Sleep

Everyone talks about the sleep deprivation you feel when you have an infant. You're basically supposed to be a walking zombie for the first 6 weeks of your babe's life. What I want to know is why no one seems to think to warn you about the sleep deprivation that comes from having a toddler? This is far worse in my opinion. Babies are supposed to wake up in the night...it's a fact, some people get lucky and get a sleeper, but even if you don't, a breast feeding mom can simply lie down and tuck the little nuzzler into her side and fall asleep through the feeding, just like the babe. And even during the day, your baby is going to take naps even if they are six months old, they will still sleep and give you some down time whether you sleep or simply zone out.

Then your sweet smelling babe is a toddler. By this point, you are embarrassed if you are still waking up at night with the child. Everyone else's kids have been sleeping through the night for a year or something. And here you sit at 2 am on the side of the bed giving your toddler a drink of water. Sometimes you hit the jackpot and the cute little darling sleeps all through the night and you find yourself worried about them at 6 am, but most nights you see that mop of hair at least once for a "dink".

That's not the real terrible sleep deprivation. Most adults wake up at least once a night anyway. And when you're pregnant you are grateful for the potty break. No, the sleep deprivation no one warns you about is when that toddler is sick. And not even super sick, just kind of achey, mild fever, maybe even just growing pains will throw you and your child into the throws of waking every hour. This is the trenches. You can't simply tuck her in next to you and feed her. You probably have to force a dose of nasty medicine on her bringing on a round of screaming and crying that refuses to be quieted. And then even if you lie down next to her, she's twitching and rolling and unable to sleep which makes her lash out in cries every half hour. I will say, it's not that I don't feel empathy for the kid. Even adults want to cry when they can't fall into a deep sleep, it's just that she keeps you in a constant state of awareness that puts you on the verge of losing it.

Now that sounds terrible right? Well what puts the icing on the cake is that your toddler will somehow magically be better the next day. She will have energy and will bounce around and want to do things "side" (outside). No 2 or 3 naps through out the day to help you regain your energy. Probably only one. And you're so frazzled that it takes you most the nap to relax enough to fall asleep for the final 10 minutes of her unconscious state.

For the record, my toddler slept through the night last night, but two nights ago...not so much. I understand why people let their children sleep in their beds. If it keeps them sound asleep longer, then bring it on!