Your cart is currently empty!
I’m Struggling With Sleep Training, and Honestly, I’m Too Exhausted to Care
“Does she sleep through the night yet?”
Nope. My 8-month-old is far from sleeping through the night. Not even close. And before I can catch my breath, I’m hit with the classic question: “Oh! Have you tried sleep training?”
From what I’ve gathered in these eight months of motherhood, “sleep training” seems to be a fancy term for “let your baby wail until they’re hoarse, flailing around, and causing you to question your parenting skills.” I mean, what loving mother would actually let her child cry like that for long? Who am I kidding?
At this point, I feel like banging my head against the wall every time my little one calls out for me at 4 a.m. for the third time, this time craving a snack. Eight months of this is driving me bonkers! I’m so tired that I’ve started pouring orange juice into my coffee instead of creamer. I can’t even tell if it’s day or night anymore. But you know what sounds even worse? The nightmare that is sleep training.
At least I know that when I head into my baby’s room and offer my breast, she’ll quiet down. The crying is temporary. But with sleep training? I’ve heard the horror stories. Some babies settle after five minutes, others take 45, and some poor parents just give in after what feels like an eternity.
That sound—my baby’s cries—feels like a knife in my gut. Give me nails on a chalkboard any day! The sound of my baby wailing is enough to bring me to tears, tearing my heart apart and triggering my instinct to flee. I must stop that sound. I must quiet my baby! I can pretend it’s because I’m a compassionate mother, but let’s be real: it’s because my heart just can’t handle it.
And then there’s my husband, sweet Michael, snoring away next to me. How does he not hear that piercing cry and race to the nursery? Seriously, how is he still asleep? Sometimes I wish he would wake up and help. I lie there, my heart racing, while my baby screams from across the hall.
I wait…and wait. I check the clock, and what feels like an hour has been a mere four and a half minutes, and the crying intensifies. I start to imagine the worst: Is she choking? Is her foot stuck in the crib? Will she need years of therapy because of sleep training?
Finally, after what seems like the longest 13 minutes of my life, I leap out of bed and dash to my daughter’s side, whipping out my breast like a magic wand. Because let’s face it, it’s 4 a.m., and my resolve is still snuggled up in bed with my husband. My determination has flown out the window, and my heart has surrendered. What’s one more night of sleep deprivation?
So, sleep training has bested me once again. Maybe I’ll try again tomorrow. Maybe not. Honestly, I’m too tired to care right now.
For More Insights
For more insights on parenting challenges, check out our other blog post on home insemination, or visit Make A Mom for authoritative information about the tools you need for your journey. If you’re looking for excellent resources on pregnancy and family planning, visit CDC’s Infertility page.
Summary:
In this humorous and relatable reflection, Jamie Parker shares her struggles with sleep training her 8-month-old. Despite the well-meaning advice from others, she finds herself overwhelmed and exhausted, opting for the comfort of breastfeeding over the pain of letting her baby cry it out. Ultimately, the quest for sleep training seems futile, leaving her too tired to care about trying again.