Rocking My Baby To Sleep
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
Canada
November 20, 2016 7:12am CST
I read a post written by a new member – her first post and she sounded frustrated because she and her baby couldn't sleep.
You can say hello and see her post here: http://www.mylot.com/post/3002106/my-daugher
I remembered being frustrated not so much with my daughter but with my husband who insisted on rocking our little darling to sleep every night.
When she was born she was had colic and cried for months that seemed like forever. We rocked her to sleep and even after she was no longer colicky we continued the habit.
When she was two – going on three we were still doing it. But I was working then and needed my sleep.
It ended the night my husband was called to the college athletic dormitory because his students were going crazy. I was bathing my daughter and Daddy stuck his head in to say there was trouble at work and he would be home when he could.
After the bath I rocked my darling for a few minutes and then told her it was time to sleep and put her to bed. She cried for about a minute and fell asleep. I told my husband but I don't think he believed me..
The next night while Daddy was watching TV in the living room I told my daughter in the tub that he had to go to the college again and I wanted her to be a good girl and go right to sleep (said loud enough that Dad could hear in the other room.)
I put her in bed and kissed her good night and went to sit with my husband. Not one peep came out of her room. The look on my husband's face was priceless..
The next night she started to cry and FINALLY he put his foot down and insisted she go to sleep after a minute of rocking...
It must have been hard for him to do that, his little girl was and still is a princess to him. (she is 46 now). It was easy for me, I knew she was taking advantage of his soft heart...
The photo is the little princess in that bathtub in Pratt Kansas...
23 people like this
25 responses
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
20 Nov 16
What a little cutie. Poor guy I'm sure he loved that part of the night, rocking her to sleep. Good you found that she could actually go to sleep without all that. Was she your first born? I'm betting she was. I spoiled my first born too.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
21 Nov 16
Yes she was the first and we learned a lot from her. The next one got the shorter version of babyness...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
21 Nov 16
@fishtiger58 I had postpartum depression with her so it was 6 years before i had another by choice... That reminded me about another story I will have to write...about our puppy and the baby...
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate I know what you mean I spoiled my first born by the time my 2nd came along 13 months later I was exhausted lol.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
20 Nov 16
I was always more of a hands off mom.. I'd put them in a swing or bouncy seat.. rarely did I ever rock them in my arms. The 4th and 5th children had to cry it out more often than not as my hands were busy with other things (the twins were 3-5 when the youngest 2 were born).
Mostly they were all pretty good and didn't require much from me.. and they're all very independent now, although at times I wish they weren't..
2 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
22 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate My twins had colic for about a week after I stopped trying to nurse them and switched them to formula. So the doctor changed the type of formula we fed them and the colic went away.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
21 Nov 16
Our first, our daughter had colic and cried all day and night, we saw a couple of doctors but understood it would go away. It broke my heart to see her in pain so we held her all the time. at the end of three months the colic went away like the doctors said it would but we still cuddled her... Our first purchase was a rocking chair. It got used a lot... All three grew up to be independent too and I miss them but thankfully they keep in touch via the internet and phone and they visit often.
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
22 Nov 16
@katsmeow1213 this all happened in 1970. I imagine they know more now and have more choices, I'm glad your twins didn't have colic for very long, and glad you didn't have to deal with it for three months. I was nursing and did until we moved farther south in the summer and she quit because it was hot and uncomfortable to be held...my new doctor told me to put her on regular milk from the bottle. All was well and she didn't like the bottle so she was drinking out of a sippie cup pretty early.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
20 Nov 16
What a pretty girl! I can imagine how hard it is to rock a child while you feel so sleepy already. Oh the sacrifice of parents is truly great and for that they really deserved to be loved and cared for by their kids when they grow old already.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
21 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate That is so wonderful to hear.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
21 Nov 16
My daughter has already said if I outlive my husband I have a home in her house...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
21 Nov 16
I have photo of her sitting on her dads lap being read too.. We were big readers too, we always visited the library... I have no idea how I got into the rocking chair but it lasted too long!
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
20 Nov 16
What a beautiful little girl. My mom used to rock all of us and then she rocked the grandchildren and great grandchildren. I can still hear her singing as she rocked the little ones to sleep. So many memories. I never rocked my kids but I was lucky they were good little sleepers.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
23 Nov 16
That is a wonderful memory. i don't remember being rocked as a baby but my mother did rock my children and sang to them too.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
20 Nov 16
When kids go to sleep it is such a relief for mothers
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
21 Nov 16
Yes it is and this little one was pretty demanding as a baby.
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
21 Nov 16
I always rocked my babies to sleep. Yes, they do know what buttons to push to get you to do something, however, they are only young once.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
27 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate Mine are as well! Had my granddaughter over for a visit yesterday. She is 20 months old. I held her and rocked her when she got tired and she fell fast asleep.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
23 Nov 16
Same here, they grow to fast. My babies are in their 30's and 40's.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11383)
• United States
21 Nov 16
She sure was being spoiled. LOL poor daddy was a sucker.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11383)
• United States
29 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate Better to spoil them than mistreat them. 
