This adorable little girl doesn't look like she can scream like a banshee, does she? Well. She has you fooled. Because for the past few nights she's been waking up around 10 p.m. and shrieking at the top of her lungs.
Our first line of defense is to check her in the crib and make sure she has her binkie. Sometimes that's all she needs. But no. Binkie is in her mouth, and she is standing up, bouncing up and down. Is her diaper soiled? No. Is she hungry? Negative.
As soon as I hold her, the calms down. So I try to rock her to put her back to sleep. Oh, if only it were that simple. The entire time I'm trying to lull her back to dreamland, she's kicking her legs and talking up a storm.
She doesn't appear to be teething. She doesn't have a fever.
If there's one thing that drives me more batty than a screaming, kicking baby, it's not knowing WHY I have a screaming, kicking baby.
Just when I'm about to have an aneurysm trying to figure out this brain teaser, a baby development email arrived in my inbox. Lightbulb moment.
"But the period of time before your child takes her first steps might not be so much fun for you. Just before they walk, toddlers-to-be often start waking up at night every four hours or so. Try not to become frustrated by the break in routine — the big achievement your child is preparing for will be worth it."Whew, mystery solved. But wait. Does this mean I'll have a walking terror on my hands ANY DAY NOW? Omg.
Walking tots are the best! Leila now has the freedom she always wanted:)
ReplyDeletehey! Have you heard of The Wonder Weeks?? It talks a lot about developmental jumps that our little ones go through and at what weeks (i know scary right, theyve pinned it down to the exact weeks) and from people i know who SWEAR by it the weeks are pretty much to the T. Anyways just thought Id share. My copy is on its way but you can read about it here http://www.thewonderweeks.com/. It saaaaved my life :)
ReplyDeleteWe just went through a similar thing at 7 months. I was horrified. But after about a week of the tantrums and non-stop screaming (not to mention being up all night for nine nights in a row), she emerged a new little girl. It's like she grew up a little in that week. Before, she couldn't even begin to crawl, and she didn't really express opinions. Now, all the sudden, she's on all fours and rolling around on the floor. And, she can now tell me no by nodding her head or pushing things away. It's amazing!!! Getting here was super tough though...
ReplyDeleteAha! Maybe this is why Lola's been waking up! She's still not walking, but awfully close. Hmm, I wonder...
ReplyDeleteI have heard that before and right when big milestones happen their sleep patterns are interrupted. For my guy it was when he learned to pull himself up. Before then he would go to sleep just fine. easy. But when he learned to pull hiimself up he refused to go to sleep. and if he woke in the middle of the night instead of going back to sleep, he decided he wanted to stand up instead! I asked for advice and was able to get him sleeping even better than before, but it was definitely a "holy crap what's going on " moment!
ReplyDeletethis is what happened to my little one too.but i never firgured it out!!nice to know now! just came across ur blog.now a new follower if you'd like you could follow me back!!
ReplyDeletehttp://justthe3ofus-mary.blogspot.com/
Crazy how these little people's minds wake up their bodies, just like adults!
ReplyDeleteI know, Alexa's still standing and walking while holding onto things. I wonder how long it will be before our babes are walking without support.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I remember that. Aren't milestones just a bunch of fun? I have yet to go through the hell of teething, which I'm sure is on the horizon.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I know Alexa will like the freedom. More mischief to cause.
ReplyDelete