0-7 was the worst for me. It started to get better at week 7 because his sleep improved and we got into a routine. So even though he wasn't sleeping through the night, I at least knew what to expect.
This. Around 8 weeks we started a bedtime routine which made things much more manageable, even though he was still nursing 3-4 times a night.
So far every month since has seemed easier and more fun to me.
ETA: Sleeping through the night was another huge turning point for me (around 11 months). So was cutting back on nursing and getting my period back (around 9 months), because that meant I was more interested in sex and felt more connected with DH.
Hardest timeframe for parenting in general? It's hard to pinpoint. I've really struggled managing all of his appointments. The exhaustion, and straying from our routine. From physical therapy for months, to 6+ months of cranial appointments WEEKLY, and sometimes 2x per week, to constant ear infections, croup, HFM, pre-op/post-op ear tube appointments, surgery, to several ultrasounds for his gallbladder and to check for a digestive issue when he was projectile vomiting. It just feels never-ending. I feel like we can't get ahead, and have little free time to have a regular day at home (on my day off) cleaning, going on plate dates, and just "being".
I think with the ear tubes behind us after this week's post-op visit, we should be golden for a long while!
From 0-12 weeks DH was studying for a certification exam, so I was very much a single parent much of that time. Life was pretty dark through some of that, too.
7-8.5 months. Separation anxiety and stranger danger made DD a screamy mess and really threw off her sleep. She was up hourly for a lot of that period and only wanted me. She also was sick a lot in there.
For sleep: 4-6 months (Kid #1) and 4-9 months (Kid #2) Parenting: 13-20 months (Kid #1 and holding true for Kid #2 so far as well)
My kids had prolonged 4 month wakefuls. I generally had issues until I night weaned them.
For parenting, I think the age where they are walking and can get into things, but cannot understand that they are not supposed to is the absolute worst. Its like friggin ground hog's day. Once they can comprehend what you are saying and can also talk somewhat things get much better.
I honestly did not find the first year difficult, other than the first 3 months with my first kid because she was colicky. Its when they morph into little people that (for us) it gets harder.
Hardest for both was 0-3 weeks. DS had MSPI & reflux and I was formula feeding. His stools were FULL of blood, he had constant rashes and would SCREAM in pain for 30 minutes after each feeding and then pass out. Luckily from the begining he has been an awesome sleeper and would sleep for 2-3 hours even then, but until we got him on the elecare and prilosec, there were some rough days.
He has STTN pretty consistently since 7 weeks old only a few wake ups at 4 months and a few randoms since. I am scared to death to have another as I KNOW I am due for a crap sleeper.
7 months - 18 months with regards to sleep - everything with sleep was sunshine and rainbows up to that point but teeth came in rapid fire and she was pisssssed. We also had a few ear infections in there too and cut night feeds, so there were a few factors.
He's sleeping really well right now and I'm savoring it, waiting for the 4 month wakeful to bite me in the ass.
That's where I am too. LO is a good sleeper and usually gives us at least 8 hours a night...I'm really worried about a sleep regression at 4 months because she will be suffering jetlag from a trip we are going on and I will be starting back work right then as well. I'm really not used to not sleeping and am afraid of being a flipping idiot at work if she decides to stop sleeping well at that point
Post by gibbinator on Jul 15, 2014 11:51:23 GMT -5
Under a year was all quite demanding and, in retrospect, miserable. Toddlers ftw! Once he hit 14 months he just became a joy and life improved dramatically. The worst of the sleep deprivation was 4-6 months, thank you 4mw. By 15 months of not sttn I was just jaded.
My low point was at 2 weeks. I was exhausted, my body was desecrated, DH was hitting his limit and not able to take care of me, BFing was still really hard, etc.
For sleep, it was the first few weeks and then the 4m wakeful, because both required LONG periods of being awake when I wanted to be sleeping.
Post by turtlegirl on Jul 15, 2014 12:01:57 GMT -5
With both kids it's been the newborn sleep deprivation that killed me and was the hardest thing for me as a parent. But we sleep trained both kids pretty early (4-4.5 months old) and after that life got a whole lot better for both the parents and the kids.
There have been some hard times with DS1 now as a 3 year old with back-talk and just being a jerk. But they are few and far between and at least I get sleep at night, so I can deal with discipline and crap during the day. Seriously, every stage has been easy-ish for me as long as my kids nap and STTN, lol.
Post by winecheery on Jul 15, 2014 12:30:54 GMT -5
The first 3 weeks were hard in that I HATED recovering from delivery. I felt like I couldn't be a parent because my body wasn't at its best. So that sucked. Had zilch to do with DD though.
The 4mw was by far the worst time for me sleep wise. Even now, with her doing weird things with her naps and her whiny/emotional/fake cryings bouts is nothing compared to how frustrating and hard that was.
Week 3-12. DH was home the first 3 weeks and I got 6 straight hours of sleep each night. Once he went back to work, I did all the wake ups till I went back to work at 10 weeks. DD didn't start doing 6+ hours of sleep till she was 3 months old and that was spotty.
3 weeks to 5 months were very hard sleep depravation wise bc he cried all.day.long had reflux , a milk protein allergy and never napped more than 30 min at a time.
Parenting from 2 yrs on has been very challenging - its hard but in a different way. I have a very spirited 3 yr old though.
We are only 5 months in, but the last six weeks or so have really kicked my ass, sleep-wise. I really hope we are on the verge of better times. If not…sleep training! Either way there is an end in sight, knock on wood.
n/a on the sleep. i will wish sleepy babies for all of you.
i guess the hardest was when she was swollen, had hives and was miserable and i didn't know why. i wasn't really stressed i just felt awful for her. luckily we have amazing drs.