Sleep...not for baby, for mommy.....

[smiles2012]

So, my DD is the envy of my friends. She sleeps 12-13 hours. She goes to sleep at 6:30-7:30 and wakes at 7:00-8:30 ish! I don't make her stick to a formal sleep routine because...well, she is an expert sleeper.

The problem: it's 1:51am and I am WIDE AWAKE so even though my baby is in dream land beside me, she will wake up in a few hours and I will be tired and won't get the benefit of her great sleep routine that everyone is "so envious" over.

I am frustrated. Advice please diet suggestions, herbal remedies, anything? I actually have a script for a sleep aid, but I never realize I need it until its too late...I don't want to take it and feel groggy with DD in the morning due to a medicine...somehow it feels more right, to be groggy, if it's just due to going to sleep too late/early.

Any advice or understanding is very appreciated...I am very frustrated with myself.

[skycheattraffic]

My suggestion is fresh air and exercise. I know it can be really hard with a LO but try going for a long walk with baby in the carrier or stroller before bedtime (or by yourself if it's an option). My DD is up at night but lately I have a hard time falling asleep again. I always sleep better after rigorous exercise and in fact have decided to get a gym membership as mandatory mommy time. Hugs to you, I can just feel your frustration. I can relate. At the end of the day I feel exhausted but it's more being worn out than properly tired. Exercise has worked wonders for my sleep before and I'm going back to it. I hope you find something that works for you.

[DaisyMae08]

Have you tried Chamomile tea? After that I would try Benadryl.

[smiles2012]

Thank you for the kind replies. As you prolly can see its 1:00 now.......

I think these suggestions are great, though working out at night tends to rev me up and it's hard when DD goes to be at 6:30-7. Maybe a morning routine would motivate my mind to go to sleep earlier so I feel ready for the morning. I am joining a gym, so that should help...because it is so dang hot right now!

I hadn't thought of tea...seems silly that I haven't, but maybe after DD last feeding I should start some kind of night time wind down routine including tea. As far as medicine like benderyl, I'm truly not against it, but maybe deep down I am, because I never seem to do it! I think I need to decide what time to take it if I cant sleep and just do it...I'm always reluctant and then by the time I realize I should have taken it, I feel like its too late.

Any other suggestions for a mommy wind down scenario...?

[smiles2012]

[quote name="skycheattraffic" url="/community/t/1358681/sleep-not-for-baby-for-mommy#post_17052096" get a gym membership as mandatory mommy time.[/quote]


Yes, I like this idea of mandatory mommy time. ! I often feel like I shouldn't, but I think mommy time will help me stay "good" mommy. I want to spend every moment I can with DD but I'm starting to realize this mmt may benefit DD too.

[skycheattraffic]

Exercise revs me up too, I can't work out right before bedtime either. It doesn't matter if I worked out at 5 am or 4pm on a given day, it helps me sleep. I have to be done 3 hours before bedtime though for sure to wind down. If you have a hard time finding baby free time, you can try a vigorous stroller/carrier walk (up and down hills if you can) when baby is likely to be tired and you may get two birds with one stone. I'm supposed to be taking a little nap right now while DH watches DD but I'm expecting diapers in the mail today and I'm too excited to sleep lol. It's amazing what mundane things I look forward to as a mommy...As an aside, I'm a total CD addict. Now we definitely will have to have a second baby to justify buying all these great diapers lol. I hope that the mmt/exercise along with the tea helps. When I'm REALLY desperate, I dig out a university text book and use my phone as a flashlight and read myself to sleep lol

[skycheattraffic]

Forgot to say that part of my wind down is a bit of tv (nothing too exciting) and folding/stuffing clean diapers or baby clothes for the next day. DD has quite the bladder so there is always something to wash each and every single day.

[smiles2012]

I can relate...I was thinking I "need" to order some new fluff today! What's your favorite, and where do you like to buy?

DD had a brisk walk in the Moby this morning before it got too ho out. I'm drinking plenty of water and going for camomile tea tonight!

[htovjm]

Do you cosleep? DS goes to be earlier than me, but when I lay down to go to sleep I often latch him on. This 1) gives him a full feeding and 2) relaxes my manic brain so I can settle down to sleep. DS is a big comfort sucker and all that prolactin just soothes me to sleep. For some people it's the opposite effect and they can't sleep, but it works for me. Worth a try! (If you do cosleep, I wouldn't recommend any sleep aids though. It can inhibit those natural mommy instincts that keep you aware of baby at night). I second PP suggestions for mommy-time! I often take an evening bath after DS has gone to sleep. It does wonders for relaxation! Congrats on the great sleeper BTW!

