Saturday, July 31, 2010

Sleep Training Night #2

So after a long day at the pool and some weird naps (fell asleep on morning walk and in car on the way home from the pool), we were prepared for another long night of "sleep training".  I felt confident that we could handle it and was prepared for night #2 to be harder, just as most of the books say. 

We did the bedtime routine again, including half the bottle with a story then bath then finish the bottle with prayers and a good night song.  Then hugs & kisses from Mommy & Daddy and wishes for sweet dreams.  Handed him lovey and his paci and laid him down with a blanket. 

He was standing up before we left the room and was quiet for a few minutes.  Then, he started "talking" to for about 8 minutes.  Then, the crying started.  It was intense but there were breaks.  He launched into "Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama" and "Dada, Dada, Dada, Dada". 

I pushed through it, telling myself that I would not abandon my poor hubby to do this again without me until I finished folding the laundry.  My plan was to run one errand to Whole Foods and to pick up a pizza for Friday-Night Movie Night. 

By the time I finished the basket of clothes, he was quiet.  I was a little nervous (did he hit his head, choke on his pacifier, cry himself to the stage of passing out??) but D assured me that he was probably asleep. 

So I ran my errand and at 8pm, D texted me that our baby boy was sleeping peacefully in the center of his crib with his lovey and on his side.  (unlike the first night where he appeared to simply pass out in a puddle of tears on his tummy in the corner of his crib!)

We checked on him after our movie night and lo and behold, he had pooped again.  I was expecting it as he didn't move his bowels at all during the day, which was odd.  We successfully tandem-changed him again in his sleep and put him back to bed. 

He wimpered as he woke up this morning at 5:52 and was happy and talking when we went in to get him at 6:10am. 

I am so proud of our boy - we made a HUGE deal out of it, singing a song and clapping when we got him up.   He was all smiles and his tummy was rumbling for his bottle.  We brushed our teeth and are now ready to start our day. 

I must say, I am also so proud of us as parents.  This is a tough nut to crack but we hung together and stuck with it, even forgoing dinner plans for tonight to ensure that we have this mastered by the end of next week.  It just shows me that when we decide what is best for our son and we tackle it together, we can handle it. 

Friday, July 30, 2010

Thank you for the sleep

M did an awesome job.  After weeks (or, let's be honest - months) of supplying pacifiers or giving hugs 1-4x/night my darling boy didn't wake up until 5:45am.  The last 3 weeks it has been a regular 4:30am date but not today!!!

We heard him peacefully & happily wake up, talking and shouting out his normal "HEY!!" in the morning.  I listened to my readings and left him there until after 6am.  When we went in at 6:10am, he was smiling and peaceful. 

So - a success. 

Today will hold a new set of projects - nap time sleeping.  We'll see what that brings but I know that we are at least moving in the right direction. 

Thursday, July 29, 2010

My favorite sleep books

      

Sleep Training Night #1

He did it. 

We just got through our first night of the CIO sleep training.  And, it only took an hour!!!!  (I realize that to some people this might be shocking and upsetting but I was prepared for 2 hours of rage and ignorance). 

We switched up the bedtime routine so that he would recognize that we were about to embark on a new bedtime journey.  He responded well and talked for about 20 minutes before screaming his head off for 40 minutes before finally falling asleep in the corner of his crib, damp with his tears. 

Now...before you launch into lectures about trust and abandonment issues, I was SURE that M was ready to go to sleep on his own before we started this process.  AND we tried lots of other less abrupt methods but to no avail.  My little boy just loves to play and laugh so when we tried The Sleep Lady's technique at this age, it just didn't work.  It was wonderful a few months ago but now that he can stand, walk while holding on, crawl, and say Mama & Dada, being next to the crib or in the room just seemed to confuse him. 

I love(d) rocking my boy to sleep but his 20+ lbs didn't seem to want me around anymore.  He would squirm and push against me, almost protesting my existence but seeming to need me to help him turn that corner into dreamland. 

Soooo -- after much debate, lots of conversations with mommies, and one day of procrastination, we did it! 

Of course, I do not have a backbone for these sorts of things so I left D with the monitor and headed to the basement to organize.  God Bless plastic bins - they can occupy me for hours.  D made one visit to escape the monitor for a minute.  My dear hubby - just couldn't listen to screams of "Dada, Dada, Dada" without tears in his eyes. 

The funniest part of all of it was when I checked on him about 15/20 minutes after he fell asleep.  He was in the corner of his crib, curled up on his tummy, peacefully sleeping and .... STINKING OF POO!!!  I thought "seriously??? now what??!!" 

But my amazing husband had faith that we could tackle this so we lifted him out of the crib, changed his diaper in tandem-style, and laid him back down.  He slept through the whole thing. 

