The problem with being a parent to a new baby is that you never have a clue what you’re doing. You can read countless books, online articles, get advice from friends, etc. But nothing seems to help. Ever.
The most recent issue we’ve been having with our son is that he all of a sudden won’t nap. And when he’s awake, he’s angry. He used to take three naps a day. The morning nap was at least two hours long, and the two afternoon naps were an hour each. Now I’m lucky to catch an hour here and there to myself. Not that I need the time to myself, necessarily, but at this new stage of his life, he’s cranky when he’s awake. So not only do I not have time for myself, he’s not getting much sleep AND I have to try to entertain a child who just doesn’t want to be entertained.
There is one caveat to all of the daytime shenanigans that prohibits me from complaining (too much): he sleeps great at night.
Even so, I’ve been at my wits end more than once over the last couple of days. And so has my husband. I’ve almost thrown in the towel and called the doc for advice.
I have to give pediatricians everywhere big bonus points for doing what they do. Not only are they doctors, but they are therapists and bartenders. They are the ones who you call if you can’t figure out what the f*%! is going on. They calm you down, they explain things to you, they listen to your fears and give new suggestions. I can’t even count how many times I almost called (or did call and then hung up before someone answered) to ask a ridiculously absurd question. For all of those times that I was seconds away from calling them, I know there is at least one other mother out there who actually did. I’m talking questions like “my baby won’t stop throwing up, what do I do?” and “is he allowed to sleep on his tummy?” Not that these are stupid questions. More that they are questions that any logical person could probably figure out on their own if they tried. But in the moment of fear (of SIDS) and frustration (from baby acid reflux), the pediatrician has all of the answers. And it’s more reassuring to hear the same advice from a medical professional than from your own mother.
I’ll continue to research answers to my questions online and ask my friends and family for help and advice. But if he doesn’t get back on some sort of normal nap schedule, I might consider a call to my son’s pediatrician…
