Good Night, Sleep Tight

TIRED....

Unfortunately folks, this magical stuff is no longer cutting it.

After my exasperated post on facebook last week about the fact that my 7 month old still is up 3-4 times a night I got LOTS of suggestions on what to do.  Being as this is my second as not first child, most of it was stuff I had already heard/ tried.  However, one friend brilliantly suggested this book: http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Ladys-Good-Night-Tight/dp/1593155581/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344885036&sr=8-1&keywords=good+night+sleep+tight+by+kim+west

It came last night, and I am looking forward to reading it, and hoping it would help. It is for people who refuse to listen to their kid scream for hours, but want to get them to sleep. PERFECT!!! :)  From the one chapter I skimmed over my lunch, it seems like an easy fix. We just need a SCHEDULE! I had not even realized that with Lainey I have been horrible at having a schedule. With Keira, I worked full time (versus 3 days a week), we were living in our own home, and had ONE child, not two. I know by this point you are saying "Yes- and your point is?!" Well the point is that until today, in my sleep deprived existence, it did not even dawn on me that this is what life for Lainey is like:

• 1 day a week she goes to a babysitters and has a routine there
• 2 days a week she goes to Grandma's and has her routine there
• 2 days a week she is "home" with mom and big sister- which means that she is on the go, lugged from playdate, to grocery shopping, to the office to catch up on stuff not done in the 3 previous days, etc. On top of that "Home" could be one of 2-3 different places, as it is Grandma Leas/ Janes/ or a friends house.
• 2 days a week it is the weekend- which means there is absolutely NO schedule as we may or may not be in town, and usually have a booked agenda. 

AND I WONDER WHY MY CHILD DOESN"T SLEEP?!

I love being home Part time, but did not realize until today, that this is probably exasperating the whole "not having a schedule" thing, as Lainey has a different schedule almost every day of the week. On top of that, Keira was such an easy baby who just slept anywhere, I am not used to this whole idea of "catering to naptime". (Btw- I really despise that whole philosophy of catering to naptime, as Keira just slept on the go, and her routine fit into my routine. For some reason the idea that we have to ALL stop what we are doing for a child to nap is irritating to me. What do they think?....that the world revolves around them?! Well, apparently it does. ***Sigh***)

With that being said: I have drawn up a FLEXIBLE schedule that I am going to try and get Lainey on. This will include a bedtime at around the same time each day, a wake up time each day, and nap times at the same time (roughly) each day. Does this mean I will be cancelling playdates so my child can nap? ABSOLUTELY not. What it does mean is that I am going to be more cognizant of keeping to a schedule, and if we are on the go, putting Lainey in her seat and putting her to sleep around the same time everyday. 

Praying that this will help both Lainey and the rest of the Diehm household to be a happier more productive member of society. :)