I feel like I’m writing a lot these days about baby sleep. I guess it’s because sleep is something I spend a lot of time thinking about … while trying to get C back to sleep.

I was talking to my mom yesterday about C’s odd sleep habits. Basically, as my mom pointed out, C can’t get herself to sleep without an adult, and if she happens to wake up before she’s ready to get up – which she does a lot – she has zero ability to get herself back to sleep.

I hypothesized to my mom that C might have that problem because we are so often there with her anyway. Maybe she has developed an attachment to having an adult nearby just to sleep; she is so used to having us there that she needs us if she wakes at all.

But my mom pointed out that she never had that problem with me or my two brothers. She obviously put us to sleep and then left the room, just as we do with C, and we apparently never had any problem getting ourselves back to sleep at night. And my mom pointed out that if we had ever cried, she would’ve come in a heartbeat – she would not have made us cry ourselves back to sleep. But my mom swears that when we started sleeping at night, we slept all night, and the only times she ever had to get up at night were when we were sick.

Yet C wakes several times every night and every nap, needing help getting back to sleep. I guess the wakefulness runs in Katie’s family. Thankfully, since it’s not one of my favorite parenting things, Katie is more than willing to lie down with C as much as she needs.

She’s a good mama, and the kids are lucky to have her.

Why is it that some days C sleeps like a baby (har har) and somedays – today, for example – only lightly snoozes?

It’s especially weird that the light sleep can go on for hours, as long as she has the comfort of a parent or grandparent and as long as that parent or grandparent stays sane.

I am ready for childcare to return from the land of relaxation. I’ve been in this room for more than two hours.

And she awakens.

I finally made it out of the office to get C to the park. It was to be a nice stroll, aside from the heat, except we had to make a detour to the bank.

Five minutes after we left the bank, I glanced in a store window and saw C’s reflection. She was fast asleep.

I did not cuss out loud, because yesterday we heard C singing “crap, crap, crap” after – presumably – hearing her aunt say the word one too many times (true story). But I certainly said a few choice words in my head.

And now I have to take them back. I am sure that C won’t sleep as long without food in her belly, although she did have a few crackers before we left. But she has been asleep for nearly an hour now, and about that I cannot complain. I just hope she will sleep another hour.

And as a bonus, I was afraid I wouldn’t get her down until two, and she would sleep until five. On Fridays, we close at four. This early nap means we might could try our walk again at home this afternoon, except then I’ll be able to bring wine instead of water!