HELP! My…baby, toddler, child, teenager…WILL NOT SLEEP!
I have been there! Those that know me personally know that truly I HAVE BEEN THERE! I trained in Pediatric Sleep Medicine prior to having my first child. I had worked in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit as a nurse and after completing my Masters in Nursing I took a job at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City in their Sleep Clinic. I trained with two amazing board-certified sleep physicians and one awesome clinical sleep psychologist. I knew it all in my mind. I knew everything babies, children, swaddling, breastfeeding, and sleep. Everything was going to be perfect! Right? Man did I set myself up for failure with that mindset!
I sadly have had sleep difficulties with both my children, both in different ways and at different times. This is because each child is uniquely different in many ways. They have: different personalities, different abilities to self- regulate, different health situations, and different sleep crutches. Every child I have come across with sleep problems is so unique in their own way. I really do know what years of sleep deprivation feels like both physically and emotionally. Yes, I have even wondered if you can die from lack of sleep. That may have been a middle of the night google search at one point in my life!
I am here to tell you that behavioral sleep problems cannot be treated with a one size fits all approach. I cannot tell you the solution without hearing the details of the situation including the personality of each parent. I am also here to tell you that you have not done ANYTHING wrong. You did not do something different than your friend or neighbor next store. You did not screw up. You did not break your child. You may feel alone and that you are the only one whose child just will not sleep. I assure you are not alone. Fragmented infant and child sleep is normal and not at all unusual. Is it horrible? Yup! You are absolutely allowed to complain about it. Perhaps if you do you will help another mom feel less alone!
Ultimately, I want to tell you I have the utmost empathy for parents struggling through sleep disruption in their children. That is why I am so passionate about this topic and am choosing to serve these families. Sleep deprivation effects the overall health of the family and quality of life in every way. I am here to tell you that things can be better and will be better with help!
