Here's ours and we bet some of them sound familiar!
Babies can make us laugh; they can make us proud. They can also make us crazy, especially when it comes to bedtime.
We've all been that soldier. Our wee one is totally exhausted but instead of popping off to sleep, they become more and more awake. We can literally see their little eyes as they widen bigger, and bigger and BIGGER! Unable to settle them, you find yourself stooping to all kinds of antics and initiatives to get them to zzzzz… Are you nodding yes right now?
We've all been that soldier. Our wee one is totally exhausted but instead of popping off to sleep, they become more and more awake. We can literally see their little eyes as they widen bigger, and bigger and BIGGER! Unable to settle them, you find yourself stooping to all kinds of antics and initiatives to get them to zzzzz… Are you nodding yes right now?
How many of you have done these?
Putting them in the car and driven the roads at 2.30am
Up and down, round and round- driving for as long as it takes, and then shush…. They’re sending up little z’s. Problem starts again when you turn off the engine or move them from their car seat! Sh*t!
Rock them in a rocking chair... for hours
Rock forward, rock back. Rock forward, rock back. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat! And then just as you move them into their cot and release them onto their little mattresses…. Waaaahhhhh! Awake again.
Rock forward, rock back. Rock forward, rock back. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat!
Putting them in the car and driven the roads at 2.30am
Up and down, round and round- driving for as long as it takes, and then shush…. They’re sending up little z’s. Problem starts again when you turn off the engine or move them from their car seat! Sh*t!
Rock them in a rocking chair... for hours
Rock forward, rock back. Rock forward, rock back. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat! And then just as you move them into their cot and release them onto their little mattresses…. Waaaahhhhh! Awake again.
Rock forward, rock back. Rock forward, rock back. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat!
Put the hairdryer or the hoover on... for like an hour!
There’s something about white noise that drives adults mental but babies to sleep? Hairdryers, hoovers, dryers… They love it.
There’s something about white noise that drives adults mental but babies to sleep? Hairdryers, hoovers, dryers… They love it.
Walk the landing and shake up and down the baby (GENTLY) in a little dance until you can’t dance no more and your arms are going to fall off.
You’re other half offers to help, but you won’t give in just in case the baby wakes in the pass-over! Because you know that even the tiniest delayed beat and your baby will wake.
PS: please note! This one technically counts as a workout so you’re exercising while bobbing baby!
Sing a lullaby – over and over again
You even start to make up your own words to keep yourself sane – sure they can’t understand at 3 months!
You’re other half offers to help, but you won’t give in just in case the baby wakes in the pass-over! Because you know that even the tiniest delayed beat and your baby will wake.
PS: please note! This one technically counts as a workout so you’re exercising while bobbing baby!
Sing a lullaby – over and over again
You even start to make up your own words to keep yourself sane – sure they can’t understand at 3 months!
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
Turned on cartoons in the middle of the night.
Both of you stare in wide-eyed stupor as you watch TV in the middle of the night. You don't care what it is. And neither does your baby. It's dark, the TV's flickering... zzzzz’s
You don't move a muscle!
You reach your arm into their cot, you start to gentle rub their head, you shush, you caress and your arm stays in that position until they eventually go to sleep. Meanwhile, your arm is freezing cold, has pins and needles in it and you’re wondering how much longer it will take until the circulation cuts off to your limb entirely!
The Retreat
So babes is ironically sleeping like a baby and now it’s time to exit, stage, left! But how?
You know there’s a creaky floorboard somewhere between the very spot that you stand and the doorway. You also know that if you turn to walk out the door there’s a strong likelihood that you’ll step on it. In addition, you know that mid retreat baby might wake up- and if they see you standing upright, leaving the room, they’ll wail… so what’s a parent to do I hear you ask?
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring don’t shine
Mama’s gonna need a large glass of wine!
Turned on cartoons in the middle of the night.
Both of you stare in wide-eyed stupor as you watch TV in the middle of the night. You don't care what it is. And neither does your baby. It's dark, the TV's flickering... zzzzz’s
You don't move a muscle!
You reach your arm into their cot, you start to gentle rub their head, you shush, you caress and your arm stays in that position until they eventually go to sleep. Meanwhile, your arm is freezing cold, has pins and needles in it and you’re wondering how much longer it will take until the circulation cuts off to your limb entirely!
The Retreat
So babes is ironically sleeping like a baby and now it’s time to exit, stage, left! But how?
You know there’s a creaky floorboard somewhere between the very spot that you stand and the doorway. You also know that if you turn to walk out the door there’s a strong likelihood that you’ll step on it. In addition, you know that mid retreat baby might wake up- and if they see you standing upright, leaving the room, they’ll wail… so what’s a parent to do I hear you ask?
You creep onto the ground, like a cat burglar, millimetre by millimetre, slowly crawling on the floor towards the door. You hold your breath so you don't make a sound. You avoid squeaky toys like your life depended on it. Only when you reach 3 metres out the door do you even dare to start slowly standing up to complete your super ninja turtle- like manoeuvre. You virtually high five your other half. #Result!
