Does Anyone Else Wake up Thinking They Hear Their Baby Crying?

I did this with my first son. I thought I would hear him wake up so I got up and changed him and gave him a bottle then put him back to bed. When I started selling tupperware the first night I went to bed so exausted I did not hear anything when my head hit the pillow. I majorly overslept and when I woke I ran to his room thinking some think was wrong. He was just playing in his crib happy as a lamb. Irealized I was dreaming and he was not waking up. After that He and I got much better sleep.

A.

My daughter is 6 and I still find myself doing this. I swear I hear her awake, calling my name, and when I check - no one is saying anything! When she was a baby she had LOTS of ear infections and cried a lot and I was the same way. It was like I was anticipating her waking and crying. When she was first born I couldn't even take a shower without jumping out all soapy - to check on her because I could swear she was screaming her head off - and she wasn't. My Dr. actually contributed this to post-partum depression/ anxiety, but I kept hearing her - and still do occasionally.

You are not crazy!! I am sure there are other moms that have this happen. I am sure it has to do with our "mothering instinct" and wanting our children to be safe and sleep through the night - not to mention we have been programmed with sleep issues and having to get up numerous times a night.

Good Luck! I promise it will get better. You will sleep and your son will too!

I think every mom goes through this once or twice and it's usually at the peak of stress and lack of sleep. We worry so much about our little ones. Don't worry that you WILL wake up if he cries. He won't go unheard. Try taking a benadryl before bed to get yourself some good sleep, mama. You might also want to try some relaxation techniques before bed such as deep breathing (in through the nose, out the mouth- clear your mind). I have 2. One was the angel sleeper the other is 2 and still gets up sometimes 3 times a night. UGH. Do some self convincing that HE IS OKAY and SLEEP. You need it. Take a hot shower/bath before bed, breathe deep, relax, and sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeep mama!!!!

This totally happens to me too, and has with both my children. I'll wake up and hear the baby cyring. As soon as I sit up I can tell that she's not. When I lay down again, I'll feel like I can hear her again. I think partly it's the sound machine I use to block traffic noise -somehow I transfer that noise into crying. It does go away when you stop expecting the baby to cry at night.

My youngest daughter is 8 weeks old - and I would give my left arm for a full night's sleep, so I hear you there!