So I've been reading posts on here for a while and I notice so many moms of 8, 12, 18, 24 month old lo's who have similar sleep patterns as my ds (needing to nurse to sleep, sleeping just one sleep cycle at a time, waking to nurse many times at night). My sweet boy is not quite 5 months old and so I know not to expect STTN yet, but would hope that we'd get some longer stretches as time goes on (give or take with teething, developmental milestones, etc.). Right now we are getting 2-3 hours usually, ocasionally 4-5 hour stretches but more frequently 1 hour stretches. It's tolerable, but difficult to imagine doing for over a year!
I've been reading NCSS, among other sleep books and of course I am addicted to MDC! Apparently I'm making my DH crazy with all of my worrying about future sleep concerns. I know I need to relax and let it be what it is, but I do worry about how long I can manage work + home life + personal sanity without some more solid sleep.
My worry is confounded by having many, many friends who do not bedshare or co-sleep (but do breastfeed) and have babies who have been STTN for months (some with lo my son's age!). They have no advice for me that I really want to hear (e.g. CIO, stop co-sleeping). Plus our pediatrician, who is ok with us bedsharing for the most part, mentioned that if we want him to sleep independently and for longer stretches, we should work on that now rather than later when seperation anxiety and other milestones will get in the way. We really like co-sleeping and trying to do the AP thing even though I have to work away from home. I try to stay confident/true to this decision, but it's difficult at times not having other friends who are in the same boat with sleep!! UGH!!
SO, before I put all of the books away and start meditating on letting all of this go, I want to ask those of you who have been here before me....
Would you have tried to do anything differently when your lo was younger to help them sleep longer/without nursing/etc? Should I be doing things like focusing on the PPO or finding other ways to help him self-sooth now?? Do I really need to work on getting him into his own space (in or out of our room) before he is 9 months old? If I don't do these things, am I doomed to years of not sleeping??
I'd also love to hear from other working out of the home moms who bedshare and breastfeed--how did you manage the balance and lack of sleep????
Thanks to you all!
I've been reading NCSS, among other sleep books and of course I am addicted to MDC! Apparently I'm making my DH crazy with all of my worrying about future sleep concerns. I know I need to relax and let it be what it is, but I do worry about how long I can manage work + home life + personal sanity without some more solid sleep.
My worry is confounded by having many, many friends who do not bedshare or co-sleep (but do breastfeed) and have babies who have been STTN for months (some with lo my son's age!). They have no advice for me that I really want to hear (e.g. CIO, stop co-sleeping). Plus our pediatrician, who is ok with us bedsharing for the most part, mentioned that if we want him to sleep independently and for longer stretches, we should work on that now rather than later when seperation anxiety and other milestones will get in the way. We really like co-sleeping and trying to do the AP thing even though I have to work away from home. I try to stay confident/true to this decision, but it's difficult at times not having other friends who are in the same boat with sleep!! UGH!!
SO, before I put all of the books away and start meditating on letting all of this go, I want to ask those of you who have been here before me....
Would you have tried to do anything differently when your lo was younger to help them sleep longer/without nursing/etc? Should I be doing things like focusing on the PPO or finding other ways to help him self-sooth now?? Do I really need to work on getting him into his own space (in or out of our room) before he is 9 months old? If I don't do these things, am I doomed to years of not sleeping??
I'd also love to hear from other working out of the home moms who bedshare and breastfeed--how did you manage the balance and lack of sleep????
Thanks to you all!