Photographing a sleeping baby is a sickness. I just can’t help it.
She’s a good sleeper, she is. Not so great at naps, but after the first couple weeks I have only felt sleep deprived a handful of times. I will never fail to appreciate this gift.
She sleeps most of the night beside me and has since birth. We are happiest that way (even my husband!), and it’s easy, and it makes me feel more connected to her after being away so long during the day.
But if there’s ooooone little thing I could request, it’s that she wouldn’t resist GOING to sleep so much. She has had a late bedtime for awhile now, and I didn’t fight it because it wasn’t worth it. But lately she gets super grumpy and tantrum-y when she’s tired and I don’t like it one bit. The only thing that puts her to sleep consistently is taking her for a drive, and we have to resort to that a lot. The other thing that works is nursing her, but not even that has been successful lately.
I know there are so many things coming into play here – her development and growing teeth come to mind immediately – and usually we can deal. But if you have had a similar experience, I’d love to hear about it. I don’t even need advice, just let me know I’m not alone!
From Holly:
I only have one picture of Topher sleeping (well, apart from a million when he was a newborn!) – he’s such a light sleeper, any sound from the camera wakes him up! He used to be really good at going to sleep on his own but now the bedtime routine takes almost an hour – bathtime, storytime, singing every song he knows … and even then he’s up three or four times before he finally settles down for the night. I blame teething!
From Melanie:
Sleeping babies are SO adorable! Love those cheeks.
I would have to say none of our kids have been easy to get to sleep, and some of them went through a phase where they only wanted ME, not even my husband after a certain time at night. Thankfully, it was a phase that passed and now the oldest four at least are pretty easy at bedtime. Still working on the 16-month old!
From Kara:
It seems like the only photos I take these days are sleeping baby photos.
My biggest issue with my kiddo sleeping is that she loves to fall asleep in my arms or while nursing, but as soon as I put her in her bassinet, she’ll wake right now and demand to be held again. I’ve now resorted to sleeping on the couch just so we can both get some sleep. I’m probably going to pay for this when she’s older.
From Kara:
And I just realized that Isla has the same cupcake and flower print onesies! (Bottom-left and second from bottom-left photos) Small world!
From Becky:
She’s maturing! There’s a lot of changes going on in her brain and body. I nursed Liz until she was 15 months old. One day she smile at me and bit me. Then she did it again, and that was the end of it. Nate and Liz were both terrific sleepers, but bedtimes were different for each. You will find a path. Persistence and consistence, and keep trying. She’s a robust baby, on target with all her “motor milestones”, obviously well loved and nurtured.
Love and prayers!