Because of many transitions we’ve had over the past several months, each of my boys has had some sleeping disruptions and/or nighttime needs. And that’s okay. I’ve noticed that as things are settling down, their sleeping patterns have, too.

Reminding myself that parenting is a ministry to these littlest disciples of Christ, helps me keep a positive attitude when I’m sleepy and cranky. . . *grin*

*bookmarking this for future reference*

Seriously, if I ever have kids, this is going to be one of my reference guides. I might have to make myself a hard copy if you ever shut the blog down. ;)

Yeah, I know it’s probably not the end. We’re making the crib transition right now (successfully thus far, but it’s still early) before the hectic pre-baby period begins, or molars rear their ugly heads.

We really enjoyed cosleeping and look forward to cosleeping again. I think it’s easier than other ways of doing things but I understand those who don’t feel like it’s right for them.

The bad news is that a second bout of night waking after the newborn phase is not necessarily “the end”… my current youngest was sleeping 10 hours at a year, but at 19 months wakes at least once most nights and needs to be re-settled (bad dreams? molars?). To top it off, the 3 and a half year old is also going through a phase where he cannot settle himself when he wakes in the middle of the night, but needs to be reassured and tucked in again by mommy or daddy. Since this happens 1 to 3 times a night, we have moved him back out of his older brother’s room onto a crib mattress at the foot of our bed until his nights get easier again. Since cosleeping (with infants, not kicking toddlers!) has worked very well for me in the past, allowing me to nurse as needed without getting up or even fully waking up, I expect far fewer real sleep interruptions from our new baby when he or she arrives than I get now from my under-4s.

The good news is I haven’t heard a peep from my 8 or 10 year olds at night for a good many years now.