Here's? something that may really surprise you: As much as we may want our babies to? sleep through the night, our own subconscious emotions sometimes hold us back? from encouraging change in our babies' sleeping habits. You yourself may be the? very obstacle preventing a change in a routine that disrupts your life. So? let's figure out if anything is standing in your way.

Examine Your Own Needs and Goals

Today's society leads us to believe that? "normal babies" sleep through the night from about two months; my research? indicates that this is more the exception than the rule. The number of families? in your boat could fill a fleet of cruise ships.

"At our last day-care parent meeting,? one father brought up the fact that his two-year-old daughter wasn't sleeping? through the night. I discovered that out of 24 toddlers only six stayed asleep? all night long."?Robin, mother of thirteen-month-old Alicia

???
You must figure out where your own problem? lies. Is it in your baby's routine, in your management of it, or simply in the? minds of others? If you can honestly say you want to change your baby's sleep? habits because they are truly disruptive to you and your family, then you're? ready to make changes. But if you feel coerced into changing Baby's patterns? because Great Grandma Beulah or your friend from playgroup says that's the way? it should be, it's time for a long, hard think.

Certainly, if your little one is waking you? up every hour or two, you don't have to think long on the question, "Is this? disruptive to me?"It obviously is. However, if your baby is waking up? only once or twice a night, it's important that you determine exactly how much? this pattern is disturbing to you, and decide on a realistic goal. Be honest in assessing the? situation's effect on your life. Begin today by? contemplating these questions:

• Am I content with the way things are, or am I becomingresentful, angry, or frustrated?


• Is my baby's nighttime routine negatively affecting my marriage, job, or relationships with my other children?


• Is my baby happy, healthy, and seemingly well rested?


• Am I happy, healthy, and well rested?

Once you answer these questions, you will? have a better understanding of not only what is happening with regard to your? baby's sleep, but also how motivated you are to make a change.

Reluctance to Let Go of Those? Nighttime Moments

A good, long, honest look into your heart? may truly surprise you. You may find you actually relish those quiet? night wakings when no one else is around. I remember in the middle of one? night, I lay nursing Coleton by the light of the moon. The house was perfectly,? peacefully quiet. As I gently stroked his downy hair and soft baby skin, I? marveled at this tiny being beside me-and the thought hit me, "I love this! I? love these silent moments that we share in the night." It was then that I? realised that even though I struggled through my baby's hourly nighttime? wakings, I needed to want to make a change in our night waking habits? before I would see any changes in his? sleeping patterns.

You may need to take a look at your own? feelings. And if you find you're truly ready to make a change, you'll need to? give yourself permission to let go of this stage of your baby's life and move? on to a different phase in your relationship. There will be lots of time to? hug, cuddle, and love your little one, but you must truly feel ready to move? those moments out of your sleeping time and into the light of day.