Updated: Aug. 24, 2017 | Originally Published: Jan. 7, 2016
There’s always that one parent in your circle whose baby started sleeping through the night at a mere six weeks. You try your best to be supportive, but honestly, you just can’t muster the enthusiasm.
They’re quick to share their “secret” sleep-training techniques, leaving you to question your abilities as a parent. Determined to improve, you resolve to implement their suggestions and make a change.
As night falls, you give yourself a motivational speech. Tonight will be different. You will conquer this sleep struggle. You prepare yourself to pick your little one up and lay them back down in their crib countless times if necessary.
You lay your baby down, and the inevitable crying begins. You attempt to soothe them by rocking and shushing, but soon your back begins to ache. You try every trick you can think of—from gentle back pats in a counterclockwise motion to playing a lullaby on repeat. You seriously consider taking a bathroom break but decide to press on.
You find yourself bouncing around the room, resembling a weary rabbit. To your surprise, your efforts seem to be working. Your baby starts to calm down, and you feel a flicker of hope. Carefully, you place them back in their crib and tiptoe out of the room.
Just as you reach your bed, a wave of relief washes over you. It’s been ages since you could stretch out without getting drenched in spilled juice. You drift off into a blissful sleep, but two hours later, rustling sounds disrupt your peace.
At first, you attempt to ignore it, just like the other parents advised. But as the rustling escalates into full-blown crying, your resolve begins to crumble. You can’t endure it anymore; the little one’s cries are too powerful.
Defeated, you head to the nursery, where your baby greets you with a smile, clearly amused by your surrender. Instead of settling down, they want to play. Your determination falters, and you start to question what went wrong. Other parents made it seem so simple. You begin to think that a good night’s sleep might be a thing of the past. You feel a flicker of resentment towards those other parents.
After what feels like an eternity, your baby finally yawns. Hope rekindles in your heart; maybe, just maybe, they will settle down. You carry them to your bed—now a shared space—and curl yourself around them. They snuggle in, eyes closing peacefully. You can hardly believe it—sleep is on the horizon!
Just three hours remain before you need to rise. You mentally vow to steer clear of any parent who brings up sleep in the future. You promise yourself that when your child reaches their teenage years, you will be the one waking them bright and early. You even contemplate a caffeine delivery system to help you through the mornings. As your little one nestles against you, their tiny hand resting on your face, you remember just how adorable they can be. You drift into a peaceful slumber, despite the chaos.
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Summary
This article humorously captures the exhausting experience of trying to get a baby to sleep, showcasing the struggles and resilience of a tired parent. From attempts at sleep training to the realization that some babies just don’t want to cooperate, it highlights the ups and downs of parenthood.