Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Losing My Mind

I cannot for the life of me get Lilah to sleep in her crib. I have tried pretty much everything under the sun. It's not even the fact that she won't sleep in her crib - she won't sleep at all unless I am holding her. While at first I relished in these moments knowing all too well how fast that time passes, but as the holidays approach and company begins to flow into my house non stop as well as this new photography business I have on to go which has been keeping me hopping I find myself begging her to sleep for just a little bit on her own so I can clean, wrap, bake, edit, shower, eat, go to the bathroom anything. It's exhausting. She has now been sleeping in our bed as that seems to be the only way to get her to sleep. In the beginning she was great to sleep on her own once I got her down while holding her of course. She would fall asleep in my arms while I walked or rocked her and then I'd transition her to the bassinet or the crib. Then she started to start not staying asleep in her crib despite my efforts of putting her down while awake, half asleep, just fallen to sleep, really asleep, asleep for an hour or more - she would automatically pop her eyes open and start to cry. She seemed to only do this at night and nap fine during the day but now it's an all day battle and I am at my wits end. Now I feel like I have my behind permanently glued to that rocking chair or me feet planted firmly on the floor walking holes through the hardwood trying to get her to sleep and stay asleep. We usually give up and bring her into our bed at some point but it's still a struggle and I am never going to get anything done. I had 3 photo shoots this past weekend alone so now it is crunch time to get them all edited and discs burned and back to clients by the end of the week. How in the name of time am I supposed to do that is beyond me. We tried the sleep sheep, then putting a heating pad on her sheets to warm them (removing it of course before laying her down), the seahorse has been nothing but a stimulator for her (which is the opposite of her brother who would drift to dreamland with that and a pacifier). Forrest would nurse to sleep or fall asleep in his vibrating chair or swing but she NEVER does that - like ever. She stays awake the entire time she nurses and has fallen asleep in that chair on only rare occasions. Right now I sit typing this blog while she plays, with little luvees (small muslin security blankets) stuffed in my shirt hoping to have them smell like me and maybe that would soothe her. I am at a loss so blogger friends - please enlighten me as to how you get/got your babies to sleep and stay asleep for longer than 20 minutes???

2 comments:

Samantha said...

My second is 8 weeks old, and she's starting to fall asleep way better than she did even 2 weeks ago. I think it's mostly because she has to so often when I'm dealing with my 2-year-old that she's just getting used to not being able to be held so often...

Unknown said...

I'm sorry. I doubt I have any suggestion for you that you haven't already tried. I hope she decides to sleep for you soon!