We shall see when we hear from him in the morning and how the next few nights go.  It seems hard to believe...so I won't until I know it's for real.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

10 Best Foods for Babies

Loved this article: Baby Center's 10 Best Foods for Babies except for the Meat (we are raising M to be a vegetarian) so I took that one out.  If I had to add a 10th to replace "Meat", it would be Tofu which is an excellent source of protein and a great finger food for babies.  Plus - it is so mild in flavor that you can use it to introduce other flavors and spices. 

HERE IS THE ARTICLE:

There are lots of healthy, baby-friendly foods out there, but some stand out from the pack. These ten culinary superheroes are loaded with essential nutrients, reasonably priced, easy to prepare, and delicious.
What's more, now's the perfect time to introduce them. While the very word "nutritious" can start a food strike among older kids, babies' opinions, and palates, are still relatively open. Many parents are surprised to discover that their babies really enjoy these foods, either from the very first bite or after a few exposures.

Here are ten of our absolute favorites.

Squash


Squash is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, is naturally sweet, and has a pleasing, creamy texture.

Serving idea: Sprinkle parmesan cheese and a little chili seasoning on half a squash, roast it, and scoop out a serving for your baby, suggests pediatrician Susanna Block, owner of World Baby Foods, an ethnic baby food line. "Cooked squash with a little cilantro, mild chiles, and garbanzo beans are another great combination," she says.

Lentils

Crammed with protein and fiber, lentils pack a powerful nutritional punch. They're also one of the cheapest healthy foods you can buy.

Serving idea: Combine cooked lentils with mixed vegetables, rice, and seasonings of your choice. "Try basil and oregano," suggests dietitian Karin Hosenfeld of North Dallas Nutrition. "Or toss in a bay leaf, which works really well with lentils." (Remove the bay leaf before serving.)

Dark green leafy vegetables

Leafy greens boast high amounts of iron and folate. While spinach is perhaps the best known of this group, there are many other varieties, including kale, chard, and collard greens.

Serving idea: Steam and puree a batch of greens, then mix with iron-fortified cereal to give your baby a double dose of iron. Experiment with the proportions to see what your baby likes; Hosenfeld suggests starting with two parts veggie to one part cereal.

Broccoli

Brimming with folate, fiber, and calcium, broccoli is also known for its cancer-fighting properties, says dietitian Kate Geagan, author of Go Green, Get Lean. And thanks to its sulfur compounds, it has a unique flavor that can help expand your baby's tastes.

Serving idea: Steam pieces until soft, then chill. "Steaming takes the bite out of broccoli," says Hosenfeld. "And chilled broccoli is sometimes better accepted by babies. It can also be soothing during teething."

Blueberries

The deep, brilliant blue of these berries comes from flavonoids called anthocyanins, which are good for your baby's eyes, brain, and even urinary tract, says Stephen Gass, co-author of Mix and Mash: Adventures in the Kitchen for Baby and You.

Serving Idea: Gass suggests this easy blueberry soup: Combine 1 cup of blueberries with one-quarter cup of water in a bowl, microwave for one minute, and let cool. Then swirl some plain yogurt on top.

Avocados


"Avocados are a rich source of unsaturated fats," says nutritionist Leanne Cooper, author of What Do I Feed My Baby: A Step-by-Step Guide to Solids. "In fact, the fat composition is somewhat similar to that of breast milk." Concerned about your baby eating fatty food? Don't be. "Unsaturated fat is the good kind of fat, and babies need it for brain development," says pediatrician Ari Brown, co-author of Baby 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Baby's First Year.

Serving idea: Try combining mashed avocado with other foods, such as cream cheese, apples, or canned fish, suggests Cooper. And when it's playgroup time, ditch the crackers and take an avocado along instead. "Avocados can travel in your bag at room temperature and you can offer them in slivers or spread on toast fingers while you sip coffee with your friends," she says.

Prunes

Prunes have lots of fiber and can help relieve constipation – which, notes Brown, your baby may experience after you introduce solids.

Serving idea: Puree prunes and serve them straight or mixed with other foods, such as cereal or applesauce, for a naturally sweet treat. If your baby is badly constipated, Brown advises adding a teaspoon or two of prune juice to formula or expressed breast milk.

Garbanzo beans

Like lentils and other beans, garbanzos are rich in protein and fiber, says Geagan. They're also inexpensive and versatile.

Serving idea: Try hummus. You can find it in many grocery stores, or make your own by pureeing cooked garbanzo beans with garlic, lemon, olive oil, and tahini. You can also make a delectable finger food by sautéing or roasting the beans. "I have a 19-month-old daughter who loves chickpeas sautéed in a pan with seasonings and left out for her to munch," says mom Christina DeLuca.
Mandarin oranges

High in vitamin C and antioxidants, mandarin oranges are a supreme finger food. "Babies really love the flavor," says Hosenfeld.

