Pure Parents

Question:

Some very wise moms taught me that if you meet your baby’s needs, he will become independent when he is ready.  You must follow that philosophy happily.  None of my children have climbed into our bed for years.  I think it works.  Although some of us need our space sometimes.  My high need baby would always fall asleep in my bed (nursing) and I would sneak him into his crib later.  He would often wake during the night, though.  He hated the crib.  I think the bars bothered him.  When we gave him a twin bed (at about 18 mo.) I could lay down with him until he fell asleep.  What ever works! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Maybe your friend should try a baby sling.  Some babies need >to be close to a parent for all those great body sounds and >warmth.  Many babies are not ready to give that up just >because they are not inside Mom anymore.  My second baby was >a "high need" baby.  He needed to be close for a long time! >I wore my third baby in a baby  sling often until he was a >toddler, and after.  It made my life a lot easier.  You can >even lull the baby to sleep by "wearing" him and sneak him >into his crib. >  baby slings are *wonderful*. i have a sling, 2 front packs & a > backpack… i like the sling the best though. just don’t cook > while wearing the baby. too much danger of accidental burns. >  Ruth, on your high-needs baby… when was s/he ready to sleep > in a crib? my boy is 7 months & he sleeps with me even though i > have a co-sleeper. i sort of think it’s because i’m a lot warmer > than the co-sleeper my room is about 60F at night & i doubt > the hot water bottle is as cozy as mom. it doesn’t bother me > that he sleeps on me (he’s usually draped across me) but he’s > going to be awfully warm in the summer… (i used to use a down > comforter, but he gives off too much heat, so i just have a > flannel sheet & a light blanket now) >  oh, he also either sleeps on my lap or in his sling during the > day too. it’s only in the past 6 weeks that he’s started playing > by himself for half an hour or so, so i have time to do some > artwork. again, it’s no big deal… i’m sure he’ll outgrow it. > at least i’ve never seen a 6 year old that still does that > lee

Response:

>Maybe your friend should try a baby sling.  Some babies need >to be close to a parent for all those great body sounds and >warmth.  Many babies are not ready to give that up just >because they are not inside Mom anymore.  My second baby was >a "high need" baby.  He needed to be close for a long time! >I wore my third baby in a baby  sling often until he was a >toddler, and after.  It made my life a lot easier.  You can >even lull the baby to sleep by "wearing" him and sneak him >into his crib.

 baby slings are *wonderful*. i have a sling, 2 front packs & a backpack… i like the sling the best though. just don’t cook while wearing the baby. too much danger of accidental burns.  Ruth, on your high-needs baby… when was s/he ready to sleep in a crib? my boy is 7 months & he sleeps with me even though i have a co-sleeper. i sort of think it’s because i’m a lot warmer than the co-sleeper my room is about 60F at night & i doubt the hot water bottle is as cozy as mom. it doesn’t bother me that he sleeps on me (he’s usually draped across me) but he’s going to be awfully warm in the summer… (i used to use a down comforter, but he gives off too much heat, so i just have a flannel sheet & a light blanket now)  oh, he also either sleeps on my lap or in his sling during the day too. it’s only in the past 6 weeks that he’s started playing by himself for half an hour or so, so i have time to do some artwork. again, it’s no big deal… i’m sure he’ll outgrow it. at least i’ve never seen a 6 year old that still does that lee

Response:

Hi everyone  :) My friend has a 3 month old.  There are many days when her daughter does not nap AT ALL.   Several times this 3 month old has forgone a nap and stayed awake til 3 or 4 in the morning!!   My friend is seriously sleep deprived.   Anyone have an infant who does this or a child who did this?  Any idea WHY or how to get the infant to nap during the day? Thanks! Jeannie (mommy to Jenny (4) and baby-to-be (Aug/01)

Response:

> Hi everyone  :) > My friend has a 3 month old.  There are many days when her daughter does not > nap AT ALL.   Several times this 3 month old has forgone a nap and stayed awake > til 3 or 4 in the morning!!   My friend is seriously sleep deprived. > Anyone have an infant who does this or a child who did this?  Any idea WHY or > how to get the infant to nap during the day?

When my daughter started this,I thought she hated her crib, then I realized that she always seemed to be clutching or trying to clutch something.  I put a small receiving blanket in her arms when she would be going to sleep. She seemed to really take to it and soon after would sleep soundly.   She could try it.

