That is what I have been dealing for the past couple of weeks or so. No, it is not me. Er, yes, it is me. Ok, so that you will not be confused, here is the scenario.
For the past weeks, my daughters got sick, recovered and got sick again. Both of them became very clingy, specially Maxyn, our youngest. Unfortunately, the time she got sick was also the time I was trying to wean her from breastfeeding. Since she is not feeling well, I gave her what will make her feel better and comfortable – breastfeeding on demand. I knew that when I do that, I will start over again with the weaning process and the the two nights that she slept through without feeding from me will be all gone. I was ready to start again but I did not expect that it will be this hard.
Maxyn has been well since Sunday. Since then, she still wants to feed on demand. Let me correct that. She is not really feeding, she simply wants to have the nipple in her mouth all night. And it has given me two consecutive sleepless nights, not to mention an aching neck! Just before I type this post, she woke up briefly asking for milk. I did not give in and let her cry a little. I tapped her bottom and her sister’s at the same time to make them go back to dreamland.
Honestly, this scenario is frustrating me already. I am unable to update my blogs when the urge is there because Maxyn and/or Alex will suddenly wake up. When they are back to la-la land, my online time is already done. And I do not get to sleep straight, even for just three or four hours. In some cases, I wake up every hour!
Tell me, how do you keep your children asleep the whole night? What do I need to do to a 5yo and 2yo who co-sleeps with us so they stay in dreamland through the night?
I hope you have already solved your dilemma. Being a mom sure is hard.
aww.. I can feel your dilemma. I’m almost on the same situation as yours, the difference is I have three kids age 6, 5 and 3. I still breastfeed my youngest daughter and there’s still no sign of her weaning, so I just wait for that time. On keeping them asleep the whole night.. I don’t know if I’m just lucky because they all sleep straight at night even though they slept for one or two hours in the afternoon. The youngest would just wake up in the middle of the night while I work online to nurse for about 10-15 minutes and she’ll go back to sleep while I go back to work as well. Now I’m thinking what exceptional technique I do with them to be like that so I can share them to you. Hmm..
1. I let them do what they want to do before bed time (play, cuddle with me, watch a children’s movie)
2. I bathe them (which I am sure you do too:)
3. I tell them a super short story.
4. I tell them different reasons to wake up excited the following morning (school, long bath, playtime etc.)
Hope this help:)