- when should we start enforcing a schedule for bed time? Currently, we're going with the flow. Honestly, we're not really tight scheduling type people, but we know that it's probably what's best for a healthy, happy Annabel, so we've got to figure that out.
- what "sleep method" should we use to get her to start sleeping through the night? Our Baby 411 book recommends the Ferber method (what some Mommy Message Boarders call the "CIO" or "Cry It Out" method -- but if you read that link, it's not really as bad as that sounds). Other friends have recommended "The Happiest Baby on the Block." Sound off in the comments section! What worked for you?
- when should we move her out of our room into her room? We're dreading this, as we LOVE having her sleep in her bassinet in our room. We did get a video monitor, but you know... it's not the same.
- and finally... when do we stop swaddling her? She's finally just now actually fitting into the swaddling blankets that we were given. So, if we wrap her in those pretty snugly, she doesn't really struggle or kick out of them. And for the past few nights, she's slept 6 hours!! We are loving that! But if we swaddle her in regular receiving blankets like we did in the hospital, by morning, she's pretty much kicked her way out of those. We know she looooves being warm (the only way she would sleep before is if we swaddled her in TWO receiving blankets!) so we're worried that just putting her down in her PJs won't be enough.
Here's how we used to swaddle her. She looks like a little egg roll! You probably can't tell from the picture, but she's wrapped in 2 blankets here.
And here's how she was swaddled last night. She slept soundly for a good 6 hours, so at this point, I guess we're not going to change it yet.
Well, I guess we have some sleepless nights ahead of us as we play this by ear and transition Annabel to the next sleeping phase of her life! Again, any tips from you experienced mommies and daddies would be appreciated :-)
Also, I've updated Annabel's July/August photo album with some photos I took of her this past weekend! I love all the faces she makes, so I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I did taking them. The links to her albums are always on the right column of this blog, so you can check those out anytime. I'll try to remember to post a blog when I update it though.
Coming up... the child care search continues! I'll fill you in on the latest in that saga the next time Annabel gives me a break :-)
7 comments:
I know you already know this.... but for what it's worth, this is what worked for us:
We moved JP up to his crib at 6-7 weeks. That's when we finally started sleeping better. It was a good move for us. Video monitors are a wonderful thing!
Only just recently did we stop swaddling because JP started fighting the swaddle. I've read that you can swaddle up until the point where they fight it and are telling you they don't want it anymore. Some of my friends swaddled up until 6 months when their kids started fighting it.
We put him to bed between 8:30-9pm. We're not big schedulers either but our social life has definitely picked up now that we know when he's down for the count.
Good luck! 6 hours is great! If I were you I wouldn't mess with changing the swaddle now. Let her continue to get used to sleeping that long at night and she'll let you know when she's ready to be cut loose. :)
ok, here is ginny sounding off!
we could not sleep well with paige in our room. we moved her to the crib at about 5 weeks after we visited with the pediatrician about it. she said we could let her cry for 15 minutes at this age and if she cried for longer, to go in and pick her up, but stay standing by the crib, and hold her until she clams down. lucky for us, we have only had to go in maybe 2x since we started this.
she moved to her crib at about 5 weeks and would wake up once during the night to eat. starting memorial weekend, she starting sleeping all night by no doing of my own. if my child does anything great, it is sleep.
we put her to bed sometime between 8 and 9 every night (unless we are out later). we do a little routine of chatting with her, clean diaper, pjs, swaddle, and story time. we always end with goodnight moon because that book is like baby valium we have found.
obviously you can tell we still swaddle. we asked the pedi about it and she said she will bust out when she is ready to not be swaddled, but from how we were talking, it sounds like she thinks she shouldn't be swaddled too long after 3 or 4 months, but the child will not fall asleep without the swaddle. we do basic receiving blanket and she doesn't bust out (and it is getting hard to fit) which makes me think she still enjoys the swaddle.
like i said, paige is some freak sleeper and sleeps from 8 or 9 until 7 or 8 in the am. i don't know what her deal is, but i am not messing with her mojo. i know it could end at any minute and i enjoy my night every night as if it were my last (since it might be).
i agree with SR, do what you think is best and take your cues from sweet annabel! paige slept so much better in her crib and the little routine is good for her and us. don't feel too tied to a scheduled - a loose schedule is what works best for us and then i don't get so crazy knowing i have an about time, but not a definite time. she sounds like she is doing great!
omg - i just looked and that was a LONG comment!
thanks for the advice, you guys! i do love my sleep, so i'm counting my blessings with the way she's going now. WOW, ginny! paige is a GREAT sleeper! here's hoping that doesn't change... ever!
Anthony has been a great sleeper (knock on wood) We swaddled him until he was about 31/2 months. Then we had the same problem about the Blanket not being big enough. I began swaddling with an alternating arm out. Eventually I swaddled up to his armpits, leaving his arms out. When that stopped working we moved to the sleep sac that you put over the pajamas. I thought this would still give him the warmth and security of a blanket. We used the sleep sac until he began rolling over. Then we just went to footed pjs each night. I'd say it was about 5 months before he went to bed without any blanket covering. Now at 17 months I'm trying to teach him to use a blanket all over again.
We moved Anthony to his room at about 11 weeks after, he had been sleeping 9 hours consistently for a week or 2. Ultimately I think WE all got better sleep from doing so.
As for soothing themselves to sleep. You have to decide what works for you, Chris and the Anabel. I read a book called GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT by Kim Davis. I didn't implement this until after he was one. However, next time around, I'll want to do it sooner.
You pretty much just have to listen to your mommy voice and do what you feel is best for you and your family. My favorite saying is "When Mommy's happy, everyone is happy!"
Hi! I am new here. I loved happiest baby on the block. I had to swaddle Eliza (my daughter) way too long because she was very fussy- 7 months! I am not big on the Ferber method- but my little one usually ends up in bed with us. You have to do what works foryou.
welcome, danielle! i look forward to reading ur blog too, and exchanging stories!
monica, i can't believe anthony is 17 months already! thanks for letting me call u in my panicky state :-) hopefully we can make it to houston soon so that anthony and annabel (and will!) can all hang.
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