8 Months

I thought about giving her some Benadryl just so I could get some rest.  She's never taken it before and with my luck she'd have a paradoxical reaction that would make her even more lively, but we didn't have any in the house so it was moot. 

But, fuck.  I just don't know what to do anymore.

We did some more CIO last week and seemed to be over the hump, but somehow we've taken a gazillion steps backwards since then.  She 'll nurse fitfully for hours, then happily gulp down a bottle, but instead of conking out (as a bottle usually makes her do), she's up and raring to go.  She's recently cut her second tooth, but I don't think she's actively teething at the moment.

At my low point last night, I put The Girl in the stroller and rolled her back and forth across the dining room (perhaps a 4 ft walk) until she fell asleep.  I got an hour's rest, and then she would only sleep when the stroller was in motion.  That was the end of that.

Maybe this is just the 8-month sleep regression ("just," as if knowing what it is makes it more manageable), but you know, I would have hoped to have recovered from the 4-month regression before going balls out into this one.

Today, my parenting of The Boy consisted of bringing him to and from school and then plopping him in front of the television.  I'm try to encourage a healthy appreciation for classic Disney movies (today we tried Robin Hood), but he only has eyes for Diego.  God help us.

Comments

[Suz]

The boy's probably too young, but the Studio Ghibli movies are so incredible to overwhelm any possible parental guilt. I'm looking forward to the day where I can just plop the boys in front of one and go take a nap. heh.

I'm sorry about the girl. I don't think we got any sleep until after the boys were 14 months old. I don't see how that could help you; I just hope it gets better.

[Carla Hinkle]

I'm so sorry to hear about that.

With daughter #2 we never really recovered from one sleep regression before the next one came along until she was over a year. Many times I wanted to gouge my eyes out with a rusty spoon because nothing seemed to work. Maybe I should have gouged my ears out instead, to drown out the crying.

My sympathies.

[snickollet]

The expression "going balls out" really made me laugh.

So sorry about the lack of sleeping. Is she too big for a swing? Or does she not like swings? My Fisher-Price cradle swing saved my sanity for a long, long time. I can't tell you how much money I spent on D batteries so that I could sleep for more than 30 minutes at a stretch.

[Sarah]

Ugh. This just seems so hard. I hope it abates!

[electriclady]

I think our 8-month sleep regression started at 7 months and lasted until...a few weeks ago? (i.e. nearly 12 months) Not that that helps you at all, but just to say I hear you and I totally sympathize.

[swissmiss]

I second the Fisher Price cradle swing. But then again, I'm also the one taking a million walks so what do I know? So sorry it's rough going with the Girl. I'll take a virtual walk with you today.

[AmyinMotown]

I'm so sorry. nothing to offer but sympathy.

[MotherLawyer]

No ideas to offer but HUGE sympathies.

I'm halfway to a fully cooked baby girl myself and hope and pray this one sleeps ...

[Jenn]

Ugh--so sorry this has been so awful for you! Can you and DH take turns with her during the night?

I'm sure you've tried everything---but I remember that the miracle blanket was a true miracle for us in getting DD to sleep on those night in which that seemed like an impossible feat.