I agree with TB, it makes me a bit sad when I hear parents describing themselves as "naughty" for comforting an upset child, as though rocking, or cuddling (or even co-sleeping) are somehow bad parenting. Its a shame that culture has made us feel that way about what is totally normal mothering.
I see your point and don't agree that it is by any means a bad thing. It is however something I have decided to do. We (DH or I) hold him every night and have a big cuddle and put him down only once he is drowsy. We stay with him with a hand on his back or gently patting him until he completely asleep. He is a happy little chap and I would never do anything to make him upset (don't believe in letting a poor little one crying) BUT I do want to have a life after bedtime ;)
I agree with TB, it makes me a bit sad when I hear parents describing themselves as "naughty" for comforting an upset child, as though rocking, or cuddling (or even co-sleeping) are somehow bad parenting. Its a shame that culture has made us feel that way about what is totally normal mothering.
Fretty, this is normal.
As you say, when they learn a new skill they will practice to death! DS has been doing all sorts of things at bedtime - latest skill being clapping his hands and that is what he does accordingly when I put him to sleep or when he wakes up. Actually yesterday he started waving his hand when we were in the car - in the a very Queeny kind of way - so I expect this to take over now :) so when this happens, I just lie him back down again and to distract him I give him water which works on many occasions, and then, the patting :)
He has recently been given a giant fluffy dog which is now his sleeping buddy and we have found this helps him fall asleep (he never wanted the dummy) - he cuddles up to it and ends up using it as his 'pillow'. Then once he is asleep, I put it away in a corner so that he can sleep flat.
Re holding him to sleep because he is in pain, is perfectly OK. Don't we all like a bit of TLC when we don't feel well? I know there are many here who are strong advocates of letting them fall asleep by themselves and I agree that in the long term it is the best thing for everyone but you are allowed to be 'naughty' and make exceptions occasionally. Yes you might pay the price afterwards but you had a reason for doing it and it s well worth it - don't feel bad about it.
Have you tried the amber beads to relieve the teething pain? I could not absolutely guarantee that they work but i tried after having had 2 weeks of sleepless nights over Xmas when DS' first four teeth popped out, and now his 5th has come out and although he has woken up a couple of nights and cried a little bit, it was relatively easy to get him back to sleep so I would like to think the beads had some effect - anything to get some sleep ;)
<em>edited by twin_butterfly on 26/02/2012</em>
Hi Kie,
Sorry for not replying. By then I was back to his room doing some more back patting and lullabys.
He is 11 and half month and I think its more to the fact that he can now crawl to the side of his cot and pull himself up. So he just wants to keep practicing his new found skill day and night. We also been a bit naught when he was teething by letting him fall asleep while holding him...Naughty I know and now I have my punishment, I guess
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Sorry can't write comprehensibly. Too tired. 10 min. now. He is bubbling to himself, streches of silence and than Amamamamam... heart is breaking, DH is loosing whatever hair he has left. Come on what's going on tonight??? Is it full moon?
HELP!!! I tried, DH tried, broke all the rules, picked him up, rocked him, sang to him...resulted to "cry it out" It's been 8 min and he is bubbling away but no sight of sleep :-(