The Little Apple has never been a good sleeper, except for maybe the first two weeks of her life. After that, she would stay awake and resist sleep all day long. Then, around 3 months, we got to a good place where she was sleeping 6-7 hours straight a night, and then she got sick at 5 months. Then we got back to that good place, and then she started teething. Then we got back to that good place, and now, at 7.5 months, for no apparent reason, she is awake at odd hours of the night again.
And yes, we do have a night-time routine. It goes like this: first, the Little Apple gets a massage from Mommy. Then she gets read a bedtime story (“Goodnight Moon”), during which she snatches at the pages and tries to crumple them with her little hammy fists. And then she gets breastfed. And then she falls asleep. All this starts between 6:30 and 7pm, every night of the week.
And THEN, around 11pm, Mommy and Daddy climb into bed beside her. Usually the Little Apple wakes up for another feeding, and afterwards, Daddy puts a pillow between Mommy and the Little Apple. This way, the Little Apple knows that Mommy’s two-table Breast Cafe is closed for business. Well, two nights ago, this Mommy was dreaming happily until she heard a “smack, smack” sound close to her ear.
Mommy opened her eyes, which were heavy with grogginess. Turns out, the “smack, smack” sound was the sound that the wedge pillow made as it banged against Mommy’s head, and it was being wielded by the Little Apple. I guess she really wanted to wake me, but couldn’t quite reach me, so she improvised.
Three nights ago, I woke up around 3am to see the Little Apple lying there with her eyes wide open. She was staring at the ceiling, chewing her pacifier. Then, with her right hand, she plucked the pacifier out of her mouth and looked at it intently. Then she passed it to her left hand, and stared at it some more. Then back to the right hand, and yet more scrutiny. Then she tried to drop the pacifier, but couldn’t because she was gripping it so hard.
And four nights ago, she woke me up during the wee hours by loudly proclaiming at the top of her baby lungs, “Da-da-da-da-DAH!” And giggled. And kicked. And flailed her right arm against her Daddy’s face. And giggled and kicked some more.
So I am at a loss as to what to do. She’s not crabby or gassy or sick or anything…she’s perfectly happy. So maybe she forgot that nighttime is for sleeping, not playing. So maybe I need to “re-train” her, but I just don’t know how. I guess a little research might be in order here. Wish me luck!
