From: barb@sq.com (Barbara Burrows)
Subject: Re: Family Bed: Baby keeps waking up, Mom exhausted
Organization: SoftQuad Inc., Toronto, Canada
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 14:51:44 GMT

In article <1992Sep30.200404.11843@midway.uchicago.edu> her8@midway.uchicago.edu writes:
>>>Our problem is that Kate is now waking up three times a night. Sometimes
[Stuff Deleted]

>about 9 months he started waking multiple times wanting to nurse, sometimes
>every two hours!
>
>What helped?  Finally, a combination of weaning, especially from night 
>nursings, the arrival of his molars (maybe), and (mostly) his natural
[Stuff Deleted

>My son slept through the night beautifully beginning at about 3 months, until
>9 months, when, as I say, the problem developed.  My pediatrician told me
>that this showed he had the ability to sleep through the night, and would
>probably be able to do so again when he was ready.  Trust in this pulled
>me through many a tired day.  Has your daughter ever been a good sleeper?
>
>Good luck!  ------ Sarah
>
>
Thank You!  You've provided me with some hope.  Jordan has only slept through
the night off and on (mostly off 8-{ ) since he was about four months.  He's
turning 1 year old tomorrow!  When he didn't "sleep through" he'd only 
wake once and was easily put back to sleep by patting his back....and off he'd
go.  That was then....this is now.  For the past three weeks he's been waking
up four or five times a night!  Waking isn't the right word....sort of awake...
wanting to go back to sleep...but thrashing all over his crib.  Patting won't
help.  About the only thing that seems to work is picking him up and walking and
patting him (oh bad precedent!).  If we leave him to cry it doesn't seem to 
accomplish anything...also...I HATE that!  It seems like such a lonely thing 
to do....and somehow like we've abandoned him. In fact, to complicate matters...
...he has a low gag threshold.  If he falls....or hurts himself and starts to 
cry hard....we have about 3 to 4 minutes to distract or soothe or calm him...
or else he throws up.  Always has.  And so, three times over the past few months
(the latest being two nights ago) we've just left him....hoping he'd put himself
back to sleep.  Well....he just became hysterical and threw up everywhere....
this happened (timed by the clock) within six minutes!!!  So changing him 
(clinging, hysterical, confused) and bed clothes is not wonderful at 3am!

And so, I'm looking for news like the above.....perhaps it's his molars?
I've just given him my cold....so now he can't breathe right...and I think
this wakes him too (but that's just been since the weekend).  And, maybe, 
this will be his pattern until he's ready to change it? 

I've read the Ferber book.  I've had tons of advice that just doesn't seem
to apply.  With the Ferber book....we did try his decreasing amounts of
night feeding approach (he was really only taking about a ounce or two during
his night feedings anyway).  Jordan still woke....but as I said....gentle 
patting for a few moments (seconds) and he was back asleep.  So, he was 
getting his last bottle at about 9pm and that was it.  Three nights ago my 
husband was up with him at 1am and gave him a bottle....which he gulped down.
Now, the last two nights we're back to giving him a bottle again....but now
he takes at least 7 ounces.  So, now I'm wondering if he's getting enough
food during the day.  But he doesn't seem hungry!

I just love this second guessing!!!

My mom looks after him during the day.....he loves her....and is excited to
see her.  God Bless her....she's taking him overnight tonight so that we can
catch up on some sleep.

I'm beginning to have night terrors (oh ya, someone suggested that he could
be having nightmares.....but ALL night?).....Stephen King ought to think of
a new horror book for parents with babies that don't "sleep through"....now
that's really frightening!!

Sorry, I appear to be babbling.....put it down to serious sleep deprivation.

If you have words of wisdom....or comfort....please feel free to share.  I'd
love to know I'm not the ONLY one with a baby who still isn't sleeping 
through....but I suspect I am.

					|
Barbara					| Now I lay me down to sleep
					| I pray the Lord my soul to keep...
					|

PS. I should add that he is a completely wonderful little guy....okay...not
"completely"....but he could be if he'd just SLEEP!  He's good humored, fun
very bright...very bright...wait a minute....is this a plot to drive his 
parents insane and get our fortune?  Boy, will he be surprised!