Mysteries
Someone told me that if something about baby's habits are troublesome, just wait 2 weeks because they'll have changed. So far it's proven true and I try to remind myself that when I'm annoyed something isn't going the way I hoped.
Today LM was sitting in his carseat grabbing and playing with a hanging toy and attempting to put it into his mouth. He entertained himself for a good 15 minutes! Hallelujah. He also took a nap today - and I wrote 10 Christmas cards. Yay me. I attempted to get him in the crib, but that was a failure. He really does not nap anywhere but on me, in the carrier, or in the car. We recently moved the crib into our room as he is too big for his bassinette. I can occasionally get him in there after he's in a deep sleep; he may or may not consent to being returned there after his late-night feed. I think I need to cave and buy some sort of plastic mobile that lights up and shrieks tinny music to help him enjoy the crib more. He pretty much screams every time he is laid down in it - so not a lot of positive association going on there. Any recommendations on crib entertainment?
Recently the car seat has been a big hit and he has had some long stretches in there after coming home. So I put him to sleep in there this morning for a nap - it's nice because it rocks so I can rock him to sleep and then tiptoe away. He even woke up cooing and smiling, which was exceedingly pleasant. I was told at the baby store that the recommendation is not to have them at a 45 degree angle for more than 45 minutes, but hell, I gotta do what works and carrying a 15-pound baby around all day isn't working so much these days. He is a big guy, especially considering he started out so average-sized. Today I put the car seat in the crib - a happy medium?
He has been fairly decent about waking only two to three times in 12 hours, but last night he was up seven, yes SEVEN times. The three-month mark is only a week away, so I am figuring it's the three-month growth spurt. I am promised big changes at three months. I guess the thing I am most excited about, more than sleep, more than crawling, or talking, or the Nobel Peace Prize (which I'm sure is in his future!) is the ability to play. I find it very satisfying to watch him entertained by something, be it a toy or another person, and I'll find it even more satisfying when it lasts for more than 5-minute spurts.
Speaking of which, I am seriously considering buying some of those made-for-baby DVDs. I swore I'd NEVER do such a thing, but we have inadvertently discovered that TV entertains him, and I'm sure whatever is on those DVDs beats Law and Order Special Victims Unit, which was on while I was eating dinner last night. And given D's 12-hour days, I could really use those 20 minutes to shower, or god-forbid, blowdry my hair, which has been in a permanent state of rat's nest since LM was born. I know all the literature says not to use TV as a babysitter - that when the TV is on, you should be there "participating", but if I had time to participate, the TV wouldn't be on in the first place! Bring on the boob-tube babysitter.
Today LM was sitting in his carseat grabbing and playing with a hanging toy and attempting to put it into his mouth. He entertained himself for a good 15 minutes! Hallelujah. He also took a nap today - and I wrote 10 Christmas cards. Yay me. I attempted to get him in the crib, but that was a failure. He really does not nap anywhere but on me, in the carrier, or in the car. We recently moved the crib into our room as he is too big for his bassinette. I can occasionally get him in there after he's in a deep sleep; he may or may not consent to being returned there after his late-night feed. I think I need to cave and buy some sort of plastic mobile that lights up and shrieks tinny music to help him enjoy the crib more. He pretty much screams every time he is laid down in it - so not a lot of positive association going on there. Any recommendations on crib entertainment?
Recently the car seat has been a big hit and he has had some long stretches in there after coming home. So I put him to sleep in there this morning for a nap - it's nice because it rocks so I can rock him to sleep and then tiptoe away. He even woke up cooing and smiling, which was exceedingly pleasant. I was told at the baby store that the recommendation is not to have them at a 45 degree angle for more than 45 minutes, but hell, I gotta do what works and carrying a 15-pound baby around all day isn't working so much these days. He is a big guy, especially considering he started out so average-sized. Today I put the car seat in the crib - a happy medium?
He has been fairly decent about waking only two to three times in 12 hours, but last night he was up seven, yes SEVEN times. The three-month mark is only a week away, so I am figuring it's the three-month growth spurt. I am promised big changes at three months. I guess the thing I am most excited about, more than sleep, more than crawling, or talking, or the Nobel Peace Prize (which I'm sure is in his future!) is the ability to play. I find it very satisfying to watch him entertained by something, be it a toy or another person, and I'll find it even more satisfying when it lasts for more than 5-minute spurts.
Speaking of which, I am seriously considering buying some of those made-for-baby DVDs. I swore I'd NEVER do such a thing, but we have inadvertently discovered that TV entertains him, and I'm sure whatever is on those DVDs beats Law and Order Special Victims Unit, which was on while I was eating dinner last night. And given D's 12-hour days, I could really use those 20 minutes to shower, or god-forbid, blowdry my hair, which has been in a permanent state of rat's nest since LM was born. I know all the literature says not to use TV as a babysitter - that when the TV is on, you should be there "participating", but if I had time to participate, the TV wouldn't be on in the first place! Bring on the boob-tube babysitter.
posted by grass @ 2:46 PM
2 Comments:
At 8:34 AM ,
Michelle said...
Oh yes, Baby Einstein bought me my showers or dishwashing time! LOVE those. Really, sit and interact along...how? By babbling over the soundtrack when the kid is trying to concentrate? I would think that would cause more brain chaos than not. ;) I used to do the car seat in the cradle/crib thing, too. Different things worked for either boy; different mobiles or sound machines, foam positioners for coziness, breaking them into it slowly by having happy playtime in the crib (to establish happy feelings!), then easing into sleep... Man. I can't believe I have more of that ahead of me. :D
At 10:46 AM ,
Anonymous said...
I think you are doing all the right things and I don't think some TV is going to be bad for babies or that you need to interact with them while they watch?! Doesn't make sense. You need time to shower and blow dry your hair, that is important! I am glad to hear things are going so well and I hope that D is able to come home earlier soon too!
linds
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