Operation Sleep

cribs are merely for decoration

Much like his big sister Keats, this boy is a very very light sleeper. Come to think of it, he's a much lighter sleeper then Keats ever was. Since he was mini he would SCREAM when we tried to put him in the crib, he'd wake up once his noggin made the landing. It sounded like a terrified animal type of howl.

I agree with many of the attachment parenting methods, so co-sleeping seemed like fine solution. Keats would peacefully fall asleep in her crib while we sat next to it, starting around six months. If need be she'd end up in our bed during the night and snuggle until morning.

This is an entirely different situation, if I hear the "every kiddo is different" slogan I might throw yogurt on the wall. This isn't just a kid who doesn't want to be away from his folks so gives them a run for the money, this is a kid who will scream until he vomits, sweats like a BEAST and grabs ahold of my neck like he was hanging over a vat of hot lava. While sleeping he wakes up three to four times during the night moaning and now sobbing. He sits up straight, sobs uncontrollably for two minutes or so, then snuggles back up.

Dr. Pix spoke about him waking up in the night and being uncomfortable from the EE and needing the security of his mom being there. Totally understand and agree, yet I am only human, and this gets very difficult. Once I get him to nod off I try to work on the computer or catch some quality time with the DJC watching our favorite Uncle John Stewart. I'll hear the Sullster stirring and then the "thud" of him getting off the bed by his tum and the "bom bom bom bom" oh his little hands and knees on a mission to find his mother. He'll look up at me with that "did I give you permission to leave the room?" expression and point to the bedroom (that is not an exaggeration). I'll put him back on the bed and he'll snuggle up to his spot which is usually soaked because he is a crazy sweater.

Last night I wrote on an EE facebook group post asking about their sleeping situations. Responses about kids not sleeping through the night, co-sleeping, husbands sleeping on the couch, kids waking up in pain and moaning, are all regular occurrences. As terrifying as the prospect of not getting a good night sleep for a LONG while haunts me, it is so assuring to know this life raft I now call normal isn't empty.