Well, THAT was excruciating
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| Wed, 01-03-2007 - 11:25am |
I have always rocked my nearly 8 month old DD to sleep for naps and bedtime & she always wakes up to complain a couple of times after I intially put her in her crib. At night I can get her back to sleep with no problems usually - by standing htere and holding her hand, but nap times are bad. She is not sleepy enough, so she fights me - refuses to go back to sleep unless I rock her some more.
So today I let her cry. I checked on her at increasingly long intervals, with a brief reassurance like all the books say, then I left the room. Well, I thought I would sob myself to sleep during this! Her cries were so full of distress and abandonment (at least to my ears.)
Finally, after and hour of coming back in the room to reassure her, just when I was about to give up, she fell asleep.
As I listen to her right now over the baby monitor, I can still hear the little hitches in her breathing left over from all her hard crying. Talk about guilt! I feel absolutely wretched - like a selfish witch. But I can't be her slave anymore, it's killing me to spend so much time getting her, and then keeping her asleep.
Right now I need a therapist's couch, I am so hurt by her distress! Who's the real baby here? me.

huge huge (((((((((HUGS))))))))))!!!!!
I remember doing that for the first time with my oldest... it ripped my heart out!
*hopefully* now she will start to figure out that mom means business when it's time for a nap. Hang in there sweetie... it'll get easier... although it may take a few more times of CIO. We're here for you anytime you need a therapy session :o)
Oh, that's so haaard! I rocked my oldest (now 8yo) to sleep and it made for huge problems later. I'll spare you the details, but will pat you on the back for getting farther than I did (never did let her cry it out). I think you're doing the right thing and I hope the transition is a short one.
((((((HUGS))))))
Erin
Honey, you did great! It always sounds so horrible to hear them cry. But I think it only sounds that sad to us moms. With Noah I had him sleep with me until he was six months old and then I transitioned him into his crib. He took to it really well but I still would be with him when he first went to sleep
arie
HUGE (((hugs))) to you! That is just so hard. It tears your heart out to hear your kids cry, I know. I think it's biological instinct on our parts. There were times when I had to let my kids cry. Not so much with the first one, because he had all my attention, but after 4, just let me say that my twin girls have cried and cried plenty of times without my jumping for them.
My husband didn't think it was right to let them cry themselves to sleep, so we never did. But I think the fact that you're going in and reassuring her at different intervals is showing her that she's OK, and you're there for her.
And we're here for you. And we've all been there! There is no harder job than being a parent, I'm convinced!! You're just such a good and caring Mommy. I could feel your loving heart through your post. That's the most important thing of all, and that is what is going to make her into a wonderful, strong, caring woman.