Serving idea: This is a particularly easy one to prepare – just cut the segments into bite-size pieces and serve. You can buy mandarin oranges fresh or canned, but make sure the canned version is packed in water, not syrup, which contains added sugar.

Can't believe it's been soooo long

I cannot believe that it has been so long since I have written.  Life, or more accurately, life events have taken over.  It has been a whirlwind in our house since May with weddings, parties, trips, work, and of course, Michael-dom.  Our little prince has been developing new skills faster than I can type and it has been so incredible to watch. 

In the past 6 weeks, he has sprouted 4 teeth, mastered finger foods, started pulling up, started crawling, swims with Mommy & Daddy, and is doing some serious babbling.  It is really a sight to see!!!

What brings me to the blog today -- a few things. 

1) our beautiful sleeping patterns have gone completely haywire, much to my dismay
2) I am sensing that we may be entering the world of weaning

So- first thing's first...the sleeping.  M was doing an awesome job sleeping.  He took 2 beautiful naps, am & pm, and went to bed at 7pm every night.  He would sleep until about 6/6:30am and would wake up happy (and hungry).  For the past 3 weeks, that has all changed.  He now wakes up at 4:45am every day and has to join us in bed (after a long rocking session) to go back to sleep.  And he has to go back to sleep because he is a cranky terror if we leave him up (we tried - not pretty!).  Plus - he now is super hyper before bed and wants to play, not sleep.  We haven't done the sleep training mostly because his last bottle would put him out but I am definitely ready to start. 

Here is what some research turned up about 9-month-old's and waking:

The average nine-month-old sleeps 14 hours per 24 hours. This is usually divided into a through-the-night sleep of 10 to 11 hours and two naps of at least one hour each during the day. But research shows that 20 to 30 percent of infants at this age are waking at least once per night. 

An understanding of your infant's stage of development and an organized game plan usually help this messy situation. Because while she can babble, sit up, and certainly cry to express some of her wants and needs, your nine-month-old is far from efficient at expressing complicated thought. And sleep disturbance seems complicated. Understanding your baby's stage of development is step one in understanding the problem.
An infant at nine months of age has achieved two developmental milestones which may interfere with independent sleep:
  • First, babies have developed object permanence by now. If you take a pen and hide it under a piece of paper, a four-month-old thinks you have made it disappear! A nine-month-old knows to lift up the paper and find the pen underneath. Similarly, a nine-month-old who sees you leave the room during your bedtime routine knows that you are somewhere behind that door. And she knows that there are things that she can do to get you back in the room. Crying is an infant tried-and-true mode of attack.
  • Second, infants at nine months of age are often going through a major stage of separation anxiety. Infants can be quite clingy and need lots of reassurance at this age. Many a parent has complained that going to the bathroom without his or her baby glued to the hip is impossible. The intense separation fear that can bubble up at bedtime, then, is understandable.
A Pediatrician says:

When I discuss this issue with parents in the office, the first thing I do is to walk through their bedtime routine with them: "What do you do? And don't spare the details." It turns out that at this age, the last part of the bedtime routine is critical. Infants at nine months can make strong associations with their environment at the time they fall asleep. So an infant who falls asleep rocked and cuddled, can grow to need that rocking and cuddling to fall asleep. Because infants wake and return to sleep many times each night, your bedtime routine can result in an extra effort on your part (rocking and cuddling, in this example) many times each night as your infant wakes up and doesn't know what to do with himself.


Feeding, like motion, is another example of a parent-provided stimulation. For infants who bottlefeed or breastfeed as they fall asleep every night, I encourage parents to move the feeding to an earlier part of the bedtime routine. Instead of bath, tooth brushing, reading, feeding, then bed, I suggest feeding, bath, tooth brushing, reading, then bed. Pacifier use, white noise, or bright light in the room during sleep initiation can cause a similar problem. This issue of "cleaning up the bedtime routine" teaches your infant self-settling—a developmental task that all babies must learn.


As for weaning, we have recently dropped M's mid-morning bottle so he is now getting 4 bottles/day for a total of 27 oz/day. 
  • 6am/waking: 7 oz
  • 1pm/before nap: 7 oz
  • 4:30 or 5pm: 6 oz
  • 7pm/before bed: 7 oz
I am highly considering dropping the 4:30pm bottle and giving him a snack instead and then moving dinner to 5:30pm and his final bottle a little earlier to help with his sleep routine.  It is hard to decide because so much of what I am reading says that a baby's main nutrition is still coming from formula but M prefers solids.  Some of my research is telling me that it is ok to drop him to 3 bottles (7 oz each) per day.  I think that we might try it this week and then attempt to start sleep training this weekend so that we can (hopefully) have that mastered by the time I go back to work.  AAAGGGHHHH!!!!!