The Uncertainty of Sleep

When my husband and I had discussions about having kids we talked about money, schools, extra-curricular activities, parenting styles, discipline - but we never talked about sleep.  Or the lack of sleep.  All of our kids were horrible sleepers as infants.  We had to basically hold #1 around the clock on a rotating basis for anyone to get sleep.  Yes, part of that was our issues with being new parents.  Part of it was #1's sleep issues.  We are full believers of Ferber.  Yes, I said it FERBER!  Sometimes, this method is confronted with shame and ridicule.  "How could you let your baby cry?"  Listen, it wasn't easy to hear #1 cry his eyes out.  I actually took to the hallway of our apartment with a bottle of wine the first night we employed the Ferber method.  It was really hard to suffer through that first night.  #1 was up for most of the first night.  But the next night he slept un-swaddled in his own crib in his own room for 12 hours.  We had to Ferberize #2 and #3 - but they weren't as dramatic the first night.  Once we got through the Ferberizing point - and they were eventually weaned from breastfeeding you think the sleep troubles are over....  the thing I am learning is ~ they never are!!!

In our house - all the boys have their own rooms.  #1 and #2 are in beds and #3 is in a crib.  I expect by 8pm for everyone to be in bed and stay there until at the earliest 6:30 am the next day.  This might be totally unrealistic - but this is what I expect.  Some nights and mornings actually go like this.  But you can never predict what will happen.  Last night #2 got out of bed 6 or 7 times over the course of an hour.  At 9pm #1 came into the kitchen asking for water.  5am #2 was screaming - his nightlight was not working and he couldn't find his lovey.  6:00am #1 was too excited for his field trip to sleep.  6:15 - #1-#3 were all up for the day.  What will happen tonight and tomorrow is anyone guess.  All I know is that I need some more coffee!