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Thursday, August 26, 2010

Impossible

When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. - Sherlock Holmes

So I didn't think a sleep change this drastic was even possible; silly me, I thought once Maeve learned how to do something, she could keep on doing it.  I thought this restlessness was due to teething, but the internets informed me otherwise.

Welcome to what is known as the four-month sleep regression.  Your daughter used to wake once a night?  Try 4-5 times.  She used to fall asleep fairly easily in the crib and stay asleep?  Welcome back to bouncing, rocking, singing, begging, and putting the pacifier in again and again.  




Last night was better, she slept till 12:30, then I let her sleep on my lap while I sat on the couch, and she woke a few times after that, but not even enough to want another bottle.  She was up at 1:30, 2:30, 5, then 6 for the day.  I know that sounds awful, but I got back to sleep quickly after each wake, unlike the night before, when I didn't sleep for more than 20 minutes between 1 and 6 am.  You can imagine there was a lot of crying around the apartment yesterday.

The reason for the big sleep relapse is exciting, though, she's growing into more big-kid sleep patterns and making big developmental jumps that her little brain is working hard to process.  She discovered her feet this week and learned to roll from tummy to back.  She's also just starting to try to sit up using her stomach muscles, although I think she has a long way to go there.

So she and I will pay the sleep price for awhile, but I'm starting to adjust my brain, too.   After all, very interrupted sleep is better than no sleep at all.  And running low on sleep fuel doesn't make life impossible, just, well, improbable.



4 comments:

  1. I was talking to my friend last night about this. Logan is becoming more grumpy. It's like delayed-onset colic or something. This friend suggested that I start him on some solids. It worked for her daughter when she went through sleep regression. Maybe it will work for Maeve? But check with your pediatrician first.

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  2. Kirsten - I'm asking at her next pedi appt a week from tomorrow. However, I'm anticipating they might not want me to start yet b/c of the tummy issues she's had. :(

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  3. I feel you! Except Ryan has always slept like this for the past 4 months. He has always woken up 3-4 times and will only sleep when held.

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  4. Have you heard the term "4th trimester". This really helped me get over that big change at month 4. Those first three months were really just the 4th trimester outside of the womb... when you think about it all they really do during that time is sleep, eat & poo. But like you said the 4th month is where it get's really interesting and they start learning and growing! Good luck!

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