Who am I to disagree? Before The Eurythmics send their lawyers after me, I should get to the point. Jasper has been having nightmares again. This provided me with an acid test of my reflexes a few nights ago.

One minute I was dreaming about living on a cruise ship, the next I was standing next to the crib trying to console my screaming son. Even now, I have no recollection of the transition from sleep to wakefulness, nor of leaving the bed and willing myself to stand. It was like I was a light being switched on: sleeping, awake.

The little man needed more help before he joined me in the land of conscious thought. It seems he was still suffering his nightmare. I had to almost shout at him to wake him up. Once awake, he was confused and upset. Holding him before the mirror with the light on and pulling faces did the trick. Finally the wails subsided and he smiled at Carolina and I.

I guess we’ve been spoiled by JD being such a happy and relaxed little fellow. There are no doubt thousands of parents who would swap places with us in a second. Certainly we’ve met babies who not only cry their parents awake every night, but they cry and fuss all day long as well.

I can only imagine what it’s like to have little or no respite from the crying of your child – it must be hell – because when they cry, it’s impossible to ignore.

Whenever we’re around other crying infants, our reaction is surprise bordering on shock. It’s just so alien to us. Consequently, we have developed few to no skills to help, should help be necessary. (Requests for us to babysit have been thin on the ground so far...)

Jasper, too, seems surprised and concerned to witness his peers wailing out their distress or discomfort. He looks like he wants to help, to say or do something that would make the crying baby feel better, but hasn’t a clue where to start. In this, at least, he’s a chip off the old block! Sleep well.

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