I'm finding it hard to be tough with Weston. I tried to do things so much "by the book" with Addison during the day and what did it get me? A baby that didn't sleep longer than 30 minute naps until she turned 18 months! They say you shouldn't put your babies to sleep before laying them down. I worked and worked with Addison on that and it was months of struggle. This time I'm just having a hard time. I look at this precious baby that is 7 weeks old today and all he wants is his mommy. Yesterday he took half of his naps in the swing and I started thinking, what is wrong with that? I paid money for this swing and he can't use it longer than a few months. I can put him in the swing wide awake and he just swings for a few minutes and falls asleep. Sleeping longer than in his bed. It allowed me to do things around the house, make phone calls, get ready for the day, etc. Last night he slept better in his bed than the night before when I had tried to get him to nap in his bed.
I think part of me is having a hard time because I know this might very well be the last baby I ever have. I haven't changed my mind. I know that I want 3 and that I want to adopt a small child and I really don't want to go through the newborn stage ever again. But knowing that this is my last time, I am trying to forget about the hard parts and enjoy this tiny, snuggly, little man as long as I can. I don't mind holding him and I find myself kissing him all day long. I look at Addison and I know that they grow up so quickly and I want to enjoy him in each stage even when it's hard. So maybe this time I finally forget what everyone says I should do and I just do what works for us. :)
Jennifer--you'll never be happy with the newborn stage until you do what works for you. I've told you all along to trust your instincts and not worry so much about what books and the internet say to do. If it makes you feel better, all 3 of mine slept in their bouncey seat all of the time. They didn't nap in their cribs until they were on a better nap schedule after a few months. :)
ReplyDeleteI think it is important for mom's to be educated about parenting, but I think it is more important to do what works for you and your family and each specific child and not feel condemned :)
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny, I just had this conversation with my mom the other day. I told her that I feel like I'm putting so much pressure on myself to do everything "by the books" that I'm worrying entirely too much about doing something wrong or Kylie not "turning out ok." When I start worrying that I'm not doing everything I need to do, I think about people even just 150 years ago who didn't know anything about all the things we're told to do and not to do now. And some really intelligent people came out of those times. From the day I was born until I was like 3 years old, my mom could never get me to fall asleep without her laying with me. And I turned out ok! (I think, haha.) Kylie refuses to fall asleep by herself for naps. I have to lay with her, and sometimes it really drives me nuts! Like Weston, she will sometimes fall asleep in her swing for naps, and her pediatrician said that was completely fine. At night, I never put Kylie in her bed awake. I know I'm not "supposed" to do that but I battled with her for weeks trying to teach her to self-soothe, and I just couldn't stand listening to her scream non-stop. I rock her to sleep every night and then lay her down. I do intend to try teaching her to self-soothe again but sometimes you just have to do what you feel is right and not what everyone one else tells you is right!
ReplyDelete