I am hesitant to write what I am about to write, knowing that somehow by bragging about my awesome sleeper of a child it will jinx us. But, he's so awesome at sleeping!
The past two weeks we have began to put Nathan on a schedule (place your judgements here). I was at a point that I wasn't able to get ready and shower everyday or get much of anything done, and my type A personality felt like I was living in total chaos. I never knew what we were doing through out the day. Also, I never knew when and if Daniel and I would have time each day to actually talk like adults. So, we both knew that something had to be done. I starting using the methods that I found helpful from three books that were recommended to me: Babywise, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, and the Happiest Baby on the Block. I decided that we needed a schedule, but that I wasn't going to be crazy strict about it.
I started with the basic idea of having a rotation of eat, play, then sleep. And while the time between these events changes, the same rotation happens. This schedule was amazing to me, I learned what Nathan's cries meant and what he needed. I learned that when we thought he was crying for no reason it was because he was tired and wanted to sleep rather than be passed around to twenty of our closest friends. I also learned that Nathan was a cat napper that would only sleep 30-45 minutes and wake up. So now when he does this, I put his back to sleep because I know that he can sleep an hour longer if I do.
Then I started tracking how long he can go between these events and made a schedule that works for both of us. Now I know everyday when he is napping, and when I am showering. Or when he is napping and we are eating dinner. I also know what we are doing when he is awake, like giving him a bath or reading or playing. I can actually plan out our day because I know approximately what we will be doing.
Anyway, this schedule has pretty much changed our mommy/baby lives.
Then the past two days, Nathan totally kicked our baby bliss up a notch. He put himself to sleep. For the past two days, for his long morning and afternoon naps, and at bedtime he has not made much of a peep and just went to sleep on his own. I just swaddle him, give him his pacifier, sing one song and he lays quietly until he goes to sleep. For one of his naps, he laid in his crib for twenty minutes and didn't cry just chilled and fell asleep.
And in a week, this might all change, but for now we are enjoying it.
The past two weeks we have began to put Nathan on a schedule (place your judgements here). I was at a point that I wasn't able to get ready and shower everyday or get much of anything done, and my type A personality felt like I was living in total chaos. I never knew what we were doing through out the day. Also, I never knew when and if Daniel and I would have time each day to actually talk like adults. So, we both knew that something had to be done. I starting using the methods that I found helpful from three books that were recommended to me: Babywise, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, and the Happiest Baby on the Block. I decided that we needed a schedule, but that I wasn't going to be crazy strict about it.
I started with the basic idea of having a rotation of eat, play, then sleep. And while the time between these events changes, the same rotation happens. This schedule was amazing to me, I learned what Nathan's cries meant and what he needed. I learned that when we thought he was crying for no reason it was because he was tired and wanted to sleep rather than be passed around to twenty of our closest friends. I also learned that Nathan was a cat napper that would only sleep 30-45 minutes and wake up. So now when he does this, I put his back to sleep because I know that he can sleep an hour longer if I do.
Then I started tracking how long he can go between these events and made a schedule that works for both of us. Now I know everyday when he is napping, and when I am showering. Or when he is napping and we are eating dinner. I also know what we are doing when he is awake, like giving him a bath or reading or playing. I can actually plan out our day because I know approximately what we will be doing.
Anyway, this schedule has pretty much changed our mommy/baby lives.
Then the past two days, Nathan totally kicked our baby bliss up a notch. He put himself to sleep. For the past two days, for his long morning and afternoon naps, and at bedtime he has not made much of a peep and just went to sleep on his own. I just swaddle him, give him his pacifier, sing one song and he lays quietly until he goes to sleep. For one of his naps, he laid in his crib for twenty minutes and didn't cry just chilled and fell asleep.
And in a week, this might all change, but for now we are enjoying it.
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