Parents, you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

Or just as likely, we’ve got questions and you’ve got answers.

Challenge: Sleep Confessions

My Baby Won’t Sleep Through the Night...and That’s Okay.

6
Vote up!
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email this article

OKAY, let's just face it: All those posts, articles, blogs, pins, and videos you've seen on sleep training have got you down. There's NO WAY you'll ever have that baby sleeping all night and you're gonna be a failure.

This is SO wrong! I know that most of those blog posts and mom forums are coming from a helpful place, but I personally have yet to see anything to support those who have LITERALLY tried EVERYTHING with no success.

Well I'm to to tell you that you're not alone.

file.jpg317305_961958a8a6db46ae96f88c4629272602~mv2.jpg

1. They're Only Babies Once

You're waking up from your exhaustion-induced coma for like, the 3,000,000th time and you're thinking:

"This is ridiculous, this baby should be sleeping all night by now."
"I hate my life."
"No, wait, I don't hate my life...but this really sucks."
"I need to quit my job. That's it. I can't do this anymore. I'll just be poor. It's fine"

Think about it this way:

There will come a day when that little life will no longer cry for you at night.

They will continue to grow.

Too big to fit in the crook of your arm...

Too tall to lie sprawled out on your lap...

Too heavy to sit in that rocking chair with you...

Too old to cry for another "Goodnight kiss"...

Too mature to beg for just ONE more story...

After all the sleepless nights have come to pass, and the endless times you've battled for just a few more moments of shut-eye... When ALL of this becomes a distant memory and multiple stories for the baby books...

What are you left feeling? Wanting?

ONE more tiny cry for Mommy and Daddy to save the day.

ONE more night filled with tons of cuddles.

ONE more story.

One more kiss

Stop worrying about getting that baby to sleep

and more time savoring the fact that

they still desperately NEED you.

2. "Crying it Out" Isn't ALWAYS Necessary

There are PLENTY of times that the "Cry it Out" method is super successful.

But it isn't for everyone.

Sometimes, we just don't have the heart for it...and that's OKAY!

In my opinion, giving your baby more attention and love is not spoiling them at all.

I believe babies cry for a reason, whether it be hunger, pain, fear, gas, etc.

SO I choose to give my girl the attention she longs for! No shame in my game!

3. You'll Sleep Eventually

Take advantage of the help.

Let your man watch the baby.

Let your mom take them away for a while.

Let the friend come over.

4. What's Important In Your Life?

Seriously, let's get deeper here.

Whether it be faith, family, marriage, work, social life, success...

I want you to write it ALL down and just stare at it for a while.

What has God planned for you and your life? Where do you need to be going? What do you need to be doing? What do you need to eliminate?

Now, how does losing sleep every night stack up to all that?

5. Focus on the Positives

I know, EVERYONE tells you to do this, but for real, it REALLY helps.

You're BLESSED with life

"The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."
Psalm 121:7-8

You're BLESSED with a child

"Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him."
Psalm 127:3

You're BLESSED with love

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight "
Ephesians 1:3-4
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."
John 3:16-17


This post comes from the TODAY Parenting Team community, where all members are welcome to post and discuss parenting solutions. Learn more and join us! Because we're all in this together.