*Erat*

JoySeattle

EratMama:

Still eating every 2 or 2 1/2 hours. Trying all the Baby Whisperer tricks.  I'd love a slightly longer stretch at night. But he's such a sweet baby I can't complain.

Have you looked into Happiest Baby? Do you swaddle, have white noise nearby, etc?

Those often help lengthen sleep a bit if baby's getting enough nutrition other times. Best of luck!

mandykatie

Joy- If/when I have a baby, I would like to hire you to move in with us. I will pay you in pies, pancakes, and high- fives.  I hope you are off your juice feast by then.

JoySeattle

Mandy, that sounds like a good deal!

mandykatie

JoySeattle:

Mandy, that sounds like a good deal!

Good- I'm glad we got that all worked out ahead of time

EratMama

Thanks!  I'll take all tips at this point. I did some googling of Happiest Baby stuff the other day. We were doing some of those suggestions, and now we are doing more.

We do: have him nap during the day with blinds open, door open, cluster feed in evening, swaddle (he cries unless he is arms out) have a sleep sheep that makes white noise, blinds closed at night, have bedtime routine (bath or wipe down, book, bottle, bed), L tries to make sure he gets sunlight (a walk if possible) in the afternoon.

According to the charts, he is getting enough calories/ounces during the day... but still hungry every 2 hours or so.  And wants to be held even if he's not hungry at night. (Actually sleeps more independently during the day). 

I wonder if part of it is his mom was on a reverse night/day schedule.  His urine was clean for drugs but all signs point to exposure during pregnancy.  I wonder if that is part. Maybe I'm just reading too much into things. 

I'll take any other tips.... and we actually gave my mom a juicer a few years ago that she hardly uses.  I'm sure we could steal it back when you come bring your magic here  

JoySeattle

EratMama:

We do: have him nap during the day with blinds open, door open, cluster feed in evening, swaddle (he cries unless he is arms out) have a sleep sheep that makes white noise, blinds closed at night, have bedtime routine (bath or wipe down, book, bottle, bed), L tries to make sure he gets sunlight (a walk if possible) in the afternoon. 

 

That's great! A couple thoughts:

swaddling  - lots of babies cry when their arms are initially swaddled, but then they settle. Swaddling is about the arms, more than anything and it's often arm movements in sleep that wake little babies. If you have a chance, watch some videos where baby is crying until swaddled, then settles.

sleep sheep -  they're cute but as far as I know they only play for 45 min cycles, which is not a full sleep cycle. Effective white noise is usually a constant that helps babies return to another sleep cycle.

 

EratMama:

According to the charts, he is getting enough calories/ounces during the day... but still hungry every 2 hours or so.  And wants to be held even if he's not hungry at night. (Actually sleeps more independently during the day). 

 

He just may not be there developmentally (physiological maturity, tummy size, etc) to go longer. Waking may also be satisfying his need for cuddles/closeness at this point. Babies go from being held 24/7 in the womb to this big wide world, it's a huge adjustment. 

 

 

EratMama:

I wonder if part of it is his mom was on a reverse night/day schedule.  His urine was clean for drugs but all signs point to exposure during pregnancy.  I wonder if that is part. Maybe I'm just reading too much into things. 

 

I don't know that maternal day/night schedule during pregnancy would have much impact, but may babies (regardless of maternal schedule) have them "reversed" when they're newborns. No real consolation, but just to say other parents of little ones are often in the same boat.

 

 

EratMama:

I'm sure we could steal it back when you come bring your magic here  

 

I can just be the traveling dou.la! 

EratMama

Babies go from being held 24/7 in the womb to this big wide world, it's a huge adjustment. 

 

Thanks Joy for all the tips.  I am sure we'll get there eventually.  I did read yesterday that even if you are carrying your baby 12 hours a day, that's still 50% less than they were carried.  And I don't mind

I'll look into white noise machine & work on our swaddling.  Thanks!