My little human just turned 8 months old a week ago; hard to believe that 8 months have passed already. Although I don’t remember where, I’ve probably mentioned this somewhere already that before we had Ada Verastic, we bought her a nice crib. It was not the most expensive, but it cost about $400. It took us about six hours, I think, to set it up. I had no idea that cribs came with so many parts, and as much as I don’t like it, America is determined to turn me into a DIYer.
Anyway, when we brought Ada Verastic home, she used to sleep in her crib at night (when she slept in our room), but never throughout the night, and we just thought she was doing what babies do anyway. I didn’t feel it much because my grandma was there, and because of that, Ada Verastic barely slept in the crib anyway (she slept with grandma). After grandma left, I had about two weeks of confusion and frustration because Ada Verastic used to wake up every couple of hours, and sometimes, she’d be crying and eating at the same time.
She refused to stay asleep in her crib or in her bassinet or anywhere else. Then one night, I slept on the bed with her on my chest and she slept for four hours. Woah! Just to be clear: prior to this, she used to sleep on my chest, but this was the first time it happened on the bed, and that’s because our bed is pretty high, and I was scared of sleeping with her on my chest. I did not want to fall into deep sleep and forget that a baby was sleeping on me.
Ehen, so after she slept for four hours that night, I did it several more nights, and it was working – until it stopped working. So I switched up my game, and she started sleeping next to me on the bed. That was when she truly “slept like a baby.” And that, my people, is how Ada Verastic hijacked our bed and has refused to leave since then.
Ada Verastic taking a nap yesterday afternoon
I have been trying to get her to sleep in her crib at night, but to no avail. During the night, she moves around and randomly holds or touches me, as if to make sure that I’m still there. If she moves around and does not touch me because I’m too far away, she cries. I won’t lie to you by saying that this is something I don’t like. I think I blush and do mental back flips every time she reaches for me. And I don’t know how true this is, but I heard that babies know the smell of their mom. I hope it’s true.
So for now, Ada Verastic only sleeps in her crib during the day for her naps. I put her in there because she has proven several times that she cannot be trusted on the bed alone. Ever since she started rolling around, she seems to be on a personal mission to roll off the bed. Now that she’s crawling, though, she’s even more mobile, as you can imagine, so she’s not allowed to sleep on the adult bed with no adult.
I’d like to get her to sleep through the night in her crib, but somewhere deep inside my heart, I think I might be lying to myself. There was a day I put her in her crib at night to see if she’d stay there without crying. I got into my bed and I kept waiting anxiously for her to cry for me. Finally, she did. So yeah, it seems like I might need her as much as she needs me.
Who knows how to get a baby to sleep in her crib? I’m asking for my future self.
Beautiful read, had me up in giggles, thanks for sharing this gift of your story with us Vera, Ada is always an adorable beauty to behold. GOD Bless You and your’s dear. Shalom!
Amen!!! Thank you,, Nani! Thank you so much
LOL. You fell into the same trap we did with our first. He started sleeping with us on the bed and refused anywhere else afterwards… so frustrating for my sleep as the man (and as u can imagine, much more difficult to “run tins with the madam”).
With the second we have stuck to her crib thus far. She is 2 months old now. We have refused anyone carrying her for long unless awake. Once she sleeps, you must drop her in the crib, whether grandma or anyone. Too early to tell conclusively, but we are going to make every effort to ensure the feels comfortable in her own bed. Not mine.
Not sure you can do much for Ada Verastic, you just have to learn from it for the next (there’ll be a next one, right?).
You are a funny one. Reading your blog makes me smile. I had my baby out of our room by 6 months. She properly slept through the night in her room. And whenever she would wake up for feeds I would go to her room, feed her and once she’s asleep, I would put her down in her crib and back to my room. I found that helped me rest better because the time I slept with her, I never had proper full night sleeps. It’s not easy initially but you have to stick to a routine and she soon gets the hang of things. A friend of mine advised you put a tshirt or outfit you wore in the day next to the baby so your scent remains close. You could try that. But just stick to the routine once you tried it as hard as it can be but it gets better.
Dear Vera,
It’s been 10 years since I had baby #1 and 10 years since I had my bed to myself and my husband. Baby #3 is 3 years old and I finally kicked him out last week. It took me 4 years with the first 2 babies/kids to get them out. #3 has only taken 3 years…
PS: I don’t know how to get a baby to sleep in her crib but you can give you tips on how to get a toddler out of your bed.
This made me laugh. My sister, you fell in the trap just like me. It was only when my daughter turned 1 year and 2 months that i started making her sleep in her crib. She would fall asleep on the big bed and i would then transfer her to her crib.
The first night she woke up and stood on her bed crying, what could i do. truth be told i missed her lying beside me. These days she sleeps in her crib but would wake up by morning crying. And then myself or her dad would have to bring her into our bed.
I wish i started letting her sleep in her crib on time
7 must-watch videos to prepare for baby’s arrival
On a side note, how many hours did it take you to make her hair?
ohhhh..i feel for that too! my boo slept on me from the day his cord fell off till he was about 4 months and i realised the boy is HEAVY! …I finally decided to listen to his ped and put him down in his crib!… first week was tough, because the boss refused to sleep and just cried his lungs out! after the first night of crying for 10 mins before i picked him up and back to my chest, he sounded different in the morning, and it was my turn to cry, because i felt like an evil mother who let her baby cry for 10 mins!!…ohh the horror!…anyway..we tried again the next day, and the next , and the next, and eventually he got used to his crib! Now he sleeps in his crib, in his room, for naps and bed time!!!!….we still fight sometimes, because he thinks he will be missing out if he naps or sleeps at night, but in the end, I WIN!….moral of this story…you have to put her in her bed and let her sleep there..she will CRY, but just for a few days, especially since seperation anxiety is high at her age, but you will WIN!…LOL
awwwww.you definitely still need her as much as she needs u.lol. i can just imagine you waiting to see if she’ll cry. Ada V has got such beautiful hairrrrr, i’m crushing. I think the mom scent thing is true and it is definitely the sweetest thing having her reach for u at night. I can’t believe she’s 8 months already!! May she continue to grow gracefully.
She is so cute! Put your shirt that u wore in the crib so she will smell your scent and stay asleep. Or put the crib near your side of the bed.