OMG how do you people do this

[LoveTrains]

I have an 18 month old niece. I don't see her very often - well this is actually only the third time I have seen her - since my sister lives across the country.

My sis and BIL went out for the night (like, not coming back until tomorrow morning) and left her with my parents. I am of course staying at my parent's house so I am helping.

So I played with her, like all day. This is exhausting. Plus now we can't get her to sleep and she is just screaming. GAHHH we don't know what to do. I rocked her to sleep and tried to put her down but she woke up as soon as I put her in the crib. 

She just keeps screaming "mama" and then alternating with "dada". 

This is just further cementing my CF by choice decision. I'm 33 so its not like I'm getting any younger.

[Deleted]

Oh man, they are so much cuter in the daytime I swear. I was visiting my parents the first time they watched my (then) ten month old niece. I begged my mom to let me get up with her if she woke up. Yeah that got old by the fourth wakeup. She was actually a good sleeper but she had never been away from my sister before then so she was freaking a bit that weekend. But anyway, sometimes I just count down the hours until day care opens. LOL

[LoveTrains]

Like how long do I let her cry before going back in there? BC now she has been crying for like ten minutes and I feel bad...and apparently my parents don't feel like going in.

[LoveTrains]

I'm half tempted to just co-sleep with her in my bed, but I think my sister will be PISSED if she finds out I did that. Is it wrong to co-sleep with her AND my dog?

[Deleted]

Nov 26, 2013 22:07:35 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Like how long do I let her cry before going back in there? BC now she has been crying for like ten minutes and I feel bad...and apparently my parents don't feel like going in.

How long do you think you can stand it?  B has a whimpering cry that I know means he is settling down and is about to go to sleep.  If it sounds like the "OMG I'm in pain" cry I go in and pick him up.  I'm sure it's hard to differentiate if you don't know her too well but if it sounds like weak crying I'd wait ten minutes and see if it increases or decreases.

[Deleted]

At 18 months, I'd just cosleep. Can you keep yourself between her and the dog? I don't worry about you and her, but she might scare the dog that isn't used to a toddler in bed.

[Deleted]

Ten minutes?! That's nothing. NOTHING. lolol

My baby knowledge ends at 6mo so I'm super helpful here.

Not that I condone the idea, but if you cosleep with a baby and a pug I will need a picture.

[sarabi]

I'd give it a few more minutes. If her parents didn't say anything, I'd bet she sleeps well at home. If she doesn't stop in a few minutes, I would go in and try to reassure her everything was ok and she should sleep. I try really hard not to pick up once I've laid them down.

Good luck!

[bunch]

My kid would have fallen out of the bed and never gone to sleep in my bed at that age. Sorry

It's easier when they're yours?

[fortmyersbride]

My kids sleep with their grandmas or aunts when they do sleepovers, plus dogs and cats, but they're also used to cosleeping. If your niece isn't used to it, she may not settle much more, but at this point it sounds like it might be worth a try.

eta- i probably wouldn't try it if i thought I the parents weren't comfortable with cosleeping, sorry

[curbsideprophet]

Did they give you any instructions on how long to let her cry at bed time? I would probably go on in. I would not be opposed to you co-sleeping if that is what you had to do. However I would not be happy to find out you co-slept with the dog. Can the dog sleep elsewhere if that is what you decide to do?

[Brie]

Yeah, I wouldn't cosleep, but I hate it anyway. Plus, you don't know how your sleeping dog would do. My dog is amazingly gentle but will growl if he gets disturbed while sleeping.

It does kind of suck a lot of the time, but then they do stuff like learn to give hugs and pet the dog and make fart noises with their mouth and it just makes your heart grow a million sizes.

[212]

I drink. Every. Single. Night.

[Deleted]

I drink a lot.

[LoveTrains]

Yeah she actually doesn't know me that well, but she apparently prefers me over my parents and my brother because she didn't want me to leave her with them while I took a shower earlier today. She doesn't really know my parents that well, either, because they also live on this coast but they have gone out to visit more than I have.

She went from bloody murder crying to now just whimpering so I am hopeful!

I didn't get any of the instructions, my sister gave them all to my parents, but I have been the one mostly watching her today.

[LoveTrains]

PS thanks for all the suggestions! I really appreciate it. I have been lurking on MMM because I have been trying to decide if I should have a convo with H about maybe starting TTC and this is really just a wealth of information. I feel that whatever decision we do finally make, that at least it will be an educated one. So thanks again to all of you for being amazing moms and birthing the next generation - because someone has to do it!

[water*drop]

My 18-month-old would think that co-sleeping with a dog would be the BEST. THING. EVER. And by that, I mean that she would not sleep for even 5 seconds all night long because she would be too busy poking you and screeching "DOGGIE!!!" at the top of her lungs.

For my daughter, the whimpering stage sometimes lasts a while, but she usually does go to sleep after that. Sometimes she revs up into a second (but usually shorter) round of angry screaming first, though. Rarely does interrupting the whimpering phase work out in my favor.

Good luck!

[vanillacourage]

Whimpering is a good sign. She's winding down. 

Do not co-sleep, especially not with the dog. 

It really is much easier when they're yours and you soeak their language/know what they need. 

[statlerwaldorf]

It was easier for me than it was for other people with DD. She didn't do well when her schedule was messed up. Bedtime would be hell if she was overtired. You'd think that someone who is really tired would fall asleep easier, but it was the complete opposite.

[scribellesam]

When I recently left DS with my mom and two aunts for a week for vacation with DH, he attached to my mom as his "security person," sounds like your niece did the same with you. I think it's always worth trying to check on them, she's probably just feeling off because she's not in her home base. I'm one of the non-CIO minority on this board, though.

[imojoebunny]

All I can say is your a good sister, My aunt took my DD for a weekend around that age, She accidentally left my DD's lovey at my cousins house across town. At 11pm, my aunt had to drive across town because DD would not stop yelling, "aardvark, where is my Aardvark." I vote you for saint sister. It is 100% easier when it is your kid, and 100% appreciated when you take them when it is not.

[Deleted]

Aww. 18 months is a hard age. They want to be going, going, going all day and into everything but they still have physical limitations (need to nap, might not be talking, etc.). She was probably just excited to be at your house and overstimulated. I hope last night went well. You're a good sister/aunt to do over night visits!

[Willis Jackson]

It's morning now, but don't be afraid to call your sister in the future. It might be an easy fix, like she needs some specific stuffed animal or a blanket only on a certain part of her body or something.

[Deleted]

Y'all are killing me. Eek...

[Marmee]

Just seconding the good sister thing! My CF sister is the only person I trusted with my kids overnight& she used to take them (even all 3) for sleepovers. It was so sweet of her. They all coslept in one bed & I never gave her instructions because honestly I'm not all that picky. If they passed out on the floor while watching a movie & she left them there I did not care. Just giving us an occassional night out was amazing. Just return kids alive & unharmed (& they always had a blast as a bonus)!

[justjen]

How do I do it? Daycare.

[LoveTrains]

So she finally fell asleep around 11 pm and slept through the night but woke up at 6 am. Now she wants "mama milk". That is the one thing I don't have!

[Deleted]

Glad she finally went to sleep! I would have probably resorted to trying to rock her to sleep.

[gibbinator]

I would venture to say it's easier when it's your own kid, although there's certainly a learning curve. I am a terrible babysitter, I never know what to do to keep someone else's kid calm or happy.

Glad you made it through the night!

[karinothing]

Nov 27, 2013 8:27:21 GMT -5 @redbellpeppers said:

Y'all are killing me. Eek...

No one plans with their own kid all day Independent play for the win!