Well, the nursing and the pooping is under control, so naturally something else has come along to throw me for a loop.
Sleeping.
Or lack, thereof.
Nate will sleep during the night. For about three hours, at the most, at a time. He’s still getting up that often for feedings. Once in awhile he’ll go four hours at a time. He always goes right back to bed, so night time is not that big a deal. I’m getting used to the same sleep pattern as the baby, I guess.
During the day, however, Nate fights sleep like nobody’s business. There’s too much to see! And hear! The stucco on the ceiling is enough these days to distract our little guy from falling asleep. I’ve stopped sweating the fact that he gets some of his best naps in his swing. My friends tell me that the crib naps will come later. That right now it’s more important to get his sleeping patterns established than worry about where that sleep is taking place. He has had the odd nap in his crib, which I consider a bonus. Conditions have to be just right to make this happen, however…the perfect storm of napping conditions. He has to be drowsy but not actively fighting sleep. I’ll lay him in the crib and putter around upstairs while he fidgets there, and eventually he’ll drop off.
Yesterday he was up during the day for three hours between 3 and 6, which is about the longest stretch he’s been awake. He would not settle. He got himself worked up into such a state, nothing I did would soothe him enough to settle down. The television, the computer, the books on the shelves, the lamp on the table…all too exciting and interesting. Finally I turned off the lamp, turned off the television, took off my top, took off his clothes and the skin-on-skin and some nursing soothed him enough to pass out. I almost felt sorry for him. It seems so backwards to me that babies just don’t know that when they’re tired, they should close their eyes and go to sleep! He is so much happier when he is rested.
I know, I know, this is just another phase. The ceiling will eventually just be a ceiling and when he starts eating some solids he’ll sleep longer stretches at night. My friend Kelly said her daughter started having better naps once she was old enough to really play and be active while she was awake. The activity would tire her out.
That day is coming. The crazy thing is, once it gets here I will probably long for these days of early, confusing parenthood, instead.
Can you even believe he is almost 3 months old?? I feel like I just blinked with my baby and she'll be 3 months tomorrow! Sleep is rough. My son (Nate
)) sounds a lot like your Nate. Sleep was a battle for the first 4 months or so. I think it took almost 6 months to where he wasn't napping in the swing. Every baby is different and now I am getting a taste of a better sleeper. Just keep working on it. I find that white noise really helps when they won't settle. Sometimes I just turn on the stove hood vent (loud!) and stand next to it with her or the humidifier in her room.
Can you even believe he is almost 3 months old?? I feel like I just blinked with my baby and she'll be 3 months tomorrow! Sleep is rough. My son (Nate
)) sounds a lot like your Nate. Sleep was a battle for the first 4 months or so. I think it took almost 6 months to where he wasn't napping in the swing. Every baby is different and now I am getting a taste of a better sleeper. Just keep working on it. I find that white noise really helps when they won't settle. Sometimes I just turn on the stove hood vent (loud!) and stand next to it with her or the humidifier in her room.
Kameron, no, I can hardly believe it! He'll be thirteen weeks tomorrow, no longer a newborn.
Thanks for the white noise suggestion! I will have that in my toolbox the next time he can't settle down.
I know you've heard it 1000 times, but with everything, it passes. Enjoy his awake time and enjoy his sleepy time. The BEST age, my favorite age (4-8 months) comes next.
I know you've heard it 1000 times, but with everything, it passes. Enjoy his awake time and enjoy his sleepy time. The BEST age, my favorite age (4-8 months) comes next.
Kameron, no, I can hardly believe it! He'll be thirteen weeks tomorrow, no longer a newborn.
Thanks for the white noise suggestion! I will have that in my toolbox the next time he can't settle down.
Kameron, no, I can hardly believe it! He'll be thirteen weeks tomorrow, no longer a newborn.
Thanks for the white noise suggestion! I will have that in my toolbox the next time he can't settle down.
I know what you mean, Angie. Yesterday he was like a different kid than today. EVERY day is completely different from the one before it. Looking forward to the next age, now!
Echo echo. You'll look back and remember this as sweet and easy. I have 3 and each has her own sleeping issue. Head meet hand. Food and sleep = power. Your approach to go with the flow as you can is awesome!
wow, your son sounds EXACTLY like mine. From the napping to the hours to the crib/swing…same. It's tough, once he turns 4 months I'm going to skip the middle of the night feeding. I just wish he would sleep more during the day. Good luck, I hear it gets better haha
wow, your son sounds EXACTLY like mine. From the napping to the hours to the crib/swing…same. It's tough, once he turns 4 months I'm going to skip the middle of the night feeding. I just wish he would sleep more during the day. Good luck, I hear it gets better haha
Echo echo. You'll look back and remember this as sweet and easy. I have 3 and each has her own sleeping issue. Head meet hand. Food and sleep = power. Your approach to go with the flow as you can is awesome!
Echo echo. You'll look back and remember this as sweet and easy. I have 3 and each has her own sleeping issue. Head meet hand. Food and sleep = power. Your approach to go with the flow as you can is awesome!
HA! I don't know that I've ever longed for the early, confusing days of parenthood. I will say, though, all of this business is much less stressful the second time around.
HA! I don't know that I've ever longed for the early, confusing days of parenthood. I will say, though, all of this business is much less stressful the second time around.
well this made me feel better! i think my LO is about a week older than Nate and I def have the same issues. Will NOT nap anywhere but my arms, his wing, or his bouncy chair.
Sometimes I feel like a bad mom…like it's my fault or something!
well this made me feel better! i think my LO is about a week older than Nate and I def have the same issues. Will NOT nap anywhere but my arms, his wing, or his bouncy chair.
Sometimes I feel like a bad mom…like it's my fault or something!
Aw, thanks Amanda. I know you're an awesome mom so I appreciate that! I have the year off work, so I just try to look at the middle of the night stuff as my shift work.
No, you're not a bad mom! These little guys just don't know what they're doing yet. I'm glad to hear that you guys are going through the same stuff, too!
What's your strategy going to be for skipping the middle feeding, Noelle? I just don't have it in me to let Nate "cry it out". I think that would be more exhausting than just feeding him!
What's your strategy going to be for skipping the middle feeding, Noelle? I just don't have it in me to let Nate "cry it out". I think that would be more exhausting than just feeding him!
Aw, thanks Amanda. I know you're an awesome mom so I appreciate that! I have the year off work, so I just try to look at the middle of the night stuff as my shift work.
Aw, thanks Amanda. I know you're an awesome mom so I appreciate that! I have the year off work, so I just try to look at the middle of the night stuff as my shift work.
So I hear! I wonder if we'll ever experience the "second time around…"
So I hear! I wonder if we'll ever experience the "second time around…"
No, you're not a bad mom! These little guys just don't know what they're doing yet. I'm glad to hear that you guys are going through the same stuff, too!
No, you're not a bad mom! These little guys just don't know what they're doing yet. I'm glad to hear that you guys are going through the same stuff, too!
Mine needed total sensory deprivation in the form of a swaddle bag all he could see was the pattern of the fabric in front of him got boring pretty quickly
Oh! The other thing that saved me with my first – learning that often babies need to go down for a morning nap about an hour after they wake up. Miss the window, and they might resist.