Monday, September 8, 2008

Help...I need SLEEP!

Thanks to everyone for their encouraging comments about our petite little Avery! After reading your comments, talking to other preemie moms on Nest Baby and talking to Dr. Khanfar's nurse, I feel much better! I keep posting her growth chart - which doesn't look so bad after all, but for some reason it disappears every time I post it. Anyway, now we have a new problem. : ) Well, not really a problem, just an annoyance I guess.

Avery slept through the night for months. She started doing it right after I went back to work in May and has done it ever since. About a month ago though she started waking up during the night. Some nights she just wants her paci (which is another good reason to wean them from their paci at 7 months!) But nights like we had last night get pretty tiring b/c I can't figure out what she wants. She is refusing to let me rock her to sleep lately - which is fine I guess, but last night she was up from 11pm - 3am and just would not sleep. Finally at 3am she gave up and then at a quarter till 5 my alarm went off. Lovely. I know she is probably teething so I gave her teething tablets. I don't feel comfortable with Baby Orajel yet b/c of some reviews I read online that scared me. I didn't try Tylenol either b/c she didn't have a fever and I don't like giving her meds unless it is COMPLETELY necessary. I did try Mylocon at one point, thinking it must be gas. We tried the swing, the bouncer, our bed, her bed, formula bottle, juice bottle, rocking, shushing, swaddling, changing her diaper (of course)...I mean everything I could think of. My mamaw suggested I give her some Tylenol and let her cry it out, but I just don't know if thats the answer. I know one thing: I NEED SLEEP TONIGHT. Any suggestions?

As tough as it was last night - she's still the most precious thing in the whole world....


6 comments:

Jami Ainsworth said...

Maybe I sound old-fashioned too, but I agree with you Mamaw about the Tylenol. Tylenol and Advil aren't just for fever...I take them for pain and I certainly used it for Natalie for teething pain. Natalie went through a phase (also a after sleeping all night) of waking up like clockwork each night around 1:00 around her b'day. I would give her her Advil dosage at bedtime and I would have a sringe ready for the night. It would then lay with her in the day bed. It would take about 20-30 minutes for it to kick...when I would wake up from my doze (while holding her in the daybed), I would gently put her back in her bed. This would carry her through through daylight.

I know every child is different, but don't be afraid to use what's available to make your child more comfortable. It's good to read and know the facts, but then use it to yours and Avery's advantage.

Take my suggestions lightly...I don't mean to sound "know-it-all"...I am definitley not. I do know mommies and mimis need sleep and so do baby girls.

DC said...

Ummm...yeah...go ahead with the Tylenol & rub some Benadryl on Avery's gums! Oh - add a shot of whiskey to her night bottle too! I know this will all get you in the running for Mother of the Year 2008! Good Luck!

Stormie's mommy said...

Hey I also would suggest tylenol. I give Stormie some and teething tabs and she sleeps good. As a matter of fact I did it last night and she slept all night. They hurt so bad when those teeth come in that they need a little relief from pain as do we if we have headaches or back aches or whatever aches ha ha! GOOD luck because I do not know what a full nights sleep is until last night that is the very FIRST time she has slept all night so count yourself blessed!!!! Good luck and maybe she just was having a rough night.

Nicki Kennon said...

Tylenol was a Godsend during Cameron's rough teething times. The teething pain doesn't really last that long. Once the tooth breaks the skin it's not suppose to feel so bad for them. Tylenol should definitely help ease her pain and it's not dangerous at all as long as you give her the right dosage and don't abuse it, you know like give it to her everyday :-)

Baylee's Mommy said...

We actually put our house on the market back in February. It sat on the market for 4 months before we had an offer. We now have a contract on it and are set to close on September 26. The buyers are stuck in a rental contract so we had to wait 2 months to close due to their inability to get out of it. We are having a house built in Hendersonville, TN. GREAT school system. GOOD LUCK selling your home!

LucieP said...

Go for the Tylenol-probaby like .4 or .6?
My son is 9 months old and his teeth really bother him. He has 6 now-going on # 7. I thought he had gotten over the pain and wanted to take a break on the Tylenol but the last two nights he's woken up at 4:45 and 5:45 and that's the first thing his daddy's asked was if I gave him Tylenol (cuz ya know, it's my job!:).

Crying it out is good too but if you know she is teething then may not be a good idea unless she is otherwise fed, dry, etc.

Oh the joys....