Hellobee Boards

@hocuspocus: I don't think it's torture to let them cry, but I don't let H cry if I can help it. I feel like she is too young to really know how to soothe herself. I will say though that there have been a few times she has had to cry for 4-5 min out of necessity (e.g., she started crying while I was in the middle of bathing her sister, so she had to wait a few minutes) and of those times, she has stopped crying maybe 25% of the time on her own. So I guess maybe she can soothe herself a little bit. I generally don't think you can form any seriously bad habits before age 3 months or so, but it's good to be aware of what habits you are going to want to work on breaking and maybe start working on them when you can.

A couple ideas for transitioning from RNP to crib or other flat surface... or for moving a sleeping baby from your arms to a flat sleep space...
-swaddle
-white noise
-gently giggling crib
-heat mattress first with a heating pad or hot water bottle so that the transition from your warm arms is less abrupt (I've only tried this once, but it did work)
-rolling up a swaddle blanket into a circle shaped "nest" or "cocoon" and placing baby into it - most babies like to feel something against their head and feet. However, you need to keep an eye on baby, since it's not safe unsupervised. Then remove the blanket once baby is asleep.
-set baby down in the crib with a Boppy pregnancy wedge under her torso and head. Once she's been in the crib for a minute or two and hasn't woken up, slide the wedge out.
-setting baby down in bed swaddled and keeping hands on her for a min or two, giggling her ever so slightly until she is fully back to sleep.

Most of the time, my LO goes to sleep without those tricks, but there are times where she just wants to be held, and when she's like that, I use those tricks to get her into the cosleeper (which is flat like a crib). I think even though they aren't learning to fall asleep laying flat on their back, it is still helpful for transitioning them because there are times they wake up on their back and then go back to sleep. They are just getting help that first time. Does that make sense?

With J, I started rocking or nursing her until she was drowsy, but still awake, and then I would put her in the crib like that and try to get her to fall asleep on her own. I do that now with H during the day, but not at night... since I don't want to risk her not going to sleep!

@hocuspocus: this is the sound machine we have and I really like it. Only $20 and it can play all night if you don't want to use the timer function. http://www.amazon.com/HoMedics-SS-2000G-Relaxation-Machine-Nature/dp/B00A2JBMRE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435784912&sr=8-1&keywords=homedics+sound+spa. You can also get apps for your phone or if you have a wifi connection, just pull up a youtube video of rain (I search "10 hrs rain). I use that when we're traveling and I don't have the sound machine. We also have two sleep sheeps... they are too big to carry around, so I just take out the sound boxes and use those when I'm on the go, like in the grocery store.

Another favorite purchase from LO#1 was this plug-in lamp dimmer. http://www.amazon.com/Lutron-TT-300H-WH-Electronics-Plug--Dimmer/dp/B0000BYEF6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1435784713&sr=8-2&keywords=dimmable+light+cord You plug a regular lamp into it and then use the little control to operate the dimmer. You just need an incandescent bulb in the lamp... I don't think it works with a florescent bulb. I've found it really helps avoid the baby waking up too much during middle of the night feeds.

I know another poster already recommended the Happiest Baby DVD, but I wanted to recommend it as well. Maybe just watch a YouTube clip about it if you haven't already... a point they make is that sometimes something like swaddling with do jack on it's own, but combined with white noise and swaying, can work like magic. Some babies need all 5 S's at once to calm.

Sorry for all the unsolicited advice! Every baby is different, but thought I'd share my experience in case any of it is helpful to anyone.

@hocuspocus: that is so painful when they won't go back to sleep. H has done that twice and I was so exhausted!

Is she still pooping in the night? Diaper changes really wake H up, so I only change her during the night if she's pooped or if she's super wet. I also try to keep it as dark as possible and avoid tv while nursing at night.

Not the very best clip, but some good info.

@Mrs.KMM: that photo is super cute!

@badwolf: so sorry to hear about your grandpa. I lost mine in December and it was really hard. I'll be thinking about you and your family.

@Eko:@78h2o: Thank you for the kind thoughts. He made it through the night against expectations, but it's only a matter of hours at this point. He's in a lot of pain so as much as I don't want to say goodbye, I don't want him to suffer either. Hopefully C doesn't mind the change in routine too much.

@78h2o that video was helpful. I totally forgot about one of the S's side/stomach, and I didn't realize you're supposed to sush them that loud either. He made it look so easy!

@78h2o: We used static on the radio a lot with DD.

Another tip I got with #1 was to download a white noise app so you'll always have it on the go.

@LindsayInNY: My husband instinctively shushes C really loudly, much louder than I would, and it works like magic. It almost sounds mean at first but it really seems to calm her down and she doesn't look scared, just curious.

This is hilarious!

@78h2o: omg that is amazing!!!!

@fuzzypeaches: welcome! How has LO been doing? I still do diaper changes at every feed but LO usually fills his diaper really well each time. Sometimes I try to get away with not changing during middle of the night feedings if he's been fussy and I don't want to wake him. But, I also don't like the idea of LO sitting in his own pee either even if it's a little bit, so I don't really know if I will ever drop off changes.

@fuzzypeaches: I change pretty much every time. C still poops constantly and got a mild diaper rash even with changing every single feed so I don't want to risk it getting worse by waiting. I will very occasionally let her be if it's the middle of the night and she's passed out, because diaper changes always wake her up.

LO is having a growth spurt or something. She's been eating more frequently and doesn't want to sleep at night. My MIL has been here this week, and she's been a HUGE help. I just saw this on FB and it made me laugh: http://www.scarymommy.com/articles/newborns-are-evil?section=scary-mommy-blog&u=unknown

anyone's LO absolutely hate the carseat?

have been reading through posts, wishing you all the best.

my little guy cluster fed like crazy the first couple weeks and wasn't a fan of his bassinet or the carseat. finally he is going longer stretches but he hates to be in the car!

@Eko: @badwolf: @78h2o: thanks ladies! I'm up changing it again as we speak :s bah

@rosegold: my lo hates it too. So bizzare because my DS LOVED it to the point that (I know bad parents) let him sleep in it on bad nights! This one hates it the minute her skin touches the fabric!

@fuzzypeaches: It's hard to tell. She doesn't cluster feed in the middle of the night. So last night she slept for about 5 hours from 10:45 to 4am. Fed/was awake for about 45 minutes and then slept again from 4:50 to 7:10am. She did nurse a ton before initially going to bed but I hate how late it is too.

Also if anyone is looking for some entertainment during nursing sessions check out the Longest Shortest Time podcasts. They cover all sorts of parenting topics - I am especially enjoying the ones about recovery after childbirth. Each episode is about 20-30 minutes so the perfect length while nursing.

@badwolf: boob hats love it!

@badwolf I had a clogged duct in the beginning my Dr. Told me to use ice packs for 20 minutes and then pump. The ice felt really good on it and it worked, went away in a day or so.