How do you get your baby to sleep less during the day and more at night? Do you think it's okay to have the baby sleep on or beside you if they just can't get to sleep in their crib/bassinet?
What a DARLING baby girl! If you have a boppy pillow, we put that in between us with a blanket over it and then laid the baby in with his/her head on one end, bum in the hole and feet up on the other end. They felt cozy and slept better but we didn't worry about rolling onto them or anything. Eventually we moved the boppy to the bassinet and then got rid of it completely. As far as sleeping more at night, I think she'll get it. Of course waking her up to feed every couple of hours in the evening helps and then at night leave the lights really low so it doesn't feel like day time. My favorite thing is using a 7.5 watt bulb in your regular lamp. They sell them anywhere, even Wal-Mart. It's enough light to see what you are doing but not wake them up. Do you have Swaddle blankets and a swing?
THe best thing to know, is that even though it may seem like it, your life is not over. It will be normal again and you will sleep again... someday. And it's okay to smack people when you are so exhausted and they tell you to "enjoy this time". :) You're doing the best you can to survive, then enjoy!
Good luck you guys. I have no good advice and don't feel qualified to speak on this particular subject since neither of my boys slept well for the first 12 months and Saige is following in their footsteps. Lisa and I probably got about 3-4 hours of interrupted sleep last night (although Lisa would argue that she got 2 and I got 5). And to compound the issue, the boys are now getting up more than they ever did before. I just turn to diet coke in this dark hour of my life and pray that the next few months will go by quickly. I'm not a big fan of the "infant" stage.
My sister is here visiting me this week and we are totally talking "baby sleep" and trying to fix her 6-month-olds horrible habits.
My advice.....READ THE BOOK "HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS, HAPPY CHILD"! It is, by far, the best sleep book out there. It says it how it is and really knows what's best as far as baby sleep.
I agree with the "Healthy Sleep Habits Healthy Child" book suggestion. I read it with my first. It is the best. I also wake my very young newborns (like Kate) up during the day. I've even dipped my finger in my cold water and rubbed it on their hands to get them to wake up. For mine being awake during the day sometimes entailed enduring some crying, but it was worth it if it helped them sleep at night. I also co-sleep with them in the bed until they are about 6 weeks. I have this little "snuggle nest"- I believe that is the name of it, but it is a tiny little bed that we put between us in our king size bed. I've also slept with them in my bed with this wedge pillow thing that is supposed to keep them on their backs and with nothing at all. But if it worries you too much to sleep with them in the bed then I wouldn't. You won't get any sleep if you are worried all night about rolling on them. Co-sleeping isn't for everyone. And my mom always says "this too will pass," so like Monica said, know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Take turns and have Greg help you. hang in there girl. you are doing great and she is beautiful!!!
Hahaha, Monica sounds right. ;-) The nightime feedings are rough. I remember when Tex was born and I thought to myself, "How did I do this when Eden was born? I don't remember it being this difficult." You will have to watch the Happiest Baby on the Block when you get your package. Swaddling worked like a charm for Eden. She hated getting swaddled, but once we added the other S's she was in heaven and suddenly went from sleeping 2 hours to 4 and 5. You will see what I am talking about when you get the movie. Hopefully it will help you too. Eden also slept in her swing for probably the first 3 months of her life. She didn't like her bassinet. So, at night I would put her to bed in her swing, and then when she would wake up at 4 am to eat, I'd feed her in bed with me, and she'd just stay in bed till morning. I liked having her in bed because then I could nurse and fall right back to sleep. Take naps during the day when Kate is sleeping at that will help. I didn't do this, and the sleep deprivation cought up with me around 2 weeks, and I went CRAZY. So, here is my L O N G W I N D E D advice. ;-) But I think sleeping with them is just fine. My mom did it was all 5 of us kids, and I've done it with both of mine. You just do what you can to survive...but it does get better.
I agree with just about everything that everyone said. At this point I'm right there with you with getting little sleep. Just be thankful you can sleep during the day with her rather than taking care of other kids! At this point all that gets me by is thinking, "it will get better!" Having two others that were poor sleepers as little babies, I know that it only goes up from here!
I have my baby sleep in her little bouncy seat that vibarates and I swaddle her good and tight. When I'm really desperate I lay her on her stomach next to me in bed.
I too have read Healthy sleep habits...it was most helpful to me once my kids were around 6 months.
For this beginning newborn stage. I say DO WHAT WORKS to allow you some sleep. That meant Aubrey slept with us once she was about 3-4 months old because I was so exhausted by then. I slept much better because I never had to fully awake to feed her at night. She slept great cause I was there. That went on until she was about a year. But, it worked fine for us. I love sleep and must have it.
I also agree that Happiest Baby on the Block is the best book for newborns. Aubrey needed white noise and swaddling to sleep anywhere else but on us. She took many naps on me, but that's okay cause those days are all gone now. She now goes to bed at 8pm and wakes up at 8am with no interuptions. Hooray for 18 months!! It was a tough first year, but do what works and pray a lot. Heavenly Father will help guide you to what works for Kate and help you later when you need to adjust things. Don't be paranoid about "starting BAD HABITS." I was and I think that delayed both our getting a good nights sleep. Just know you can always work on what's not working anymore - later.
