Sleeping Baby in T-Minus Six Weeks

My third child is two weeks old.  I think God puts selective amnesia in parents so that we forget the first few weeks of a new baby's life.  It's the only reason every child isn't an only child.  The fatigue, frustration and fussiness work together to make you feel sub-human.

As Chloe's due date approached, several people asked if we were ready for the sleepless nights.  Each time, I responded, "NO! But I can handle anything for two months."

You see, in six weeks, my daughter will be sleeping through the night.  

Pretty bold prediction, right?  

It started six years ago.  We were at our son's two month checkup.  We were exhausted.  Our pediatrician  told us that he should be sleeping through the night.  We asked about him needing night feedings.  He assured us that he didn't and then reminded us that we're the parents and, as such, get to make the rules.

Two nights later, our son was sleeping all night.  Four years later, our daughter did the same.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Authority in the family flows from God, through the father, mother and to the children.  Our sleeping values come from Proverbs 22:6 and Ephesians 6:1-4. (... I guess all of our parenting values come from there!) 

I'm not a big believer in the "your child will tell you when he/she's ready to ______" philosophy.  My children would be drinking chocolate milk at every turn if they got to make the rules.  

Rebellion starts early and, until Jesus saves our children, must be met with an unwavering will.

Sleeping is one area in which we exercise our authority as parents.  Our children know that when it's bedtime, we sleep... in our own beds... until the clock says six oh oh.  

We're six years in and so often parenting has boiled down to a battle of the wills.  At this stage, our highest calling seems to involve lasting five seconds longer than our children.  And that battle goes smoother if we're well rested!  

If you're a new parent or a not-so-new parent with unsleeping kids, I would love to talk more about this.  It's one of our favorite parenting subjects.  

Also, check back with me on October 3, 2011.  (I don't know if we'll be starting on 9/23 or 9/30).  This could be your chance to Nelson me.  

There is hope for us, we sufferers of sleep deprivation.  There's hope.  

"Immediately the father of the child cried out, 'I believe!  Help my unbelief!'" - Mark 9:24.  (That applies here to some/most, right?)

*Disclaimer:  You should probably check with your Pediatrician about this stuff.  But I would ask, "Is there any reason he/she shouldn't be sleeping all night?" as opposed to "My goofy friend says..."*