It seems no matter where I go, I get advice on how to raise Molly. The most common question and unsolicited advice I get is about her sleeping habits.
That conversation often goes like this:
Random Nosy Stranger #1: “Oh what a cute baby! How does she sleep for you?”
Me: “Haha. She doesn’t. She still wakes up 4-5 times a night”
RNS#1: “You should let her scream for a few nights, then she will get the hang of it and not wake up anymore”
Me: “Oh, really? Thanks!” ::thinks to self, yes this is only the 44580352057th time I have heard this:::
And then I get gems like this:
Random Nosy Stranger #2: “Awww what a cute baby! Is she a good sleeper?”
(I have no idea why people care so much about how babies sleep)
Me: “Not really”
RNS#2: “Oh, well, you should give her some Baby Tylenol PM or something, that should help!”
Me: ::Blank Stare::
*The above is a true story. Much like story about the cashier who questioned me when I did not order fast food for my 6 month old. All names have been changed to protect the crazy*
You may be thinking that the cry it out advice is normal and that it seems logical, you are right. I tried it though and I simply cannot do it. Molly screamed for 15 minutes and when I went to check on her, she was standing up, screaming as loud as she could and it took a good 20 minutes to get her calmed down.
The past two weeks have been pure hell in the sleep department, and I am quite honestly at my wits end. The one night I literally only got one hour of sleep at a time, as she woke up every single hour. The past few nights she has been waking up, screaming inconsolably at 2 and 4 am. The only thing that calms her down is walking her around.
I am tired and I hope that this is just a phase. Someone told me that their 11 month old just started sleeping through the night, so I guess maybe I will have a sliver of hope in 3 months?
I am not asking for sleep advice, just venting so to speak. I wish I knew what to do—this is the only thing parenting wise that I feel completely and utterly helpless about.
Moving on….
We sat outside today and I took some cute pictures, per usual:
AND—
I will be guest posting (or have guest posted) on the following blogs this week:
So—make sure you check back to see what I wrote about 
torie says:
Aww…at least she is cute!!!
Jenn says:
You know what’s odd? No one ever has anything to say to me. I must have an unapproachable face. I’m glad for that. My mouth is even less approachable
Molly will sleep. When she’s ready. Babies are tricky that way
Katie says:
oh my word. My son was the SAME WAY (he is 11 months now and sleeping MUCH better). Everyone told me to drug him or let him “cry it out” and i just couldn’t do that. It made it worse if I let him sob! The only way he would sleep is if I picked him up and laid on the couch with him. So that is what i would do. All night, getting no sleep. But I decided that snuggling him on the couch would only last so long and he would sleep better and I would be happy, but that one day…one day far off, i would long for our cuddly nights because i would forget how much i hated being tired all the time. it’s easy for me to say that now that he is sleeping better (still waking up at least once in the night for his pacifier and a butt pat, but better). Good luck to you. Jenn is right, she will sleep when she is ready. Hopefully for you it’s sooner than later!
Andrea says:
Angelica didn’t sleep through the night until she was almost 9 months, so I feel your pain. I know people told me a million times to just let her be but I never had the heart to do it. Molly will do it on her own time too
BTW she has the sweetest little face! Makes me want another one (almost)!
LA says:
Your doing great nd the sleeping will come. My niece sucked at sleeping, it took her to 15 months I believe. There’s no magic recipe, it happens when it happens.
Kerri says:
I’m right there with you! Camden is 6 months old and is still up every 2 hours during the night. He has never slept through the night, not even once. I, too, always get the “How does he sleep?” question from people. I don’t get it. Why do they care how my child sleeps? I also can’t bring myself to let him cry it out. I tried it very, very briefly (like 10 minutes) at nap time one day and when I couldn’t stand it anymore and went to get him, he was all red and splotchy and was having a hard time catching his breath. It just felt like the most unnatural thing in the world to me and went against every instinct I have as a mom.
Like everything else with babies, this is just a phase that’ll pass. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
christina says:
Such cute pictures as always! I get the sleep question ALL THE TIME too. I normally just laugh but I swear everyone’s answer is that she needs to eat more solids. Add cereal to her bottle, etc. I just smile and move on. McKenna was up a few times a night just before her teeth broke through, maybe Molly is getting more? Whatever it is, I hope it’s just a phase and you get more sleep soon!
Amanda says:
Hey Hartz- I definitely feel you on the unsolicited advice thing!! I was just talking with my friend today who has a less than 2 month old—she says she’s been hearing, “oh, you MUST do this, and you MUST do that.” from a mutual friend. That friend also has had her child sick more than any baby I’ve ever known. My advice is always do whatever works.
Karen says:
Hi Alissa, wow, I am so sorry that Molly is waking up so much for you. You have to be exhausted to tears, I wish I could come down and watch her for you for a few hours while you sleep. I won’t give you any unsolicted advice because I know how much that drives me crazy but just wanted to say that I feel for you and I hope that it gets better soon.
And, I finally have your blog fixed, so strange that Reader wasn’t reading it properly!!!
Karen
Carol Ann @ Knee Deep says:
Live on caffeine and a prayer! It’ll get better, hang in there. Oh, and at least you have all of her cuteness to help you through the day
Mungee's Ma says:
We are so excited for your guest post! People have given me a lot of advice for helping Mungee with her naps and I’ve tried it all. This girl just doesn’t.want.to.take.naps.
Next time someone asks you how she sleeps, just say “How do you sleep?” and walk away, hee hee!
Stephanie says:
OMG! I love Molly’s jeans!
Rachel says:
I get that question a couple times a week as well, and for some reason I loathe it! Sorry you are having a sleeping battle, hopefully she will end her sleep strike soon
Cindy A says:
I get a lot of unsolicited advice…I almost hesitate now on answering strangers
Just kidding but honestly, you know your baby, so what works for others ma not work for you and vice versa 
I really hope Molly starts sleeping for you!!
nic says:
I have a non-sleeper too. He has never slept through an entire night, gets up at least 3 times, and will only take one 30 minute nap a day. He had his 9 month check up today and I voiced my concerns about him sleeping less than 8 hours in a 24 hour period. I was basically told to just keep doing what I’ve been doing (trying to sleep train since 5 months old). In other words, “sorry for ya sucka”. When I wind up in the psych ward, perhaps they will finally have some better advice for me.
Mungee's Ma says:
nic, my pedi kept saying the same thing to me about naps, “Oh, wait until she’s 9 months, I promise she’ll get on a nap schedule”. The thing is, she already has a schedule, I know when she NEEDS to go to sleep, she just doesn’t WANT to. When we went to her 9 mo. appt and said she still isn’t napping well, I got “Yeah, that girl doesn’t like to nap does she?” and that was it
I feel your pain!
Alice says:
Add cereal to her bottles!
PAHAHA – I jest!
That’s the one I hear *all the time* when I tell people my 5.5 month old isn’t STTN (when they ask). Seriously folks, I’M OKAY WITH IT! She’s a baby! I expected it. Geez.
