Mkrop
I just cant go on demand
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2007
My kids both performed as expected. It's all about sleep training. I believe the OP is frustrated with her friend because she just lets the kid (not even a baby anymore) fall asleep and wake up when he wants. It is annoying to parents who realize how easy it is to get babies to sleep on a schedule that other parents sit a complain about how sleep deprived and overwhelmed they are when they don't have to be. I put both of mine on a schedule from the time we came home from the hospital, they both had it down pat between 1-2 months old. I got plenty of sleep at night, I had nap times you could set you watch by literally since I always put them down and got them up at the same time everyday. This gave me plenty of time to do all my laundry/housework and chill with some ice cream and TV during naps and left me nice and refreshed to Play and snuggle during the times they were awake. Most parents aren't willing to listen to any crying in the beginning and can't see that it is for the childs well being down the road, so they create demanding little monsters by letting the baby dictate the schedule and feeding on demand and letting the sleep/wake whenever they want. I understand OPs frustration, I've felt it towards other parents as well. It's like nails on a chalkboard to me when someone says their baby won't sleep on their own. Of course they will, they are babies, they can't go anywhere. Put them in bed and they will eventually sleep. The problem is mommy can't stand to hear crying, not that the baby can't sleep. It's for the babies own good. By 8 weeks my kids both had very balanced schedules where they were well fed and got great sleep. They were happy and content! It was worth a few weeks of crying that they don't remember at all. As opposed to babies who didn't get enough sleep and were cranky and demanding and not well rested.
I glad your kids "performed" on demand. After I had my first I would have probably agreed with you. He slept great was on a schedule.
Then DS10 came along and despite doing everything the same way, he was an awful sleeper. I even tried the CIO method and that backfired big time. Long story short, he had huge sensory issues, and could not sleep if his legs were loose. Even feety pjs didnt cut it. He did not sleep for the first 3 years of life. He was on the waiting list for the sleep clinic at the local children's hospital. Bought every book on the market, tried everything. They would all work for 2 weeks and than we would be back to not sleeping. Finally at one of his checkups, the ped asked if we had a nightlight, get rid of it, and if I had a heavy waffle weave blanket. Long story short, both of those worked. I could have kissed him! And they stuck, he finally slept. The hospital called 6 months later and I had them take him off the list bc he has slept every night for 6 months!
He now sleeps great...no need for a blanket, lots of PT and OT to work on his low tone and sensory issues so I am sure that all helped too.
So my point is...you just never know with kids so dont assume some parent isnt trying to "schedule" their kids sleep...believe me I was!