“Is your little one sleeping through the night yet?”
Not even close. My 8-month-old still wakes up regularly, and the question that follows is always, “Have you tried sleep training?” From my experience, sleep training is just a fancy term for enduring your child’s cries until they’re hoarse, while you question your parenting skills.
Let’s be real. What kind of loving mother could bear to listen to her baby wail for an extended period? I’m at a point where I’m ready to bang my head against the wall when my little one calls out for the third time in the middle of the night. Eight months of this is absolutely draining. I’m mixing orange juice into my coffee instead of cream, and I can’t even tell if it’s day or night anymore. But sleep training? That sounds like pure torture.
At least when I go into my baby’s room and nurse him, I know it will calm him down. The crying is temporary. I’ve heard horror stories about sleep training: some babies settle down after just five minutes, while others cry for 45 minutes or longer, leaving parents utterly defeated. The sound of my baby’s cries feels like a dagger to my heart. I’d take nails on a chalkboard over that any day. I can’t handle the anguish that comes with hearing my child in distress.
And then there’s my husband, blissfully asleep next to me. How does he not hear the high-pitched cries and rush to help? Seriously, how is he still sleeping? I often lay there, waiting and hoping he’ll wake up. But each minute feels like an eternity, and it’s usually just a few short moments before I’m overwhelmed with anxiety. I wonder if he’s hurt or if his foot is stuck in the crib slats. I worry about the potential long-term effects of sleep training—will he need therapy for abandonment issues down the road?
After what feels like the longest 13 minutes of my life, I bolt out of bed and rush to my son’s side, ready to nurse him. It’s 4 a.m., and my motivation is still tucked away, fast asleep next to my husband. My willpower has vanished, and my heart is heavy. What’s one more night of sleeplessness, anyway? Sleep training has outsmarted me once again. Maybe I’ll give it another shot tomorrow, or maybe I won’t. Right now, I’m simply too tired to care.
For more insights on parenting challenges, you might want to check out this post on Cervical Insemination. If you’re looking for resources on fertility, Make a Mom offers at-home insemination kits that can be helpful. Additionally, the CDC provides excellent information on pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, sleep training can feel like a daunting task, especially when you’re already exhausted. The cries of your little one can provoke deep emotional responses, making the thought of letting them cry it out seem unbearable. Each night is a new challenge, and while you may consider trying again, sometimes you just need to prioritize your well-being over the training.