[mshah]

I nearly completely lost it last night.

Omair woke up at midnight (slightly unusual, but not unheard of), mostly due to an inability to get comfy. He tends to fidget alot at night, which has something to do with how much he sweats when he sleeps (I even keep two fans on him, a/c at 72, and no blanket on him). He gets it from DH.

Usually when this happens all I need to do is scoop him up in a cradle hold and gently bounce or rock him back to sleep. Typically takes no more than 5-10 minutes. It didn't work. So I gave him a bottle. Didn't work. I change his diaper, which was barely wet. By this point he's wide awake. Okay then, I'll set him on the floor to play out some of his energy. Instead of playing he begins to cry to be held. Shoot, alright then. I rock him some more, which calms him down but he starts babbling and is just looking around. UGH.

At this point, I figure I'll put him in bed with me (DH works nights so its just me), which usually sends Omair into a state of utter comfiness bliss and he will fall asleep. But no. He starts to laugh, bouncing and rolling around the pillows.

Now I'm really tired and beginning to lose it. So I think I'll just lay him in his crib and let him cry a bit (keep in mind his crib is less than a foot from my side of the bed, so I'm right there with him). And yes, he begins to cry. And cry, and cry, and cry. And he's not slowing down, in fact it's escalating. I try to be like Super Nanny shows on her tv show, and just quietly lay him back down on is back each time he stands back up. And this routine goes on about 100 times. He cries and stands up, I lay him back down, he cries and immediately stands back up, I lay him back down etc, etc...

You've got to be kidding me. It's been an hour now. (I drop an f bomb)

Okay, we'll try the rocking thing again. Not working. I try the bottle again. Not working. I put him in bed with me again. NOT WORKING. We're going 'round and 'round in circles. I've officially lost it by this point. We go on for another 2 hours like this. Yes, TWO MORE HOURS. ***?!?! He's not sick, he's not showing any signs of teething pain or any other type of pain. He's just not sleeping!

So, as mean as it felt like, I accomplished him sleeping by holding him down. It seemed to me like he just kept working himself into a frenzy by standing up and moving around howling. He was so angry he began biting his arm. I've never seen him do that before. So, as I laid him on his back again I kept my hand on him holding him there, firmly, but not harsh. It worked like magic. He quickly quieted down and went to sleep. Good grief.

Had to get that out. What a strange night. I feel like such a mean mommy, but I did all the comforting stuff and it didn't work! I totally lost my mind!! 3 hours of this! Let's hope it doesn't happen again tonight.

[mrsjl]

I really feel your frustration. I've been spending hours trying to get Nathan to go to sleep. HOURS. feeding, rocking, changing, feeding, rubbing his back, shhhhhhhh, repeat. it took 4 hours to get him to go down for a nap. he was so cranky and over tired. I have had enough.

I know it's my fault for not establishing a routine and not being consistent when it comes to napping and sleeping, but he's 10 months old now and I think it's about time he learned to sleep through the night, self soothe, and sleep in his own bed. I've got my work cut out for me.

[Trish36]

You know I remember when my little sister was a baby (18 years ago). The only way she would fall asleep was if we put something heavy, like a pillow, on top of her body (never anywhere near her head, just covering her bum and back). I know now that it wasn't the safest and it makes me cringe just thinking about it, but it really worked for her. Or you had to hold her down with one arm and pat her bum with the other until she fell asleep.
I hope this was just a one night thing and he'll be letting you sleep tomorrow. HUGS!!

[Irish_Wristwatch]

im sorry you had such a rough night i hope it was just a one time thing

[mommydiva]

Sorry you had a rough night. We have had a few nights like that as well. I have held Rosie down not hard or anything like that but just had my hand on her back well stroking the side of her face.. Within 5 minutes she had finally stop the fight and was out and didn't make a peep the rest of the night.

[TeresaSuperMama]

You know I have btdt one before. I have put Natalie in the crib and let her cry until she got tired and then tried to lay her down with me. If she starts playing again then I put her back in the crib. If she's playing quietly in the crib so be it. If she starts fussing I will leave her there until she seems like she's getting tired and try again. She's done this to me a few times. Not often, but enough.

[KMH]

(((HUGS))) Don't feel like "mean" or "bad" Mommy...we have all been up at 2am dropping f-bombs and feeling like we have lost our marbles. I hope tonite is much, much better.

[mshah]

Originally Posted by KMH

we have all been up at 2am dropping f-bombs and feeling like we have lost our marbles.

And that's why I love all of you! lol!!!

Thanks everyone for making me feel better. It's so nice to not be alone!!

[rachel_anne]

Is he getting teeth? Holden does that randomly when he gets teeth or is sick. His last ear infection...he was up like that for 2 nights in a row.

[austlanabmv]

i'd be dropping bombs to... wyatt did this a few weeks ago but only for half an hour or so ...... i ended up rocking, lay him down, cry and then he was cryng worse and then i brought him to bed with me and made him lay down ..... and wyatt's bed is about a foot from my bed also ... crazy sometimes... makes you wanna lose your mind

[hilachu]

i randomly have meltdowns, nighttime is the worst because you just want to sleep yourself
so difficult to handle
i feel your pain and don't blame you one bit for what you did, caused no harm and you both finally got some sleep

[Shalyn]

I feel your pain too! Doesn't make you a bad mommy at all............just normal. Jackson still is a horrible sleeper and I feel the exact same way as Lori.