We’re having some baby sleep issues around here … and in one of those “of course this is happening now” situations, we’re also having some toddler sleep issues.
Linnea just turned six months old, and her sleeping is a little erratic. We’re having trouble getting her on a sleep schedule because … well, to be honest, it’s because I’m not trying very hard. She’s taking short naps during the day, at different times every day (see: I’m not trying very hard), and wakes up once or twice every night.
Miles turned two last month, and while he’s been a “good” sleeper for most of his life, he recently started waking up yelling for “mommy” or “daddy” (let’s be real, it’s usually mommy) once or twice overnight. When we go in there, he says “mommy sit!” or “daddy sit!” Sometimes we give in and sit in the rocking chair until he falls asleep, and sometimes we go in there and comfort him before leaving the room and letting him yell until he falls back asleep. I don’t really know which is a better idea, or if there’s some other magical method out there.
So I’ve been researching how to move forward and help everyone in the house get a better night’s sleep. As so often happens with baby advice, the search resulted in … mixed messages.
Here’s a summary of what I’ve learned from the Internet about baby and toddler sleep:
If your toddler keeps waking up at night, definitely don’t sleep in his room but do try the camp-out method where you … sleep in his room.
Don’t let your toddler sleep in your bed but co-sleeping could be a good idea.
Don’t go in the room when your baby cries but definitely comfort her and let her know you’re there.
Don’t wake the baby after he goes to sleep but do feed him and change his diaper, but again just make sure you don’t wake him.
Do let your baby cry until she goes to sleep but if she cries for a half hour, pick her up.
Definitely don’t let your baby get too hot while he’s sleeping but whatever you do don’t let him get cold.
Don’t give your toddler water in the middle of the night but make sure he doesn’t get thirsty.
Don’t change her diaper in the middle of the night but make sure it’s not too wet.
Don’t give your toddler attention when he yells in the middle of the night but it’s probably a good idea to sit in a chair in his room.
It’s okay to let your baby sleep on his stomach if he can roll over by himself, but if he rolls over, flip him back.
Don’t let your baby sleep in her own room until she’s at least six months old but also have her sleep in your room until she turns 1.
Formula is more filling than breast milk so it may make your baby sleep longer, but don’t believe the rumors that formula will make your baby sleep longer.
Put some rice cereal in your baby’s bottle to make her sleep for longer stretches at night, but definitely don’t put rice cereal in your baby’s bottle.
Don’t let your baby cry it out because he’ll resent you later in life but don’t worry he’ll never remember!
So … I guess I’ll go back to not trying very hard and hope everything works itself out?