ease whatever’s bothering her (she’s not teething, or sick) and she would go back to sleep. But exactly half an hour later, the screaming starts again and I’d go in to check on her again and try putting her back to sleep…but she wouldn’t.
I would let her cry it out (in her crib, I know some moms are shuddering at this practice right about now) while lying in my own bed, with my pillow over my head trying to muffle out the screams so I can go back to whatever little sleep left. All this time, my hubbie snores like a bear, hibernating for the winter, next to me and all I want to do is shake him out of his deep slumber so we can both suffer through this sleep-deprived torture together.
An hour goes by, the boys slept through the whole screaming (thank goodness!) including my log of a husband, and Sophia is still screaming. What do I do to keep my sanity and at the same time trying to erase all these horrible thoughts that I might do to my 19 month-old little girl? It’s shameful to have to admit that in writing, but that’s what sleep deprived people do folks. So, please don’t be too judgmental or call DSS on me.
I waved my little white flag, brought Sophia downstairs so she can sleep on my belly, and not waking up my grizzly snoring hubbie, but then again…what was I thinking? I should have put her in our bed together so she can wake him up too. Yeah, I’m considerate like that.
If you have a 19 month-old baby and you’re going through the same thing, do share with me your method of successful sleep. This is our third child, so we have been through all different stages of sleep deprived and tried pretty much everything, but maybe you have other methods that might help me. HELP ME PEOPLE!!
Just in time for Halloween, if you see a disheveled looking woman with bloodshot eyes going trick or treating tomorrow with the kids, that would be me looking like a zombie, but I’m not in costume though.
Isabella has been having night-terrors. they are quite scary. i wonder if you’re experiencing the same thing. although with her, she can’t be consoled…so it’s really hard to calm her down.
I’m long past the stage of helpful advice for crying babies, but I will say to not feel bad about trying to let her cry it out. We did that with all of our kids and found that 90% of the time the crying would stop within 15 minutes. I agree that after an hour it’s probably time for a little parental TLC (from EITHER parent *ahem* hint hint hubby :-).
Mine went through (and still goes through) phases of waking during the night. One thing we tried, that worked, was talking to her before bed. “If you wake up and it is still dark, it is time to sleep. Go back to sleep. No screaming.” It worked, and yes, we were as shocked at its effectiveness.
I worried a little bit that she would hesitate to cry if she really needed us, but my husband pointed out that if she was sick or really scared, those things would override our pre-bedtime chat.
Talking as suggesting above might work. You might also try putting on a loop-tape or CD playing quietly with happy things (kids music, language tutorials etc) to keep her mind occupied while she sleeps. If it is night terrors this may help keep her mind on simpler things.
Good luck, let us know if you find out what the problem is.
(from EITHER parent *ahem* hint hint hubby
My wife and I *cough*usually*cough take turns. I’m usually a bit quicker to let them cry it out, which usually works, and AJ knows it, than she is, but she’s learning.
Oh doll, I am so sorry. Slep dep sucks a fatty, and fire-alarm screaming only fries your nerves that much more.
When the first was about that age, she also went through it. It finally occurred to us that although she looked awake and was screaming and her eyes were open, she kind of was still asleep. Talking to her or moving her would sometimes get her to stop because she would wake up out of it.
I agree with what Nicole said - talk it through ahead of time. Even though ours was screaming, she wasn’t really bothered by it, and she was able to somewhat take direction to stop screaming and go back to bed.
Aghhh… Am just cringing remembering what you are going through. Take care.
I’m so sorry this is happening to you! It sounds like she might be having night terrors. My friend’s daughter had them and she would continue sleeping while she was screaming like crazy. I don’t remember what she did, but they got through it okay.
I remember my friend saying that she thought her daughter was awake when she was screaming, but she really wasnt’. And sometimes she’d fall right back to sleep. Very strange.
Good luck!!!
((HUGS)) I’m so sorry that your little one is going thru this.
This may not be what Sophia is going thru, but that was about the same age as my son starting have Night Terrors or Fright Mares. When he was little like that he would wake up screaming, like Sophia, uncontrolably! I would have to sit in his room and just rub his back until he settled down.
I hope that she finds some sleep soon!!
Wow, I’ve been there and totally feel for you. With us it ALWAYS meant one thing…EAR INFECTION.
Sounds like night terrors - WonderBaby has had them a few times in the last few weeks. The hallmark of night terrors is that you can’t console the child. I wrote about a few weeks ago at urbanmoms, and got some good advice/feedback - i can send you the link, if you like.
If it goes on for more than a few nights and there is no fever or gas or needles jabbed into her body, then I kinda assume the kid is just training me to run to her beckon call. You won’t hear any judgment from me, Betty! I would let my kid cry it out, too.
Good luck, Sweetie. My heart (and ears) hurt for you.
Poor sleep deprived Mom! I don’t have any advice on this, but I’m hoping that tonight brings better sleep to everyone.
Yikes! Well, it’s probably not the best thing to do, but my grandmother use to rub whisky in the coursin’s mouth to make them sleep like they’re suppose too….
I always kept that info in my back pocket, just in case.
I have had a little bit of experience with this. I’m a member of the “Let them cry it out” club since the boys were 7 months old. Before that time, I made myself CRAZY and I mean CRAZY trying to make sure each one had their own schedule because Cade requires more sleep than Jace. But after 7 months, I finally listened to my hubby who was SO right. I admit it.
Anyway, even now that they’re 2 there are still times that they SCREAM at the top of their lungs. I usually go in and scoop up the one crying and go rock them. I just like to calm them down, not actually put them back to sleep. I always want them to go to bed awake so that “going to sleep” is always associated with bed. Anyway, sometimes it takes 2 times but that’s all they get. If I know they’re not sick or wet or dirty or something else….they can have at it. Their room is right next to my room so it can get really loud. I just close our door and cover my head up. If it’s almost time for me to get up anyway, I’ll go take a bath. Usually by the time the water finishes filling up the tub, they’re back to sleep. I promise I’m not a bad mom.
Good luck!
I can never let my baby cry it out. What we do is scoop them up and sway and normally, that would snap them out of it. But with night terrors, what I’ve read so far states that you just need to cuddle and whisper them and it pierces their minds and they relax coz it’s your voice telling them that it’s okay. I never did agree with letting them cry it out.
They’re only lil once. I want to cuddle them any chance I can. And don’t worry, you’re not a bad mom. Anyone who has been sleep deprived tends to have murderous thoughts.
I couldn’t entertain the thought of crying it out, I just couldn’t. If I’m awake from the screaming and can’t sleep anyway, why not take that time to console, rock, cuddle, whatever works to help the screaming let up faster. I agree with the others that it may be night terrors, although it could be that she’s going through a growth spurt and she’s hungry or having leg cramps. Maybe try giving her some high potassium foods, like bananas at night. Also, if you take her to bed with you she may feel better and sleep better. Just my thoughts. Hope you get some sleep soon!
Oh, I feel for you!!! I spent hours rocking Karate Kid when he was a baby. He never consistently slept through the night until he was at least 18mo, and only then because we were desperate enough for some good sleep that we put him in bed with us.
I wish I had some great advice, but I’m fresh out. Sorry.
I’m sorry you’re going through this. We have not had that problem, so sorry I can’t give advice. My friend’s son has night terrors, and I feel so bad for you guys, and I’ve seen it first hand when we’ve gone camping with them. I hope she outgrows it quickly. Poor baby….(momma too!)
Yes! I’m not alone.
Sorry chick. I feel for you.