9.18.2006

Maybe it is just going to suck forever.

Night 9: Down at 8:30. Asleep until 1:30. Brief pat/soothe. Awake at 5:30. Briefly back asleep after some soothing. Then up at 6 wanting milk, milk milk milk milk and not buying the whole It's still night time line at all. So I nursed her and then she fell back asleep until I woke her up at 8.

When I whined to my coworker this morning about all the recent 6 a.m. wake ups, she pointed out that if M usually goes to bed at 7 or 8 and is mostly asleep until 6, that is a pretty decent night's sleep and may be all she needs.

On the other hand, the fact that today she slept another two hours after nursing tells me that at least sometimes she needs more than the 10 hours or whatever. And those damn sleep books sure say she should be getting more than 10 hours.

Either way, though, if it were 10 straight hours, minus this 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. business, I think we would all be happier.

Also, I think I am losing my ability to evaluate what is a better or worse night of sleep, and as I think about it I realize maybe it is actually a little bit insane to try. Is it better to wake up at 1 and 4, and 5:30, but only briefly, or be solidly asleep from 11 to 3:30 then mostly awake for an hour? Would you rather wake up at 5:30 every morning, or not fall asleep until 2? Would you rather lose a finger or a toe? Would you rather eat a can of peaches in heavy syrup every day for the rest of your life, or spend 3o days wearing a wet suit?

2 comments:

  1. i've been trying to resist saying this for fear you will hate me.

    it's hard for me to imagine a child being able to sleep through the night when she's in your bed. it's natural for anyone to wake up, or half wake up in the night, but if there are other people around, it just seems like there's more of a reason to wake all the way up.

    i know our situation is different, because gatito would never relax and go to sleep in our bed and you can hit me now.

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  2. Oops - just saw this.

    Cat, you know the only reason I would ever hit you is because your son sleeps so damned well :)

    I bet what you say (like most sleep advice) is true for some but not for all. Most of the night waking over the past several days took place on her little sleeping pad on the floor of our room, not in the bed. Things are better now, though! As soon as I get my act together to post again, you will see...

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