sleep whenever baby sleeps. Nothing else matters. Sleep deprivation is a huge contributor to ppd. The dishes and laundry can wait. A babysling might be a big help to you, so you can hold baby while s/he sleeps and still get some things done you need to do. Really. A year from now, you will be looking back at this time fondly, wishing your baby would slow down and sleep a little bit more so you can get some rest! Your baby is old enough now that you can probably nurse laying down in bed, latch baby on and snooze while s/he nurses! It is normal for humans (especially baby humans) to seek out the contact of other humans. We, most of us anyway, do not want to sleep all alone. Sleeping with your baby is good for both of you! if you haven't already, read what Dr. Sears has to say about it. Even if you have already read his books and website, read them again.
i feel for ya, though, mama. 6 months is a long time to get sorted out. i let my house go to hell after both of my girls, and when i started feeling better, the house started to get sorted out. it drove dave crazy, but i was too tired to give a shit.
thought I'd come back and add that at six months, *all* babies have sleep issues. Ask any parent, they'll tell you the same thing. Six months is a very rough age as far as sleep goes! There's like some sort of major developmental changes and growing happening in your baby's body. Get some help. If someone asks "is there anything I can do for you?" don't be afraid to tell them "YES! you could put this load of laundry in the wash, you could bring me a home cooked meal" or whatever it is you need them to do. Honestly, it wouldn't have been so hard with my first baby if I hadn't been afraid (or too stubborn) to accept the offers of help from all my friends and family.
Leane's kinda doing the same thing.(she's 6 months) At night, most of the time, when she's ready to go to sleep, it's ok and she will on the sofa or something until my dh and I are ready to go to bed. We also keep a crib handy for nights like that when she wants a dark room. Other times, she wants us to lay down with her. She's starting to get a little more used to her dad laying down with her, and putting her to sleep, but generally, if she sees either one of us with our eyes closed beside her, she'll go to sleep. It's kinda nice in the morning, too: she'll wake up and look at us, but if everyone's still tired, or she's waken up at an unusual time than she normally does, then she just watches us and goes back to sleep. If your little one can't sleep without you right now, just sleep, too. Soon, they'll want to be on they're own and won't be so interested. I like what my Oma said; "right now, they're all yours." Take advantage of it while you can.
My neurologist told me that womyn who have had children have different sleep patterns than men or childless womyn (or womyn who had full time nannies) and that this lighter sleep, easier awakening, and frequent night wakening persisted into the womyn's elderly years. Taking care of an infant changes you in many ways.
it's amazing, really, how aware I am of my children at all times, even when I am asleep. I couldn't bear to not cosleep, I'd be up every five minutes to check on my baby!
