SIFW

If you ask any mom how is life with a newborn like, they will be sure to mention sleep deprivation. It's a commonality that all new mommies share. Sure there are a lucky few who get excellent nappers and babies who go long stretches without waking up but these gems are few and far between. Clearly that gift was not bestowed upon me.

While my little guy always looks so precious like so:

circa october 2011

He doesn't think it's necessary to look this precious all night long. Oh baby boy! So, I'm thinking of beginning to sleep train. I believe he is the right age and weight requirements (he weighs enough to not need a midnight snack) to begin sleep training. So I've done a little research. In my research I 'think' I have narrowed it down to two different methods.

The Ferber Method is a technique commonly known as 'crying it out' (CIO). The science behind this makes sense. In a nutshell you help baby learn how to sooth himself to sleep while still reassuring him that you are there. The No-Cry sleep solution is a technique in which a gentle removal system is used to help baby sleep through the night.

These are both popular in the mommy community and both have pros and cons. There are other methods that claim to combine the two. The thing is I'm the one who isn't ready. Well, I am ready to start getting unfragmented sleep. But I'm not ready for tears or lots of hard work in the middle of the night.

Maybe for now I can settle for

So what's SIFW you ask? It's a phrase my son has coined 'sleeping is for whimps!
Do you guys have any advice for dealing with the lack of sleep or sleep training?

Transitioning Tales

I don't like this... not one bit.

But I guess it has to be done.

You see I'm a first time mom (FTM). And first time moms- well at least this first time mom- are extra doty (if that's a word) on their first borns. This is not to say that subsequent children won't be subjected to millions of kisses daily, or extreme cuddle time 25/7 but I've never had anything this cute and squishy to hold that was mine! And I cherish every.single.moment. Yea, the hubby helped so I guess I have to share but you get my point. In case you don't my point is I love having my baby boy with me 24/7!

So I'm a little saddened by this:

Yea that's right my little guy is transitioning to his crib... insert sad face here.

okay, I'm the one with the sad face... but isn't his cute?? I hope he doesn't start to realize that I'll give in to that face...

I know a lot of mommies, including FTM's start their babies sleeping in their own rooms from the night they bring baby home. But that isn't the case with me. I feel strongly about rooming-in, I don't care how much preparation went into their nurseries- they will get plenty of sleep in there, just not right away. I also breastfed baby and it was much easier for me to reach over and get my baby than get out of bed and walk down the hall. Plus I read an article that said the more upset a baby gets during the night, the longer it could take to put them back down. Meaning if they have to cry real loud to get your attention (from being in the room down the hall) or even get worked up to a cry by time you get there- then it will take a little longer for them to calm back down once their needs are met.

However, this wonderful closeness to mommie can't last forever- but I didn't think it would come so quick. I started to put baby boy in his crib for daytime naps to no avail. He would wake up as he felt himself being lowered into the crib. Then at the point when I could lower him without waking him- his eyes would fly right open as soon as his little hiney touched the crib mattress. *Sigh* I mean in all reality I didn't care much at first. But then I realized that one day he will out grow the bassinet and then what?

Someone suggested that the crib environment is very different from the bassinet environment. The bassinet is way cozier and softer than the crib. So, I put down a few cozy blankets and tried to make him feel as though he was surrounded in the same manner as the bassinet. Yes, I know "O! the horror!" There isn't supposed to be anything in the crib, and babies canNOT sleep on their tummies. While their reports are well meaning these people* have never tried to put my son to sleep in his crib. So I made it as comfortable as possible for him and with some patience he took a nap in his crib!

He hasn't done it since that one successful time earlier this week but I'll keep at it. And in the meantime, I'll enjoy waking up in the middle of the night, sitting up, and seeing my little sweetness sound asleep- right next to mommie.

* Please note- I am in no way intending to undermine the recommendations of the AAP or the families who have lost their beloved babies to suffocation, entrapment, strangulation, or SIDS. I take the recommendations and experiences of others very seriously and intend to protect the welfare of my child. I monitor him during these naps to make sure we aren't victims of very unfortunate circumstances.