First of all, thanks for reading! I'm blown away by the support that I have received by everyone that reads my blogs. If I could sing, I would totally upload audio of me singing Bryan Adams (Everything I do) I do it for you. Lame?? Too much?? Ok, I'll stop and get to the point.
I have received a lot of questions and pleas for help from my Facebook friends. I'm thinking that maybe some of you have the same questions, and I'd like to share my answers/responses. Of course, if any of you have any questions, you can always try the comment box on the blog (I've heard that it doesn't work by some, but you can try). You can also write me on Facebook if you'd prefer. I swore I wouldn't use real names for the Q & A, so, every name will be generic, except mine. So, no, I'm not really friends w/ Beyonce or Adele. They wish. ALRIGHT- Here we go:
CONVERSATION 1: The Expectant Mom
Madonna: I still have 3 more months! Really, I am just
wondering when people actually start using the methods. Did you really
start the day you came home from the hospital and was that reasonable?
Also, I feel like I can't leave my house the first 6 weeks with the
schedule because of the strict nap times and wake times. Did you leave
your house and just make it work when you could? I should probably
finish the book before I bother you anymore
Lindsey: Ok,
so, here's the deal: Babywise says to not really try the routine deal
until 10 days after birth. The only goal from the beginning should be to
focus on full feedings. You'll know what I mean when the baby gets here
... sometimes he/she wants to "snack" whether on the bottle or tata and
will fall asleep halfway through eating and then be hungry sooner.
Keeping your baby awake for a full feeding will help him/her go longer
b/t feedings, which will eventually help with the Babywise routine. This
is difficult sometimes b/c babies are so sleepy in the beginning, so
it's just something to practice, but don't beat yourself up if you're
not successful. Also, when I'm in the HOSPITAL I start the process of
laying the baby down when he/she naps. Obviously, I hold my baby, but I
don't just let it sleep in my arms all the time (even though they're so
cuddly that you'll want to).
And about leaving your house and
naps - the good thing about Babywise is that the babies naps should fit
your routine. I don't know that you'll really want to leave the house
the 1st six weeks very much just b/c it's a challenge to get out the
door : ) but-regardless- you can still have a life and let your baby
develop good sleep patterns. The idea w/ Babywise is not to be a strict
schedule, but a flexible routine. Please, trust me when I say this: when
you're baby starts sleeping through the night and takes good, solid
naps during the day you will do ANYTHING to keep it that way. Do not
underestimate the beauty of good sleep and the misery of waking up w/
your baby all night.
P.S. You're not bothering me! You should
finish the book though b/c I think reading it all gives you a good idea
of how everything works together - eating/wake time/naps.
Up-Date: Baby is almost 3 weeks old and this was Mom's response as of today...
*He def knows his feeding schedule already so now we just need those night feedings to stop- ha!*
Good luck! Hope that day comes soon : )
CONVERSATION 2: Middle of the Night Woes
Beyonce: I have been doing babywise also, but now my baby
who is almost 11 weeks has been waking up at night after about 7 hours
(or less) when she was going 8-10. This has been happening for almost a
week. She does take a full feeding when she wakes up. Do you have any
insight?! I know that 6-7 hours isn't much of a difference and still a
great stretch, but I feel like we are moving backwards!
especially since 10 hours has been the norm for almost 2 weeks prior! I
know this is random but I figured since you have been through it twice
you might be able to help! Thank you!
Lindsey: Hey! I'm glad you wrote! I have also found that there
are times when my baby wakes up at a certain time at night that breaks
the traditional routine. If she's taking a full bottle, then she's
obviously hungry. She may be going through a growth spurt and just needs
that extra feeding. You could try giving her a little more during the
day or at night feeding. This phase shouldn't last long though IF you
consistently lay her right back down once the middle of the night bottle
is gone. Of course, you don't want to create a new habit if she has been
going longer stretches, so I understand. I suggest waiting the 15 min
to see if she goes back to sleep in that time, on her own. If not, feed
her and lay back down. In the past, I have found that there is that one
night that she either doesn't fuss for the full 15 or just doesn't wake
up at that time again. It really is just a phase and these will pop up
from time to time... Growth spurts, teething, etc. I understand being
spoiled to longer sleep times! I'm glad Babywise is working well for you... Let me know if you have other questions or something comes up!
CONVERSATION 3: Get My Baby Out of My Bed!
Rihanna: I bought baby wise before my son was born, but
barely started it. Now my son is almost one and he sleeps in the bed
with us and another baby on the way! Help! Ha I love the cuddle time,
but it would be nice to have baby free nights with just my husband and I!
Any suggestions on getting a one year old in his own bed?
Lindsey: Congratulations on the new baby!! Ok, 1st, practice
with the crib during the day. He needs to feel comfortable and secure
sleeping alone in his crib. As you know, he's going to cry.. And it's
hard! Check on him every 15 min if he continues to cry. Try it until it
works. My son was having issues at one pt and I let him cry for 2 hrs,
checking on him every 15-20 min. He finally fell asleep on his own. Now
when I lay him down (awake), he's fine. Do the same thing at night. If
he wakes up and cries at night, give him 15 min to stop, then go change
diaper, bottle, whatever, lay him right back down (((no talking, minimal
lights))) He needs to know it's night. Babywise says the process takes
3-5 days.. Stay strong and it will click. Write me with other questions
if something comes up!!
