I was never good at math, anyway

We're still in the woes of sleep issues over here. I spent my entire day trying to find The Magical Thing that will help Wyatt get to sleep and STAY asleep. He does so well during the day, but as soon as bedtime hits the switch is flipped and suddenly nothing works.

Today I tried swaddling him in the crib. I tried unswaddling his arms in the crib.

I tried swaddling him with a folded blanket under his head. I tried unswaddling his arms with a folded blanket under his head.

I tried swaddling him and helping to lay him on his side in the sleep positioner. I tried unswaddling his arms and laying him on his side in the sleep positioner.

I tried turning him to lay perpendicular in the crib.

I tried setting up a mirror to the side for him to look at.

And in the end? Swaddling him in his carseat is the only one that sticks for longer than 30 minutes.

At night nothing works for longer than a few minutes, and for a couple of hours we go in and out, in and out, until he eventually falls asleep for "good". Meaning at least a couple of  hours, and then it's anyone's guess as to how the rest of the night will go. One night he'll sleep a good 4 or 5 hour stretch, and then at least 3 after that, and the next he's up every hour, or every two hours. We've tried keeping him up longer, we've tried putting him down sooner.

(And by now I've lost nearly everyone but a few sympathetic mothers...)

The frustrating part of all of this is that for the most part I am assured that this isn't going to last forever. He'll eventually sleep through the night, and someday, one glorious day, he'll be on a real live predictable schedule. Despite knowing this, I still spend huge amounts of time Googling things like, Help, My 3 1/2 Month Old Won't Stay Asleep at Night, and I'm Afraid I Might Be Turning Into A Zombie. I read countless forems and articles, consult my sleep book, and manically ask every mother I run into for their baby's schedule, and what helped them.

Basically, I'm searching in vain for some kind of full-proof formula. A + B = Angelically Sleeping Baby.

And I know I'm not going to find it.

This too shall pass...

And stuff. Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.

I love this little monkey. Even though he is hell bent on ruining my sleep.

Comments

[kris]

Have you tried feeding him cereal? I gave Bridger cereal at about a month old. He was starving and once he had cereal at night he slept all night!

Just a thought...

[La Petite Chic]

Don't worry, I'm not a mama yet, and you didn't lose me through this post :) Though I am hoping to be a mom soon and this kind of lets me know what to expect!

[Amber]

Sad! I'm so sorry about the lack of sleep woes! Let's be honest, I'm no mommy but I do work with babies on occasion. From reading your post my only thought was, if he can't tolerate laying flat but he will calm down in his carseat, maybe he's having a little acid reflux? Usually laying flat makes it worse. Just a thought. I hope you figure out the mystery! You're the most excellent mom to the cutest little angel. Keep it up Kim!

[JoAnna Moss]

I gave Evan cereal before bed and he slept so good. Also, formula stays in their little bellies longer so I would make Evan a bottle and put cereal in it, then wrap him up really tight and he would be out all night. I have been told not to let them sleep during the day for more than two hours because then they think day time is time for sleeping. Good luck! You can call me if you want to talk or anything.

[Bethany]

I know its against all the pro's advice... But try putting him to sleep on his tummy. That's what worked for us!

[Camille]

Oh...dear Kim...:) I am sorry to hear that the little guy isn't sleeping too well. I have a friend in the ward who's daughter STILL sleeps in her car seat all buckled up at over two years old, and will not go to sleep any other way. It is funny the things parents will go through to get some shut eye. Hope he kicks that habit soon!

[Camille]

And...I second the cereal suggestion. It seems like the only time Jackson hasn't slept as well is when he is still hungry, and it was right before his four month mark that cereal really helped a lot!

[Erin]

Not to be all anti- but the cereal thing didn't help us at all. The only thing that helped is the Miracle Blanket- the only swaddle that worked. I don't know it was different for our guy, it just was. We used it until he was almost 5 months old (keeping his legs out). All babies are different, and I find that as soon as I figure one thing out that stage passes and we're on to something else. Hang in there, you WILL sleep again one day. Promise.

[Abby]

I got nothin'.

But I AM learning from YOU!

So, thanks for that.