Tag Archives: sleep
An 18 month old, a 6 week old, a husband, and two dogs under one roof… Sounds like the beginning of a joke! Well, it is my new reality, and one with which I am quite pleased. Sure there are some tantrums, many stinky diapers, vomiting fits, face reddening screams, and days that just don’t seem to go right no matter what I do. However, the majority of the time there are smiles, laughs, giggles, games, coos, new words, wonder, love, gratefulness, and so much more! SLEEPING: As of last week, we have a great routine down pat with Amelia (6 weeks) and Lili (18 months). Lili goes down like clockwork around 6pm (with the recent time change it bumped up from 5pm) and then Amelia cluster feeds, to go down in the pack n’ play in our room at 7pm. Lili sleeps until 730/800am and has been sleeping 12-14 […]
While experiencing third trimester insomnia, I did a review of the literature on infant sleep and found a few very easy to read, reputable articles that can help back up what I tell clients and friends about infant sleep. They are very simple concepts, and easy to implement. I like to be able to support everything I suggest, and just for personal education. I invite you to read the below articles and the related and references articles that accompany them. It’s great to be informed! Topic: Just how important is sleep to infants? Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4321279/ Summary: Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of sleep following learning something new in order to retain it for a long period of time. This is true across the board in any age group, yet often overlooked in infancy. Just because they cannot speak full sentences yet, does not mean […]
Lili has changed so much in the past month, let alone the past 13, it is almost inconceivable. I really do not think little ones are given enough credit for all their amazing accomplishments so early in life. If adults were even one iota as determined and adept as infants/toddlers, this world would be a far different place… As mentioned in my previous post, my little bug just recently shifted from a two nap a day schedule to just one, so I figured it was appropriate to account for this change in her new daily routine. Of course, we do not do the same thing every day, but this is a rough outline of what our days look like at 13 months. Also, I am currently almost 7 months pregnant, so I am taking more of a hands-off approach mostly due to exhaustion. 7:30am: wake up very […]
Last week I had to say farewell to my friend the second nap… Lili didn’t nap for three days, at all, and then transitioned to one per day. I definitely didn’t think it would happen so soon and needed to lament the loss. Given that I am almost 7 months pregnant, I really enjoyed the two naps as they gave me two times during the day to just sit and relax, not like I actually did that, but I had the opportunity to if I didn’t feel like cleaning, cooking, renovating, redecorating, etc. I must say I quite enjoy the added freedom it allows us in a day. We can go on errands longer, and even may venture into DC for longer zoo or museum trips now. Another added benefit to the one mid-day nap (that lasts between 1-2.5 hours) is an earlier bedtime. Around 530pm it’s already time […]
I am alone. I don’t actually remember the last time I was alone… It has been well over a year, that I know for sure, as that was when Lili was conceived. Ever since then, I have always been with someone else whether it be Lili, family, friends, husband, dogs, etc. Tonight it is just me. Lili is asleep for the night. Alec is out with friends. Even my dogs are away at my parent’s house. I woke up this morning feeling very overwhelmed, as I have felt lately. I have an endless compulsion to do everything for everyone flawlessly. This is an admirable quality, but an exhausting one. On a typical day I wake up, (possibly work out) feed and interact with Lili, work, listen to some lectures or read journal articles, clean, repeat. In the evening I try to make dinner for my husband, and then once Lili […]
I have been very torn about writing too prematurely thinking I may jinx Lili’s schedule, but she has been solid for a couple weeks now. I want to preface this by stating I did not really do any formal sleep training, as it was simply not needed. I did not do cry it out (she is too young anyway) or any other special techniques. Not to say Lili came out as an amazing sleeper, but I just gently instilled very good habits very early on and it is paying off. Please note, she will sleep about 2-3 hours for her main nap but does wake in between sleep cycles (about 45 mins into the nap) and fuss a low dull whine for about 2-3 minutes and then zonk back out without intervention. This is a normal waking pattern for infants…adults wake between cycles as well but often do not ever […]
You’re So Lucky
“You’re so lucky” is something I hear more often that I would like since having children. Perhaps I am too caught up in the literal meaning, but it bothers me deeply when I hear that phrase in reference to my children or my parenting style. It really is not luck, and I feel like my abilities as a parent are being shrouded. Think of it this way…you get that promotion you have been busting your ass for at work, and your co-worker says “You’re so lucky to get that promotion.” You would likely say, “…no, I worked my ass off, it is not luck.” But, then again, most people wouldn’t say you are lucky for being promoted, they would simply congratulate you and tell you how hard you’ve worked and how much you deserve it. What is the difference between that and parenting? I take a great deal […]