This week I have been trying to figure out Rachel's sleep schedule. The doctor mentioned that she should be sleeping through the night very soon (since she is 13 pounds) and she should also get a very long afternoon nap. I have been keeping track of her sleeping for the last week and we are not quite where we need to be, but she is happy and we are still loving every minute. She still sleeps in between every feeding during the day, but will only sleep for 40 minutes - it's like clock work. Occasionally in the afternoon, I can put her back to sleep when she wakes up after the standard 40 minutes, but it's hard work. And I cannot complain, because she sleeps very good at night and only wakes up once to eat and can sleep up to 6-7 hours straight depending on the night. It just confuses me, especially when I read about what her schedule should be at two months from various sources. I have read both
Baby Wise &
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and have tried to incorporate things I like from both. I also still swaddle her (a must) and have recently tried a noise maker. Any advice from the experts would be lovely!
We took her swimming last night after the sun went down and it was still 104 degrees. It didn't last all that long, but it was SO FUN!
We also went to the hospital to visit our new friend, Cole Perkinson, who is so precious and teeny (only 6 lb 6 oz). Congrats on the new beautiful baby, Kasey! Funny story - while we were at the hospital, I was feeding Rachel a bottle and she had a small explosion (nothing I can't handle these days) until I picked her up away from me to change her... and it was all over MY shirt.
We also went to the hospital to visit our new friend, Cole Perkinson, who is so precious and teeny (only 6 lb 6 oz). Congrats on the new beautiful baby, Kasey! Funny story - while we were at the hospital, I was feeding Rachel a bottle and she had a small explosion (nothing I can't handle these days) until I picked her up away from me to change her... and it was all over MY shirt. 
11 comments:
Whitney, Ella has always been a champ sleeper; however, I really can't take any credit, I think she just got her dad's genes in the sleep category. I just wanted to write though to say even though Rachel might not be sleeping through the night, my VTing companion's 4 month old was still getting up every hour, in the night, to eat. Whenever Ella did have a "rough night" I still just thought of my friend and thought, well, it could be worse :) Good Luck!
Sleeping 7 hours is pretty much "through the night" for most babies. Liam sleeps from 11pm-7am each night, but he nurses all day to make up for it and he's not a long napper at any given time. He doses a lot.
Just give her some time, and once she lays off some of the daytime naps, I think her nights will lengthen.
She is such a beautiful girl! You are doing a great job! I can't wait to see her smiles when you come in a couple weeks!
Don't worry about the sleep thing too much, it will happen when she's ready and you will definitely fall into a schedule. As far as the blowout diapers go, every mom has had their share and every mom has had it land on them at least once--too bad you didn't take a picture of that one;-)
Ha ha. I have poo on my skirt right now! It is rather impractical to bring a change of clothes for yourself, too, but would be helpful sometimes.
I think you've read the good books and what you are doing is probably improving something that could be much worse. Some babies just take longer. The short nap thing sounds like a struggle...maybe you could try doing whatever you can to get her to sleep a bit longer...put her in the swing...rock her back to sleep etc. to see if you can get her in a better rhythm. Then teach her to do it on her own later on. I do believe sleep problems are generally solvable with the right info, but your situation doesn't sound too extreme. I bet it will all change like tomorrow...just cause you asked. Can't wait to see you and Rachel.
Kyla was doing the same thing at that time then one time aroung 3 or so months she slept like 10 hours. I woke up paniked cause I thought she might have died. Then about a week later she was sleeping about 10-11 hours strait at night. I tried to do the baby wise thing, at least the things I thought made sense. Anyway for a little while after the sleeping through the noc she still took about 40 min naps after every feeding but once she got used to sleeping the whole night she kinda weened herself into a moring 1.5 hour and afternoon 40 min and evening nap 1 hour. Kyla was also pretty big 12.5 lbs at 6wks. Good Luck, Hopefully your able to get some good sleep!
What a DOLL! She is so adorable.
we took allie swimming for the first time last week and she loved it! it was the best cause that night she slept like 10 hrs. allie has always been a good night sleeper and horrible nap sleeper. the thing that did it for me was swaddling her in those velcro swaddlers. you can get them at babys r us. they are the best!
We want to see a picture of the shirt. Was it worse than when Lily tagged Brandon?
She is so cute. Glad to see you guys are doing good.
I personally felt like if Lucas would let me sleep at night I would gladly give up my day. The swing (cradle side to side swing) saved my life at this age he could sleep like 2 hours. Then magically at 4 months old he started sleeping in his bed for naps and with a schedule. Maybe it will just work out, but I highly recommend the swing!!!
Whit, I feel your pain! Try giving her the passifier in the middle of the night instead of feeding her. That should slowly stop her from waking up...hopefully. We still aren't quite there, but her sleep is extending and it takes me about 2 min. to go in her room and pop in the passifier and then back to bed!
Rachel is adorable! I love all the pictures. It is so fun that they are starting to smile more now! I still can't believe they are exactly the same age. Strange?
she is so adorable. I LOVE the book baby whisperer. It has some great tips on scheduling without making them "cry it out". I am such a sucker and I can not sit and listen to my kids cry and cry.
Good luck!!! You guys look like you are doing great. I am happy for you two.
Post a Comment