A few days ago, I bought a new book about babies. Maybe I am a bit obsessed about Elijah! You would think that at 9 1/2 months I would’ve sussed him out already in terms of what he likes and what he doesn’t. Well, I know some and the other some I don’t. I already have a book I bought when I was at a crisis where he was not sleeping well – that was 5 months ago. That book was great in terms of her philosophy about respecting my baby. It’s not about giving in to every whimp he wants to be fed or picked up or to play with. It taught me that I needed to guide him and not just telling him what to do. I also learnt to prepare him for what was to come with some cues – whether its time to take a bathe, eat or sleep. Naturally, I think if they were not told babies are very smart to figure it out just by observation alone. But me talking to him gives me a sense of him really being in my life and not just a baby I have to take care of.
Well, so why would I bother buying another book? Since observing him and taking some action through what the book taught me he is generally quite easy to look after. He plays quite well independantly if given the right kind of stimulation, goes to sleep without much crying or fuss ( more like babbling and laughing in bed then finally drops off ), eats quite well but sometimes does fuss a bit. Therefore I do have some time to myself to relax. But something was still amiss – although our days are pretty good, after he goes to sleep at night he would be quite restless. Some days it would be tossing and turning for a long time in bed and when he is unable to settle himself he would then fuss and then cry out. Sometimes I do need to help him resettle but most times I don’t. Maybe most parents would be happy with this as really on an average, I would need to get out of bed to settle him once a night for 1 or 2 nights in a week. ( I pharmacist told me yesterday he first baby was waking up every 3 hours EVERY night till he was 18 months!! ) But I can’t help but find that this transitional period ( where they might be on the way to one nap a day ) he has with his nap times/ awake times during the day I just can’t put my finger on it yet. So if there was something to help him sleep at night better, I would gladly do.
So, here’s hoping that this new book would help me unlock what it is he needs.Fingers crossed!
Update: Since starting on a new routine from this book- I’ve not needed to settle him anymore for any nightwakings due to too much sleep/too little sleep etc. [ Dream Baby Guide by Sheyne Rowley ]
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