8 comments:
What a DARLING baby girl! If you have a boppy pillow, we put that in between us with a blanket over it and then laid the baby in with his/her head on one end, bum in the hole and feet up on the other end. They felt cozy and slept better but we didn't worry about rolling onto them or anything. Eventually we moved the boppy to the bassinet and then got rid of it completely. As far as sleeping more at night, I think she'll get it. Of course waking her up to feed every couple of hours in the evening helps and then at night leave the lights really low so it doesn't feel like day time. My favorite thing is using a 7.5 watt bulb in your regular lamp. They sell them anywhere, even Wal-Mart. It's enough light to see what you are doing but not wake them up. Do you have Swaddle blankets and a swing?
THe best thing to know, is that even though it may seem like it, your life is not over. It will be normal again and you will sleep again... someday. And it's okay to smack people when you are so exhausted and they tell you to "enjoy this time". :) You're doing the best you can to survive, then enjoy!
Wow that was long... sorry.
Good luck you guys. I have no good advice and don't feel qualified to speak on this particular subject since neither of my boys slept well for the first 12 months and Saige is following in their footsteps. Lisa and I probably got about 3-4 hours of interrupted sleep last night (although Lisa would argue that she got 2 and I got 5). And to compound the issue, the boys are now getting up more than they ever did before. I just turn to diet coke in this dark hour of my life and pray that the next few months will go by quickly. I'm not a big fan of the "infant" stage.
My sister is here visiting me this week and we are totally talking "baby sleep" and trying to fix her 6-month-olds horrible habits.
My advice.....READ THE BOOK "HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS, HAPPY CHILD"! It is, by far, the best sleep book out there. It says it how it is and really knows what's best as far as baby sleep.
I agree with the "Healthy Sleep Habits Healthy Child" book suggestion. I read it with my first. It is the best. I also wake my very young newborns (like Kate) up during the day. I've even dipped my finger in my cold water and rubbed it on their hands to get them to wake up. For mine being awake during the day sometimes entailed enduring some crying, but it was worth it if it helped them sleep at night. I also co-sleep with them in the bed until they are about 6 weeks. I have this little "snuggle nest"- I believe that is the name of it, but it is a tiny little bed that we put between us in our king size bed. I've also slept with them in my bed with this wedge pillow thing that is supposed to keep them on their backs and with nothing at all. But if it worries you too much to sleep with them in the bed then I wouldn't. You won't get any sleep if you are worried all night about rolling on them. Co-sleeping isn't for everyone. And my mom always says "this too will pass," so like Monica said, know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Take turns and have Greg help you. hang in there girl. you are doing great and she is beautiful!!!
Hahaha, Monica sounds right. ;-) The nightime feedings are rough. I remember when Tex was born and I thought to myself, "How did I do this when Eden was born? I don't remember it being this difficult."
You will have to watch the Happiest Baby on the Block when you get your package. Swaddling worked like a charm for Eden. She hated getting swaddled, but once we added the other S's she was in heaven and suddenly went from sleeping 2 hours to 4 and 5. You will see what I am talking about when you get the movie. Hopefully it will help you too. Eden also slept in her swing for probably the first 3 months of her life. She didn't like her bassinet. So, at night I would put her to bed in her swing, and then when she would wake up at 4 am to eat, I'd feed her in bed with me, and she'd just stay in bed till morning. I liked having her in bed because then I could nurse and fall right back to sleep.
Take naps during the day when Kate is sleeping at that will help. I didn't do this, and the sleep deprivation cought up with me around 2 weeks, and I went CRAZY.
So, here is my L O N G W I N D E D advice. ;-) But I think sleeping with them is just fine. My mom did it was all 5 of us kids, and I've done it with both of mine.
You just do what you can to survive...but it does get better.
I agree with just about everything that everyone said. At this point I'm right there with you with getting little sleep. Just be thankful you can sleep during the day with her rather than taking care of other kids! At this point all that gets me by is thinking, "it will get better!" Having two others that were poor sleepers as little babies, I know that it only goes up from here!
I have my baby sleep in her little bouncy seat that vibarates and I swaddle her good and tight. When I'm really desperate I lay her on her stomach next to me in bed.
I too have read Healthy sleep habits...it was most helpful to me once my kids were around 6 months.
For this beginning newborn stage. I say DO WHAT WORKS to allow you some sleep. That meant Aubrey slept with us once she was about 3-4 months old because I was so exhausted by then. I slept much better because I never had to fully awake to feed her at night. She slept great cause I was there.
That went on until she was about a year. But, it worked fine for us. I love sleep and must have it.
I also agree that Happiest Baby on the Block is the best book for newborns. Aubrey needed white noise and swaddling to sleep anywhere else but on us. She took many naps on me, but that's okay cause those days are all gone now. She now goes to bed at 8pm and wakes up at 8am with no interuptions. Hooray for 18 months!! It was a tough first year, but do what works and pray a lot. Heavenly Father will help guide you to what works for Kate and help you later when you need to adjust things. Don't be paranoid about "starting BAD HABITS." I was and I think that delayed both our getting a good nights sleep. Just know you can always work on what's not working anymore - later.
Good luck!
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