Sleep

Missed a couple days, due to sleep deprivation! Now that we have three bedrooms on the same level I am trying to move the little man into his own room. I have a new found respect for parents that have their babies in separate rooms.

 

When we had our oldest daughter we lived in a one bedroom apartment.  We were after all still students, or graduated by a month.  Our apartment was tiny and the walls were paper thin. My man and I had a great time listening into our neighbors arguments. On the flip side, Beezus had to be in our room, AND she had to be quiet; otherwise, our neighbor could complain, the manager would find out we had her and kick us out. Of course she happened to be my most colicky child yet. This led to lots of singing and rocking and not much sleeping at all. I eventually broke down and let her sleep in my bed. The most amazing thing happened, she just plain stopped crying. She slept like an angel and only woke up for feedings, which I could also do in bed. I went from no sleep, almost passing out while nursing, to getting full nights sleep!  I did not set out to be a co-sleeping parent, but out of necessity that is what I became.  Now I am an advocate of co-sleeping.  I love co-sleeping and if you take the right precautions it is not dangerous.  That being stated, I do not have to have my little man in my room AND I would love to get him to sleep in our hardly ever used crib.  Thus I have been spending a lot of nights passing his room, swaying him, shushing him and trying to get him to sleep in his bed.  I have been moderately successful. 

 

Right before bedtime I have created a routine in which I give my little man a baby massage.  I get out the baby lavender lotion (supposedly the lavender should relax him and make him sleepy) and I massage his legs.  He smiles and gurgles.  He really seems to enjoy it.  The main purpose is to give him a clue it is bedtime.  Train him into sleep with familiar smells and routines.  Ideally, a psychological Pavlov’s dog trick.    

 

Well, not only have this actually started to help, but last night when he was feeling sleepy he reached for the lotion bottle.  I had lost track of time and sure enough it was 7:30.  I try to get him started on his routine no later than that.

 

Of course, he just loves massage and laughs whenever he sees the  bottle during the day.