I have decided that the admonition to sleep when the baby does is better in theory than in practice. It sounds so simple, but that simplicity is deceptive. The first problem is obvious - if I sleep whenever the baby does I will never do anything else. That is becoming somewhat less true as she gets old enough to play on her own a few times a day, but even so, I need some of those nap times to do other things - like errands and showering and eating and such. The second problem is probably not universal to all babies. I have heard magical stories of infants sleeping soundly in swings without any input or help from their mothers (or fathers or other caregivers, because this is the 21st century, after all). My baby, however, tends to either (1) not nap in her crib at all or (2) do something along the lines of the following (which is actually a huge improvement over 1): (a) fuss around for 20 minutes (sometimes more), requiring a pacifier reinsertion approximately every 3-5 minutes, not great napping intervals, (b) nap soundly for 20 minutes (but of course, during this time, I'm afraid we're still in a, so I can't nap), repeat (a), repeat (b). So, this nap is an active nap for me. I can't exactly leave her on her own, unless someone has invented a pacifier that magically reinserts and holds itself in a baby's mouth.
Today, however, was a new day. After waking up an hour and a half early (because of course, who needs sleep anyway - luckily Daddy thought she was charming with her smiling, winning ways; Mommy doesn't think those ways are very charming at certain hours of the morning), and then deigning to nap for only a very short amount of time while I ran, she actually napped long enough during the second (b) cycle for me to take a nap of more than 10 or 15 minutes. What is this . . . a feeling of being almost rested? I hardly know what to do with myself!
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December 18 - Bumbo seat? Who needs a Bumbo seat?
December 18 - I think this must seriously be the cutest hat ever!
9 comments:
Yeah. I loved that - where the baby FINALLY fell asleep and now you're like Now's my chance for sleep! but the pressure is so great to get that much needed hour of rest that you can't sleep a wink.
exactly!
Try burping the baby better- maybe that's why she's fussing? Just a thought...
I am actually a pretty vigilant burper. She's just has a bit of a hard time shutting down. Kind of like her mom.
I'm with you, Emma. It is tough!
~ Sleepless in NY
Sleep. With Isaac I never got any. With Stella I got a little more. Now with Joaquin I sleep a lot. Have you heard of Babywise? It's a miracle book. I highly recommend it. Joaquin has been sleeping through the night for 2 months now. Before you start to hate me remember I never slept with Isaac. Glad you guys are doing well. Happy New Years!!!
that is indeed the cutest hat ever.
also, i remember when eryka got no sleep with isaac, poor girl.
I just lurked your blog from Jill's and saw your baby sleeping post. I decided to leave a comment and realized Eryka had already said exactly what I was going to say. I also have three and my girls never slept good, but my baby boy sleeps 8-10 hours a night at 4 months! He also naps at the same time everyday. Long story short, the routine is feed, awake, sleep, feed, awake, sleep...if your baby falls asleep before done eating, wake her up and try to get her to eat. Make sure her alert time is after a feeding. When she gets tired you'll know, but she won't have to nurse to sleep. Our boy likes being cuddled but we can always put him in his crib with a fisher price aquarium toy just before falling to sleep and he is content. No mixed emotions about being hungry and tired at the same time. No crying it out to learn to fall asleep with rocking, nursing, walking the floor...I am not a scheduled person but how I love this parenting method! Good luck! She is beautiful!
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