[smiles2012]

Oh no! I would never take a sleep aid while co-sleeping. I've never truly been able to embraced co-sleeping because I get nervous about it, but she is next to my bed and I LOVE hearing her breath. I'm going to start mommy night time routine soon...and I have to be up at 6:30, so a motivating factor since I've gotten spoiled being able to nap with DD morning nap time. I'll let you know how my new nightime routine goes after a vigorous walk with dd in the Moby this morning!

[skycheattraffic]

I like a good pocket. I just got my first fuzzibunz one size and really like it so far. It's by far the trimmest pocket ive tried and held a nice big pee. I got a couple of rumparooz too and im happy with them too. My existing pockets are glowbugs and they work well. I'm excited to try best bottoms, an all in two system but I still need to do more pre washes since I got the hemp/cotton inserts. I live in Ontario, Canada so I only order things from Canadian vendors (duty bites). I've used bottomsavvy and sogreenbaby and they were both great. Now I have 18 pockets, 9 fitteds, 3 covers, 12 flats and 2 best bottoms AI2's with 6 inserts. The 3 new pockets and the AI2's should give me some breathing room since I would be lucky to skip a day washing diaps. DH would use up the pockets at home and if I wasn't careful, we'd be stuck at home since a flat can't handle my girl when we are out. I have to stop but I've seen a buy 5, get the 6th one free special on fuzzibunz that is awfully tempting lol. Ok, I have a problem lol. Good night!

[Kaydove]

Originally Posted by skycheattraffic 

I like a good pocket. I just got my first fuzzibunz one size and really like it so far. It's by far the trimmest pocket ive tried and held a nice big pee. I got a couple of rumparooz too and im happy with them too. My existing pockets are glowbugs and they work well. I'm excited to try best bottoms, an all in two system but I still need to do more pre washes since I got the hemp/cotton inserts. I live in Ontario, Canada so I only order things from Canadian vendors (duty bites). I've used bottomsavvy and sogreenbaby and they were both great. Now I have 18 pockets, 9 fitteds, 3 covers, 12 flats and 2 best bottoms AI2's with 6 inserts. The 3 new pockets and the AI2's should give me some breathing room since I would be lucky to skip a day washing diaps. DH would use up the pockets at home and if I wasn't careful, we'd be stuck at home since a flat can't handle my girl when we are out. I have to stop but I've seen a buy 5, get the 6th one free special on fuzzibunz that is awfully tempting lol. Ok, I have a problem lol. Good night!

I LOVE my Best Bottoms! The hemp/cotton inserts are by far the trimmest diaper I have tried, and I've tried all the different types. I sold all but one of my Fuzzibunz so I could replace them with Best Bottoms. Way more trim than a Fuzzibunz and super absorbant. I was once passed out after baby feel asleep and didn't put her in her nighttime diaper, just a Best Bottom and NO leaks! I found that the recommendation of 1 cover per 3 inserts is more for newborns, I have 3 covers and 13 inserts - it works fine for a 5 month old since she doesn't poop everyday. I often use one cover all day.

[smiles2012]

Honestly, I've liked the gdiaper (which doesnt seem that hard and true cd like?) because they are so trim and I haven't had leaks (usually only need one maaaaybe two covers a day...I use prefolds as the insert or a hemp cloth insert and just swap those out. I don't use them overnight. I have prefolds and one size covers, but they are SO bulky...none of her clothes fit in them (picture her pjs with the middle buttons/snaps all open to make room) fine for bedtime but not out and about so I'm trying to find trimmer options. I'll have to look into some best bottoms and some fitteds because as it is the prefolds with a cover seem to make her whole bottom part wet (vs the gdiaper with a prefold tryfolded or a hemp insert) but sometimes need more coverage than the gdiaper, and less bulk than a prefold with snappi and one size cover. I gues I should branch out with an All In One, but I have anticipated not liking the amount and laundry routine with them.

Have you tried wool? Does it really work? Is it trimmer? What is the benefit of a fitted over a traditional prefold used as the diaper?

Okay! Off to sleep

[skycheattraffic]

I have fitteds and love them too. Their advantages are : better poop containment, no need for snappi or pins, trimmer than prefolds, and (a big plus for me) easier to get on a squirmy baby or toddler on the go. I have mother ease and bumboo, both secondhand and they both work well. They hold a lot of pee and the mother ease with a strong cover (kissaluvs marvels and it looks like the best bottoms are very similar) is bulletproof for our heavy wetter.
I have a couple of wool soakers too and they are amazing. You have to be careful to have enough absorbency because they do absorb a little moisture and could leak if supersaturated. If you change baby often/have plenty of absorbency then they work like a charm. I use them over my fitteds.

Kaydove, I'm thrilled to hear you love your best bottoms. Makes me want to throw them in for another cycle now at 3:50 am lol. I thought fuzzibunz were trim! I really like the covers from what I can see; they should work great with my fitteds too once I run out of inserts :-)

Off I go, she's crying again :-/