In my house, midnight nursing is becoming a problem because I am getting very tired of being sleep-deprived all of the time.
Annika is 19 months and I don't want to wean her at all. However,even though she nurses very well right before bed (AND I give her a snack prior to nursing to ensure a full tummy) she still wakes up two or three times a night and wants NOTHING BUT TO NURSE at those times.
For a long time it wasn't such a big deal-- she would nurse and pass right back out, but now she starts suggesting that we go pee-pee during her wake-ups or that we go find daddy, etc... The pee-pee one is really hard because I feel like I should let her go if she needs to-- but then she just sits there on the potty in the middle of the night while I'm all fagged out and slumped over on the bathroom floor and never goes, but instead starts pulling her books out and demanding that I read them (*which I don't of course!!!) By the time I get back to bed I lay there and space out for a long time before Ican fall back to sleep.
I finally realized today as we embark on the adventures of "the twos" (I won't call them terrible-- but you know what I'm talking about) and potty training and a heavier work/school schedule for me,that I am simply not a very nice or good person (at least not as nice and good as I could be) when I am tired all day!
I've tried everything from exercising more to boost my energy to resting more to conserve my energy and all roads seem to lead to the same end: and angry, overtired, getting burnt out mama...I've acted the complete martyr in this situation so far, believing that it is in the best interest of Annika's well being to continue dragging myself out of bed every single night to nurse her as many times as she may wake... but today I finally realized that I would be doing her a better service by getting my sleep so that I can be a better mother during her (and my!) waking hours.
So how to break the habit in a healthy way? Our plan as of now is to pick a night to put her to bed, close the door, and then not go back in until morning.
I believe that she will break the habit after one night like that,but I hate the idea of her feeling like I'm not there. I plan to prep her all day that day, reminding her that when she wakes up I will be sleeping in my bed.Is it so bad to have sep. anxiety at night? I remember having it as a child in my own bed... the nighttime is scary. I always used to be afraid that my family might have disappeared in the night. But they never did... and I'm fine.
Isn't it just a part of growing up?
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2 comments:
Hi, Emily,
One idea is to get her a special stuffed animal or other toy and make a big deal about how this toy is her friend/protector who'll cuddle with her and keep her safe. That's my first thought. Good luck with it!
Lisa
That's a good idea.
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