I think what you have said is so true.  Life goes so much better when we
try to work with each other rather than trying to change someone,
especially the youngest.  Babies were not meant to be left crying.
Patty Spanjer, IBCLC

At 10:18 PM 5/14/2001 -0400, you wrote:
>My expectations changed to fit her needs and my needs were better met too.  I
>believe that parents create their own frustrations and deprivations by not
>accepting their own family situation and by trying to fit it in to a socially
>prescribed model ie, house work must always be done, social activities
>must not
>change, adults to get 8 hours sleep and must be in one solid block,
>children to
>sleep 12 hours a night also in one solid block, children must sleep in
>their own
>room.
>
>My third and fourth babies slept with us from the start and I have not
>experienced any serious sleep deprivation.  In fact when either of them cry in
>bed at night I wake in a panic because it is so rare.
>
>My daughter (6) and my eldest son (9) still wake at night but now they are old
>enough to get their own drink of water.
>
>My personal opinion is that having babies does mean having less sleep, but the
>degree of sleep deprivation can be minimised a lot by adjusting the parents'
>sleep habits and expectations a bit too, and not necessarily forcing the
>baby to
>make all the adjustments.
>
>Gitte

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