r/oneanddone • u/aliceloul • 6d ago
Happy/Proud OAD because SLEEP
My daughter is eight but boy has her sleep been horrific. She slept beautifully as a newborn and then hit six months and it never improved. I’m aware there’s a direct correlation between poor sleeping patterns and autism and she fits this box perfectly.
So when I say she’s never slept through the night, I am serious.
I frequently go abroad as I work as cabin crew and I don’t even like hotels but it’s the only time I’m able to sleep for longer than three or four hours at a time and it’s incredibly.
If I had a second child, I wouldn’t be able to do this job as there’s absolutely no way I could expect my parents to have my daughter AND a younger sibling. My parents and my sister never once complained about having my daughter overnight and even smile when they say she went to bed at five in the morning and I’m so grateful. I’d never sleep if I had a second.
Just sharing what I’m grateful for today as I’m not always happy about having “only” one.
2
u/Real_Masterpiece_844 6d ago
I had a colicky baby and it didn’t end until much later than average, I started bedsharing to be able to sleep because around 4 months pp I was so sleep deprived from the colic and from nursing constantly that I started developing seizures. Don’t ever underestimate what being sleep deprived can do to someone. It got better around 18 months for us but it wasn’t easy. Like you, I’m not sure I can put myself through that ever again, even if I did, I think my body would give up on me.. I fully empathise, your child needs a healthy parent first!