Response:

>Hi everyone  :) >My friend has a 3 month old.  There are many days when her daughter does not >nap AT ALL.  

Have you tried a radio or other source of music?  My daughter loved settling in and letting the music lull her to sleep.  We would often get her started by walking her in her room with the music on, and as she relaxed we’d put her down.  We had to learn to set the volume where it was high enough to grab her attention, but not enough to excite her.

Response:

I’d be curious to know what the going to bed scene is like in their house. I used to think that my son would not sleep. But it was that he did not go down to bed in his cradle, having slet with me first. He was plenty tired but had a hard time getting to sleep in the cradle. What is their go to bed routine? Stephanie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi everyone  :) > My friend has a 3 month old.  There are many days when her daughter does not > nap AT ALL.   Several times this 3 month old has forgone a nap and stayed awake > til 3 or 4 in the morning!!   My friend is seriously sleep deprived. > Anyone have an infant who does this or a child who did this?  Any idea WHY or > how to get the infant to nap during the day? > Thanks! > Jeannie (mommy to Jenny (4) and baby-to-be (Aug/01)

Response:

> I’d be curious to know what the going to bed scene is like in their house. I > used to think that my son would not sleep. But it was that he did not go > down to bed in his cradle, having slet with me first. He was plenty tired > but had a hard time getting to sleep in the cradle. > What is their go to bed routine? > Stephanie

Infants who are up all night are 1) not breast-fed, because "being up all night" means "parents having to GET up all night for bottles". B/F-ing helps LOADS! because the baby can be fed and comforted right in bed with you and you don’t even remember it! Use a slightly raised pallet of blankets with a low rim on it in bed between you. 2) also infants are awake all night if they are allowed to sleep all day so their parents can get something done, and THAT’S why they’re awake all night! If you want them to sleep at night you can’t let them sleep all day! Steve – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi everyone  :) > My friend has a 3 month old.  There are many days when her daughter does > not > nap AT ALL.   Several times this 3 month old has forgone a nap and stayed > awake > til 3 or 4 in the morning!!   My friend is seriously sleep deprived. > Anyone have an infant who does this or a child who did this?  Any idea WHY > or > how to get the infant to nap during the day? > Thanks! > Jeannie (mommy to Jenny (4) and baby-to-be (Aug/01)

Response:

> Hi everyone  :) > My friend has a 3 month old.  There are many days when her daughter does not > nap AT ALL.   Several times this 3 month old has forgone a nap and stayed awake > til 3 or 4 in the morning!!   My friend is seriously sleep deprived. > Anyone have an infant who does this or a child who did this?  Any idea WHY or > how to get the infant to nap during the day?

MY six month old gets very cranky when she doesn’t get a nap… she cries and cries but doesn’t manage to cry her self to sleep… Inorder to get her to take a nap I put her in the swing and the motion rocks her to sleep… Sometimes I leave her in the swing until she wakes up as long as I am in that part of the house and can keep an eye on her, other times I move her as soon as she is a sleep…. When she was 3 months old I found that a bouncer with a vibration setting came in handy for soothing her at night when she wanted attention but not food. Danielle

Response:

Maybe your friend should try a baby sling.  Some babies need to be close to a parent for all those great body sounds and warmth.  Many babies are not ready to give that up just because they are not inside Mom anymore.  My second baby was a "high need" baby.  He needed to be close for a long time!  I wore my third baby in a baby  sling often until he was a toddler, and after.  It made my life a lot easier.  You can even lull the baby to sleep by "wearing" him and sneak him into his crib. I used to be a home distributor for these slings.  Try www.parentingconcepts.com. Ruth – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi everyone  :) > My friend has a 3 month old.  There are many days when her daughter does > not > nap AT ALL.   Several times this 3 month old has forgone a nap and stayed > awake > til 3 or 4 in the morning!!   My friend is seriously sleep deprived. > Anyone have an infant who does this or a child who did this?  Any idea WHY > or > how to get the infant to nap during the day? > MY six month old gets very cranky when she doesn’t get a nap… she cries > and cries but doesn’t manage to cry her self to sleep… Inorder to get her > to take a nap I put her in the swing and the motion rocks her to sleep… > Sometimes I leave her in the swing until she wakes up as long as I am in > that part of the house and can keep an eye on her, other times I move her as > soon as she is a sleep…. > When she was 3 months old I found that a bouncer with a vibration setting > came in handy for soothing her at night when she wanted attention but not > food. > Danielle

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