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117240)
• El Paso, Texas
22 Nov 16
So I've noticed reading some of your posts @PainsOnSlate
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
22 Nov 16
That was a long time ago, I did enjoy my kids when they were small but I'm happy they are happy doing their own thing...
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56282)
• Canada
20 Nov 16
That's a sweet little girl in the picture, I can see why your husband wanted to rock her, but at that age, with you working and having less home time, I can see why you promoted her independence in falling asleep.
We did not have a lot of rocking to do with our son, he slept thru the night from the day that he was born.
There were times, usually over the holidays, when we'd cart him here and there and he'd get interrupted sleep, mostly in his carseat, that he'd get tired, and cranky and then need to be rocked to settle.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
22 Nov 16
I think you were smarter than I was, although her being colicky started it all, I couldn't stand her crying....
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56282)
• Canada
22 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate No, I went quite a ways over my duedate so our son slept 24/7 and had to be woke during the daytime for his bottles. He was big and he was healthy, so we let him sleep thru the night. Having a baby with colic is supposed to be very trying to young parents.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
22 Nov 16
@Juliaacv My next one, 6 years later was a big boy who slept a lot and never cried...so different than my daughter, I know now it was the colic that made her so unhappy.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502491)
• Italy
22 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate I think that it's hard to know what to do with the first children. Mom says that I cried all the time and later the doctor discovered I was unable to digest her milk.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
22 Nov 16
Well we were about two years late in making the change, she did well when we stopped rocking and my future children didn't get spoiled quite that much.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
22 Nov 16
@LadyDuck You are right. My second couldn't drink my milk either, I guess because the first was so trying we saw the doctor within days...
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
27 Nov 16
I rocked my first child, my daughter. I just enjoyed it so much at first and she was also a colicky baby but like you, I had to eventually stop. She adapted pretty well and when I had my second child, my son, I never rocked him. I didn't want to get in the habit again.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
27 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate My son was like that too. Never cried and slept through the night the very first night we were home from the hospital. I kept going in and making sure he was alright. He is still that way. Loves to sleep and is very laid back.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
27 Nov 16
My second slept all the time and never cried. It was like the difference in balck and white. It was 6 years later by choice, the first experience almost made my daughter an only child.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
21 Nov 16
what a cutie! i always rocked mine 'n the grands also if'n they'd troubles. they do reach a 'stage' where they learn to comfort 'emselves. to me, t'was precious bondin' time.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
21 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate i hummed to mine...singin' to 'em would'a been most cruel, lol. yepperz, precious babes that grow'p way to fast.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
22 Nov 16
@crazyhorseladycx I sang in church as a kid, as a teen I sang in the choir, I was a star on stage in high school....I could and still can sing....but I don't have a reason to sing anymore... except we do sing at the campfire... Again, thanks for the laugh.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
21 Nov 16
I liked to sing to them while rocking too, they all were precious bundles.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
22 Nov 16
She was and still is a cutie, My son born 6 years later was so easy it was amazing...
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
28 Nov 16
@PainsOnSlate Nothing like precious grandchildren!!!!!
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (40032)
• Toccoa, Georgia
21 Nov 16
I remember rocking my babies to sleep on occasion , usually when they were feeling insecure after being sick etc.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
21 Nov 16
I rocked all of mine no matter what the reason, we were a rocking family and the rocking chair got a lot of use.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
21 Nov 16
It is amazing how they can and will take advantage of us and how we can and do encourage it at times. They grow up so fast. Your must be wondering where the time went.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
23 Nov 16
it is true, they do grow up too fast. I had three, the first two were 6 years apart and when my son was 7 or 8 we adopted a nephew who lost his mom and he was 4. They are all in their 40's and 30's now...
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
21 Nov 16
Aahhh. It's diffucult to stop doing Some of these things... but i'm glad she was good for him too... she looks like she's having fun in that bath....
she looks like she's having fun in that bath....1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
23 Nov 16
i always enjoyed my kids except when they turned into devils... but that didn't happen much. She always loved her bath and still does as an adult.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
25 Nov 16
What a cute princess...its a different matter that they know how to twist us around their fingers.
1 person likes this
@Gita17112016 (3611)
• Trinidad And Tobago
29 Nov 16
Sometimes a firm had is what is needed. Tough love. All good parents eventually stumble on this wisdom. Although it is the parent that needs the comfort of knowing that they are still needed and discipline is an expression of love too. Childrent teaches us things...and we surprise ourselves by what we learn!
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
29 Nov 16
when we put out foot down she knew we were serious. That ended the crying going to bed...
