Comments on: The Science Of Sleep

By: StumbleBee

StumbleBee — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:25:00 +0000

The blog is a healthy place to talk and as you see the many posts, we feel your pain. I really went for 3 months in a semi-conscious state. I have no memories from that time, I was too tired to think. I hope you build up good karma points and have it easy during potty training. Good Luck.

By: Slice of Paradise

Slice of Paradise — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:18:00 +0000

My first girl was just like yours ~ perfect sleeper, easy to put down & Godloveher slept in her crib all night at 7 weeks. GO NEW MOMMY!!!!

This second baby is paying me back & kicking my ass for all the smug thoughts I had the first time around. I know nothing, she refuses to sleep at night & I'm starting to wonder if she's part vampire … and my boobs are soggy from the Con.Stant. night time feedings. It's a good thing she's cute.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 21:09:00 +0000

I just have to say I know what your saying.
My bub is almost 10 mnths, has never slept thru the night and everything you just said about Jasper could have been about my Henry.
I hope one day I wont be summoned from the dark with frantic cries of ma ma ma ma ma, and clutched tight while he burrows his head into my neck, whimpering because I left him.

Emma
qotfu72@yahoo.com.au

By: zakary

zakary — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 20:21:00 +0000

Both of my children were breastfed co-sleepers. Baby Troy (14 months) stopped nursing a few months ago and I’m kina glad he did because HE WAS KILLING ME SOFTLY. He did NOT sleep and had nursing parties every two hours. Now, he takes a bottle of milk and goes to bed at 9pm and stays asleep until the morning. Me? I have my life back. And I drink wine.

Hang in there. This will pass. I promise! Your kids are adorable.

By: Janna

Janna — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:08:00 +0000

As someone who went through this with my first and then had a great sleeper with my second, I can totally feel your pain. My first born was such a terrible sleeper (and still is) but he does sleep through the nights (barely). I have already made a promise to myself that when he hits his teenage years I am going to sporadically go into his room at 4am and cry. Paybacks are hell.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:35:00 +0000

Catherine,

I was introduced to your blog by a friend and colleague who took one of your Philosophy courses at the University. I've been reading your writing a little over a year now.

Recently, I became a first time mother, and sank into extended periods of madness I hardly anticipated. Your recent post on sleep helped me more than all avenues of assistance I've sought, and I simply want to thank you for the courage you've shown in openly articulating experiences common to many women, judging by the number of responses here.

I wish you and your family all the best.

By: kata

kata — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:33:00 +0000

Haven't commented much yet but I often think of you.

You are handling what you're going through really, really well. I cannot deal with what is, I think, much less sleep deprivation with anywhere near that kind of strength and grace.

I'm only on my first child and I'm finding that one of the hardest parts of motherhood is that there will always be someone out there who will need to use your worst experience to make themselves feel better about their own worst experience. Your insecurities make them feel better about their own. But as mothers I think our emotions are so raw that we take this otherwise normal part of life much harder. I used to think, oh, I'm the kind of person who doesn't give a rat's ass about what other people think. But it turns out, I do. And I don't think it's in my daughter's best interest either. Somehow though, I can't help it.

So all I can say is, you seem to me to be handling all this really, really, really well. And have a great time in Nashville!

By: Chantal

Chantal — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:35:00 +0000

My oldest son (he is 7 1/2 now) was a terrible sleeper. His naps lasted 15 to 30 mins max and he slept for just over 2 hours at a time. He only started napping regularly around the age of 10 months and that was just a few weeks before I was to put him in day care (I felt cheated!). We lived in a century home and I had learned every creak in every floor board and would walk around the house in a strange dance of “skip that floorboard, hug the wall, turn, turn, through the door”. It was crazy. I was crazy. I remember coming to tears almost daily when people would question me – “What isn’t he sleeping, my kids always slept” UGH. I wish I had the magic answer that will help but I guess the only thing to say is that he will grow out of it. It may take time. But he will. And eventually your sanity will come back. It will.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:59:00 +0000

I suppose one other thought is to keep in mind that no one (no matter their age) really sleeps “through the night,” – we all wake up periodically and go back to sleep. Its just that some kids wake up and want to stay that way or can’t go back to sleep. My little one wakes once or twice each night and, because he doesn’t want to get up and party or anything (hence putting me in the “lucky” category), he just goes back to sleep with a little nursing or cuddling (we cosleep). But my point is, we all wake up, it just takes different kids different amounts of time to adjust to the idea that its better to go back to sleep right away!

I join Joy in saying “bah” to the “try harder” folks, and toasting everyone in the sleepless club.

By: Joy

Joy — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:20:00 +0000

(((HUGS))) to you, in your sleep-deprived madness. I read this post after all three of my children (7, 5, and almost 2) took turns tag-teaming me ALL NIGHT LONG with wakefulness!!! Every freakin’ half hour, one or the other was in my room, and all trying to crawl into my bed! AGK!! That is not to say that they always do this, because usually the older two are great sleepers, NOW, and the youngest is getting better, really, she is. But it’s taking time for them to mature and grow, and it depends on so many external day to day criteria in their little worlds for how well they sleep. For my children, the magic age was about 2.5, 3 for consistent sleep through the night.

And BAH to the “you’re just not trying hard enough” camp. YOU ARE. Anyone who goes without sleep tries their best. Because, seriously?, who would actively or passively choose to go without sleep?!? Kids are different – they eat differently, grow differently, play differently, and sleep differently too.

So, hugs once again, and I’m toasting you and all the sleepless moms out there with my vermouth (because I just can’t do vodka) and say welcome to this sucky sleepless club, until we’re lucky enough for our children to start sleeping!!