I am not certain how many days have passed by, but I am positive that I miss sleeping through the night. It started about a week and a half ago when my daughter broke out in an allergy rash. I can understand her waking up crying. She did not feel good.
Now, her rash is almost gone. But, three nights ago she started waking up a couple times a night SCREAMING at the top of her little lungs. It is not the kind of cry that I can let her "cry it out". She screams so loud that she starts to hyperventilate.
I go into her room and try to soothe her. Laying her back down, giving her a pacifier, stroking her head and telling her to go back to sleep is not cutting it. I end up changing her diaper (which is soaked and has no room for another drop) and then rocking her until she calms down and falls asleep.
Everything that I have read says that this is normal for this age. It could be night terrors or separation anxiety. I lean towards the latter. Considering that she is still clinging onto me with a firm grasp even when I put her back down to sleep.
I know everyone says, "whatever you do, DO NOT pick them up". I have a hard time not picking her up when she is screaming. I know the difference in her cries and there is something clearly wrong for her to scream. I am open to any other feedback or ideas that anyone might have for a screaming 13 month old!!
Hey There Sleepless!
ReplyDeleteFunny, I got the same kind of advice as you. Only I NEVER listened to it! We even had a family bed for a while. I find kids sleeping alone very middle class.....who ever SAID that an infant should sleep alone? Ask that of any child in a third world country! Or any child from a family that siblings sleep together.
Regardless, I slept with Sara until she was well past 6 years old. She is a well adjusted child now at 15. We still like to snuggle.
I believe that "meeting your child's needs" tops the list of priorities. A screaming child NEEDS it's mother. For WHATEVER reason, she needs you. To NOT be there would harm her deep inside. I truly believe that with all my heart.
So, do as you WANT to do, and don't listen to others. I let Sara cry until she hyperventilated, and I NEVER did it again!
Hope my advise helped.
XO
Wendy