Monday, February 26, 2007

This is a cry for HELP!

Seriously, I can't take it anymore. My patience are gone. I am feeling like I am in the top 5 for the Worlds Worst Mother award. I don't know what has happened in the past week, but Harper is anti-sleep. She fights it completely. Yesterday her normal 5 hours of daytime napping whittled down to bits and pieces that equaled an hour. One hour of napping throughout the day equaled a screaming, hysterical baby. It was a day from Hell and Saturday was only slightly better.

Now, let me tell you what I have tried. I cannot and will not do Cry It Out. I have no doubt it works, but it isn't for me. I think I have tried everything else though. I used to nurse her to sleep but she is acting like she hates it. As soon as my milk lets down she is totally turned off. However if she is already half asleep she will nurse for hours. If I lay her down. She does this weird stomach crunch thing and tries to sit up. She won't rock. "Wearing her down" only seems to stimulate her more. I am totally clueless. Please tell me I am totally missing something and the answer is simple. Mason was a super hard baby and I don't remember him ever fighting sleep to this extreme. Aaaaaaa!

12 comments:

Christy J said...

Have you read the no cry sleep solution? It helped with Hayden A LOT!!!

Kiki said...

I have no ideas, sorry! Just wanted to tell you that I like reading your blog. You are funny and sometimes remind me a lot of myself. I think I wrote a very similar post to "drowning" in the first couple months after my second was born. Good luck with the sleeping thing, I wish I had a morsel of something to give you.

Ms. Mamma said...

Ann- Boy, do I know how you feel as the Queen Mother of Non-Nappers. In my crazed experience, I really think the best thing you can do is face the fact that 1) she's going through a developmental milestone and this is temporary, or 2) realize that she may be a non-napper. You bought those slings for a reason, honey! I used to clean with Snowflake in the Baby Bjorn. Harper is SO alert and intelligent, even for a wee lass!

I think it is worse for us when we try to make them 'nappers' and they aren't. Some kids are simply not nappers(I know this is a little scary for you because you are a full time mamma and treasure the few quiet moments in the afternoon).

If this is the case(non-napping), try not to stress. This too shall pass. Remember it wasn't so long ago we had these little baby guys and look at them now! And don't feel bad passing the torch to Pedro at 5:30, seriously! You know where to find me(yeah, at the bottom of that bottle of LoDuca) ;)

Ms. Mamma said...

I was just thinking/remembering about True- as far as thinking she 'hates' the nursing, when they really start realizing the world around them, they are just plain distracted whether or not they love the boob! I think many moms interpret this mistakenly as a sign of weaning...you and I both know different. She's an amazing baby.

Ashley said...

aww, I wish I had something smart to say. whenever Jackson his feeling all antinap we always make sure everything is extra quite then we put on some classical music and rock away - it usually works in like 5 minutes - I hope your days get better

mama k said...

I had a non-napper over here too. at six months he would nap for 2 hours total all day... and that was on a good day.
The book No Cry Sleep Solution helped us a ton! We still have good days and bad, but overall it has changed our lives. : )

Unknown said...

I'm only half way through the No Cry Sleep Solution, and so far it's working! Though, I was already doing some of the stuff...but everything else is so interesting and IS helping us. Take your OWN advice and read it :)I do believe she is just having a rough week and will return to napping...Guess, I am just hoping that for you.

Rachel (Crazy-Is) said...

Firstly, it will get better. It may not seem that way, but it will.

As far as the wearing down goes, it may not work with Harper. All babies are different.

With Alyssa, we have to just put her in her crib, otherwise she is stimulated and will NOT go to sleep. She doesn't cry when I put her in there, she just lays down and goes to sleep.

I know you know this, but an overtired baby is harder to get to sleep and maybe that's why "wearing down" isn't working.

Just keep trying, it will get better.

AnnieM said...

Thanks you guys! God, I whine a lot don't I? It all just seems so major when you are going thru it, not getting enough sleep and your boobs are about to burst from saif baby not eating. Things are a bit better today. I am pretty sure this is another "stage". Damn stage or phase or whatever it is, it SUCKS! But my baby is still my sweet baby girl, even with the crazed overtired screaming and all. Thanks for the support.

That Chick Over There said...

I have no good advice (when do I ever?) but I wanted to say sorry!
:(

Crunchy Domestic Goddess said...

sorry, i'm chiming in late, but if she's suddenly acting this way out of the blue, is there any chance she has an ear infection? that's all i can think of.
hope all gets better soon, mama!

Silly Hily said...

Oh honey, I hope it gets better. And soon. The only thing, and I mean the only thing that I can think of is has she been sick? Do you think maybe she has a little ear infection that is painful when she lays down? Also, try to relax. I KNOW it's hard. I've faught with Dom several times trying to get him to sleep. I would hold him so close to me and he would just squirm. I would catch myself and tell myself to relax b/c I believe babies can feel you being tense and it stressing them out too. Not long after I relaxed, he did too.
Good luck.