Since I was expecting my now 31 month old boy, I cannot sleep through the night 4-5 days a week. I stopped breastfeeding him when he turned 26 months old, and he's become a good sleeper since then. He usually falls asleep around 8:30pm. I skip taking a nap while he's sleeping, but I cannot sleep at night.
Sometimes I need to take a brief nap if my night time sleeping is 3 hours or so. While putting him down to sleep, I need to pretend to be asleep and I, including my husband, almost end up sleeping at the same time. I'm not willing to take sleeping pills. Anyone with the same problem? Any advice is welcome.
Have you tried drinking a glass of warm milk? Something about the warmness in the milk soothes and calms the spirit.
Another thing that I would do is read a not so exciting book for a few pages.That makes me sleepy. Don't watch TV. That's a stimulus that gets you to watch more TV.
Excercise early in the evening so that you are tired when you finally get to go to bed.
Can you take Tylenol PM?
You say you go down with him as he goes to bed at night. STOP THAT. You need to break him of that NOW. He is getting too old and think about it...do you wanna be doing that when he is a teenager? I think not. and stop taking naps at the same time. Use this time to clean, read, anything that he doesn't need. If you can afford it, send him to a preschool and go to a gym and do a workout.
You are probably a bit anxious about your new arrival while still having a young one at home. Have you tried going for a brisk walk? Exercise is a great solution. Also, try putting lavender oil on your pillow or taking a soothing bath before bed. Hope this helps!
You need to put him down alone at this point. Who is in charge you or him. He's not an infant anymore. It's going to take some time for him to get use to you not being there, but you have to be firm. Lay him in his crib, tell him it's time to go to sleep and you sit by him (you can read a book or something) When he sits or stands up, don't speak to him, just lay him back down and go back to reading. After he dozes off, leave the room. If he wakes up again do the same thing. He will eventually go to sleep on his own when you lay him down. Remember to ignore him. No conversation. It's bed time. It's time that he became independent of you at bedtime.
Have you looked at Melatonin? It's a chemical that your body should be producing anyways that helps you to fall asleep/stay asleep. You said no pills, but perhaps this would be an option for you since you're body makes it anyway. Also, it might be worth talking to the doc about. He may have some ideas that won't require meds.
Try warm milk with a little sugar and vanilla extract. It seems to work for everyone I know. I did it during my pregnancy whenever I found myself having trouble sleeping
HI! Welcome to the club, I haven't slept through the night in over 9 years... C., widowed mother of 3 girls ages 4, 6, 8.
Hi,
I had the same problem as far as sleeplessness. I think my body just got used to not sleeping (when my kids were young) so I always woke in the middle of the night and couldn't go back to sleep. I can't tell from your letter if you're pregnant or brestfeeding now. If you are, this isn't a good idea. But, I know you won't take sleeping pills, but I take a little bit of kid's Benadryl before bed--just 1.5 teaspoons, not even a full kid's dose. It doesn't completely knock me out and I am able to wake quickly if my kids need me, but somehow it helps me go right back to sleep if I wake up. I am a nurse and in the hospital Benadryl is prescribed often for adults who have occasional trouble sleeping. It is not addictive and is the same medicine in Tylenol PM. By taking kid's liquid you can control the dose and get a smaller amount if you choose. However, I have found that too small a dose just wakes me up later.
Also, make sure you aren't napping with your child and getting up at a regular time every day. Exercise helps too, even a quick walk outside with the stroller. Good luck!
You could try rubbing your shirt with the johnson and johnson baby lotion that is lavender and chamomile. After you take your shower or bath rub some on your chest but also your shirt. It will soak into your skin but will remain on your shirt.
You could also try burning candles in your room containing lavender scents about 2 hours before the time you are ready to go to bed, it will allowthe scent to linger in the room till you can fall asleep.
Sounds like some type of hormone imbalance. Have you had your thyroid checked? Pregnancy can set this off. I would see your doctor and make sure all your body chemical levels are right.
