… is that once you think you’ve got them figured out they go ahead and change on you. A couple weeks ago, after employing a mishmash of sleep-encouraging techniques written about in various books (in particular, The No-Cry Sleep Solution), Laura had gone from waking once an hour, to getting at least one five-hour stretch of sleep and waking two to three times a night. I am sure some of you will drop your jaws, aghast that an eight-month old was not sleeping straight through from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. but I was quite happy with this. I don’t believe that babies “should” be sleeping totally through the night at six months, but that’s my own thing. I do, however, believe that this up every hour business was for the birds and mostly because she wanted comfort because she couldn’t figure out how to go back to sleep on her own.
We were doing great! I was getting sleep! Everyone was happy! And then… we started going right back to where we were. Only this time my non-nursing comfort techniques just made her angry; they didn’t soothe her at all. So here we go all over again. The poor thing still hasn’t had any of her teeth poke through, and I have to believe that the discomfort is part of this. The last couple nights there were a few instances where nothing at all would console her. Those tiny little gums are so swollen. I really think she’s going to get them all at once. (It all goes so fast, though doesn’t it? One day you’re stressing about baby teeth, the next you’re trying to help your teen find the best acne treatment.)
So I don’t know. I’m just rolling with it. I don’t mind letting her fuss for a while, but when you’re pretty sure she’s not feeling well it’s hard to let her whimper. Sleep will come eventually, I know. Neither Jake nor Noah slept through the night until after a year old. But now? They go to bed between 7 and 7:30 without complaint (and will go to bed earlier if they’re tired) and sleep until at least 6 a.m. I just have to be a little more patient.