CONVERSATION 4: The Troubled Napper
Adele: Hey girl! I'd heard the term Baby Wise thrown around
before but never looked into it. After a particularly tough day/night, I
saw your post about doing the blog and decided to go ahead and download
the book. I've been reading it every free second I get and already can
see a change for the better with my baby after only two days! She is
taking better naps during the day and is therefore happier in her wake
times. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for inspiring me to look into
Baby Wise!
Lindsey: Yay!! I'm SOOO glad for you! I want to hug the person
that told me to read that book ... both of my kids sleep 12 hrs. a
night, and my son takes 2 hr naps twice a day. It's nice, and you'll get
there.
Hopefully, my experiences (and mess-ups) will help!
... not even 3 weeks later
Adele: Okay, I need help. I'll try to make this as short as
possible but with enough information so that you can maybe offer some
advice. As I said in the last message, I started trying to implement
Babywise when my baby was about 7 weeks old and she's now 10 weeks. She
started out great! She adapted really well to the eat-play-sleep routine
and was napping well. I was thrilled that it could be that easy... yeah
right!! She's
always been a great night sleeper. She eats around 10 pm and sleeps
until 7:30 am with usually one quick "snack" around 4:30 am. So, bedtime
isn't an issue. Naptime is where we're having problems. She takes a
great morning nap - usually from 9:00 am-10:30 am and a great night nap -
around 8:30 pm -10:00 pm. The naps in the middle of the day, though,
are only between 30-45 minutes. She'll go down for all of her naps
easily, but she just can't seem to stay asleep. Sometimes she'll go back
to sleep if I hold her after she wakes up but not always. I've tried a
couple of things like checking her diaper, seeing if she needs to burp,
soothing her and laying her back down, etc. but if I can get her back
down in her crib at all, she'll only sleep for 5-10 minutes longer. I
tried not to worry about it too much at first hoping it was just a phase
and grateful that she at least slept well at night, but I can see such a
difference in her after she gets that good morning nap. She eats better
and is overall happier. Also, selfishly, those 1 1/2 hour naps allow me
to get things done around the house/plan our day and I'm very OCD... I
love predictability and routine in my life. The other day when she woke
up early, I tried letting her cry it out. I let her cry for 15 minutes
before I couldn't take it anymore. She was literally screaming her head
off with no signs of settling down at all. From what I've read, it's an
all or nothing with the CIO method, but I'm not sure I can do it and if
she's ready for it at 10 weeks old. Again, sorry for the long message. You are the only person I know that follows Babywise,
so I was hoping you had some suggestions with your experience. Thanks
so much!!!!
Lindsey: Don't apologize, I'm glad you wrote. Ok, 1st- I don't
know if you read all of Babywise or just parts, but at one point it
talks about the 45 minute intruder. Basically, your baby suddenly starts
waking 45 min sooner than normal for naps. Usually, this indicates a
growth spurt (as I've found). Maybe she needs to up her milk/formula
intake until you can add rice cereal or add solid foods... Just a
thought. Also, Babywise talks about phases of sleep and 45 min into a
nap is when there is a shift and there can be times of increased
alertness, so to speak. If she wakes up crying 45 min in, then her nap
really isn't over. Wait a few min to go in. Sometimes she'll dose back
off (just like when you hold her) ... The more accustomed she becomes to
waking up in her bed and getting herself back to sleep, the better. I
do understand not wanting to hear her cry, I hate it too! I would
suggest to be consistent laying her down at the same general time every
day. From my experience, she will outgrow waking up early from naps as
she gets older and more accustomed to her routines. It sounds like
you're doing a good job and I'm glad she sleeps that well. Eventually,
she'll go to bed at 8, not wake at 10, and go without the 4:30 snack
bottle. Those are the good days!! : ) keep working on 3 good daily naps
until then. This will go down to 2 longer naps at around 6 months ( 1
morning, 1 afternoon) and last for a while. Keep me posted!!
... 1 month later
Adele: Just wanted to update you. Things are going so well right now! Hope I'm not jinxing myself.
I'm able to put her down awake for all naps and bedtime. She takes two 2
hour naps, one 1 1/2 hr nap, and about a 30 min catnap before bed.
Plus, she's sleeping from around 9 pm- 7:30 am. Yay!! I think
persistence and consistency was key for us. Just praying that the 4
month sleep regression I've heard about is a myth! Thanks so much for your advice!
Lindsey: Yay! This changed your life, I know!! I just laid my
son down and he giggled.. it's ridiculous and I love it. Glad she's
doing better!!!
There are other conversations that I could add, but I think these sum up the major topics. If there are terms used in our text that you do not understand, then I would suggest (as always) buying BabyWise. Everything, of course, is discussed there. Or you could do a quick Google search for an overview.
Thanks y'all. Once again, Happy Sleeping!
Lindsey
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