September 9, 2000 - Saturday
Harry had another tough time falling asleep last night. It doesn't happen that often (though our method of his mother nursing him as he's going asleep may have other long term negative implications), but the pattern for these occasions is usually that he's fallen asleep early, then woken again. That little nap has the very negative result of re-energizing him and making it harder for him to lie down for a good night's rest. Tonight he woke up just as we were putting him in his crib, despite having slept through our changing his diaper and washing his hands and face. As soon as he hit the crib, the motor started running. It was slow at first and for a little while we thought he would just fade back into slumber. But, steadily he gained his bearings - though not all, part of his body was quite tired and troubled by the action - and began moving about the crib. He moved quickly from one side of the crib to the other like an animal in a cage, except that he showed no signs of anxiety about his relative captivity, just raw energy that was there to be burned.

I stayed with him for quite a while, probably 20-30 minutes trying to get him to sleep again, and had some success in slowing down his manic behavior, but he did not go to sleep. I finally realized that this is normal and that, while it's good to support babies and reassure them, this was a classic case of Harry needing to find his own way. And so, I left. I left for some five minutes or so until Harry worked himself up into a state from which he would not soon fall asleep. Then, I went in again and did some more settling. We were trying to leave his mother out of things in hopes of moving away from the breast to rest modus operandi that has gotten Harry to sleep on so many occasions. He didn't go to sleep the second time either, but I left him again after a couple of songs and gentle rocking that seemed to relax him to the point that he might go to sleep.

I guess I went back one more time before he finally quieted for the night, but eventually he did and it was on his own. It was really the first time this letting him go to sleep alone while distressed has worked and it was surprisingly easy all things considered. It does seem it is the right thing to do and Harry will be the more independent for it.


Comments, opinions?