In one of the parenting books I'm reading, it mentions that around the time your child starts to return your social smiles, they'll also start fighting sleep because they're more socially aware and are more interested in spending time with Mommy and Daddy than sleeping. So sweet in theory, right? Not so sweet at 3am.
Camden started sleeping in 5-6 hour stretches at night a couple of weeks ago. Normally, this is from midnight until 5 or 6am. So, this is what I've come to expect and it's been a welcome change from being up to nurse every 2 hours like we did in the first few weeks of his life.
Then came last night. He woke up at 1:30am. I was neither very surprised or bothered by this; I figured I'd nurse him and he'd go right back to sleep. But he had other plans. The next 2 hours went something like this: I'd nurse him, he'd fall asleep while nursing, I'd lay him down, and his eyes would pop back open immediately. Repeat over and over again. By 3am, I was emotionally exhausted. I buried my face in my pillow and just started crying.
At this point, Matt rolled over to see what all the commotion was about. And we both looked into the wide-eyed smiling face of our son.
"Why aren't you feeding him?" Matt asked me.
"Because he's been eating for the past 2 hours!" I said in frustration.
At the sound of our voices, Camden's smile got bigger and he started kicking his little legs.
"Then what's he doing?" Matt wanted to know.
Suddenly, I recalled the chapter in my book about social awareness and it all started to click.
"He wants to hang out with us. That's what he's doing."
Hey, Matt and I can't help it if we're just that cool.
6 comments:
You are that cool! I don't blame him. ;)
That really stinks, I'm sorry! However, I have to say, I'm jealous he's been normally doing the 5-6 hour stretches. Lexi hasn't so much.. she's still waking about every 3 hours to eat which is probably due to her size (she's not even 7 lbs. yet). I'm sure that once you get used to the longer stretches it makes it even more brutal when he doesn't sleep that long. I hope things get better! I've definitely had the breaking down in tears moments where I feel helpless and don't know what to do. They are constantly changing which is so exciting but is always presenting new challenges!shis
This is so cute! I was wondering if you could please share the name of the book. I am in the end of my 5th months pregnancy and am starting to look at parenting books.
Thanks for sharing such an interesting story. BTW, you are a great writer.
Thanks
Ohhhhhh so sweet! I mean, tough he didn't want to sleep but cute he just wanted to hang with his cool parents!
He's such a doll! Motherhood works for you girl!!!! xo
Been there, done that (emotionally exhausted tears included), and will be doing it again in several months. And even though I laughed imagining that grin & excited kicking at 3 a.m., I still feel for you. The lack of sleep is the worst!
But still- how adorable. :)
The book is called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth. He's a pediatrician and father of 4.
Such a sweet post--even in the midst of your exhaustion. He just wants to hang out! He loves his mommy and daddy, so!
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