Sleeping Like a Baby?

I am not sure where that phrase comes from.  My baby has not been a sleeper since he was born.  People always say someone is "sleeping like a baby" when they are totally out and peaceful looking.  Let me tell you, I don't want to sleep like my baby... restless, always waking up, cat napping rather than really sleeping...  The last eight and a half months have been filled with lots and lots of work to improve all of our sleep.

We transferred Ephram into his crib in his own room this past Saturday.  Yes, he's been co-sleeping with us until now.  Honestly, I would have kept him in our room longer because it was working.  Unfortunately, he's developed into a very active sleeper.  I've woken up a few times to find him crawling near the edge, and I don't really want to take the step to put guardrails all around my bed.  So, to the crib we've moved.

It's been a shaky transition.  I have been sleeping in his room on an air mattress because he has been so unsettled.  The first night he woke up every 30-45 minutes.  The second we were up to an hour between awakenings.  Last night we actually had a three hour stretch.  It makes me so sad to see him crying when he wakes up.  It seems like he thinks he is lost and is wondering where we are.  I wish I could explain it to him!  Instead I just keep doing everything that I can to teach him to self-soothe, and praying that he'll feel safe and have comfort in his little crib.

I've had so little sleep in the last few days.  His awakenings have been much longer.  They used to be just 3-5 minutes, because I'd roll over and feed him and then we'd both go right back to sleep.  So, even though we were waking up 7 times a night, the disruption to our sleep was short.  Now I have to get up, get him out, feed him and calm him.  That takes at least 10 minutes, usually 20.  And transferring him back to the crib has been disastrous at times.  Although, I have seen a lot of improvement in this since we started.  The first night every crib transfer took at least 30 minutes.  Last night there were four times that he just rolled over and went to sleep without a whimper.  Progress!

I keep telling myself that this is just temporary and that it will be better for all of us, that we'll all be sleeping better soon.  I hope it's true!  Tonight I'm moving back to my own bed.  Wish us luck.