Hazel's been mastering the art of rolling over from her back to her tummy. She proved herself a genius in the timing department by doing it for the very first time in front of her doctor at her four-month well-baby check-up. Over the course of the next two weeks, she did it a few more times. As of Saturday morning, she had rolled over five times. By Saturday night, it was 10 times. Now, I've lost count. She generally only lasts a second or two when you lay her down before she flips. She just loves to explore what she can do! She's also been getting much better at holding things in both hands. She can grab and bring stuff where she wants it (usually her mouth), and often holds tight to Bunny or another toy as I pick her up from the ground.
Hazel's doing really well in her new brace. It's kind of rocked her naps, but she hasn't ever been much good at those anyway (I'd love tips!). Otherwise, she acts normal most of the time and doesn't seem to mind it much. Thank goodness!
Naps: I wait until I see her slowing down her activity, yawning, or rubbing her eyes. I try to get her in her room before she starts to fuss, but don't always make it. Before I lay her down, I read her a book in the glider, sing a couple of songs to her, we shut the blinds to her room, and I play a nap CD of nature sounds and classical music. She doesn't like to go down. Usually there's a little bit of crying. But most of the time, she falls asleep within five or ten minutes of being placed in bed. The frustrating part is that the naps almost never last more than 30 minutes at a time. Sometimes only 10 or 15.
I've tried going in to soothe her back to sleep, but that hasn't ever worked. She will either get excited to see me and want to play, or she'll cry and be really crabby for the next hour. Then I KNOW she needed to sleep longer.
I've tried ignoring her cries for set amounts of time. I tried 10 or 15 minutes one week, and sometimes she'd go back to sleep, other times not, but usually not for long - maybe 10 more minutes. Another week I tried leaving her for an hour, whether or not she would sleep. Most of the time, she'd wake up after 20 minutes and just cry the rest of the hour.
I don't know whether I should try something else, or if my problem is that I'm not being consistent enough and I should stop trying new strategies. I'm at a loss here, and would love advice.
Hazel's doing really well in her new brace. It's kind of rocked her naps, but she hasn't ever been much good at those anyway (I'd love tips!). Otherwise, she acts normal most of the time and doesn't seem to mind it much. Thank goodness!
Naps: I wait until I see her slowing down her activity, yawning, or rubbing her eyes. I try to get her in her room before she starts to fuss, but don't always make it. Before I lay her down, I read her a book in the glider, sing a couple of songs to her, we shut the blinds to her room, and I play a nap CD of nature sounds and classical music. She doesn't like to go down. Usually there's a little bit of crying. But most of the time, she falls asleep within five or ten minutes of being placed in bed. The frustrating part is that the naps almost never last more than 30 minutes at a time. Sometimes only 10 or 15.
I've tried going in to soothe her back to sleep, but that hasn't ever worked. She will either get excited to see me and want to play, or she'll cry and be really crabby for the next hour. Then I KNOW she needed to sleep longer.
I've tried ignoring her cries for set amounts of time. I tried 10 or 15 minutes one week, and sometimes she'd go back to sleep, other times not, but usually not for long - maybe 10 more minutes. Another week I tried leaving her for an hour, whether or not she would sleep. Most of the time, she'd wake up after 20 minutes and just cry the rest of the hour.
I don't know whether I should try something else, or if my problem is that I'm not being consistent enough and I should stop trying new strategies. I'm at a loss here, and would love advice.
13 comments:
Ahhhh. she is so cute! and we miss you guys too. It is so fun to see her growing. Your hair is so long too! Are you growing it out?! Sexy lady! :) I have no idea what to tell you about naps. no kids, no clue. :) She just loves you so much so can't stand to be away. :) I'll ask my mom and tell ya what she says. :)
I Love the dress, it's so springy!!
I don't know what advice to give you about naps. I read some of "Babywise" and applied a few things I learned. I didn't do it all, mainly because I don't think I could ever be that scheduled. But, some people hate this book and others swear by it. The stuff I took from it really worked for us though. Oh, it also talked about babies waking up after 10-15 min into their naps and what to do.
Good luck, life is always much happier w/ a well napped baby. :)
I love Hazel's easter outfit! So snazzy! Also, I bet her abs are going to be so rock hard since her legs are strapped in place--she can't bring one forward to "ease" over, so she does the whole roll with her stomach muscles, how cool is that?
About naps, I'm kind of hardcore, so I don't know if you want to take my advice. I say keep up your routine because Hazel has learned that the process = being put in her crib. But if she falls asleep for 10-30 minutes at a time, I would NOT go in to check on her. You know she is safe in her crib, so I would ignore her and let her fall back asleep by herself (cuz she's gotta learn how to do it herself sooner or later). I let Thomas mope and fuss for 45 minutes once until he fell asleep again, and then he was out for 2 hours! bonus! Just stay constant and she'll learn. :)
I'm tottaly digging those leggings. Stylin! She's getting cutter all the time. Every kid is different with sleeping patterns, etc. so you might just have to live with it. Sorry, I've no advice. Dude, whith Troy's family track record I'll be lucky if my kid sleeps at all. But in the meantime I'm napping quit nicely. Love your guts!
my suggestion is that maybe she is just a short napper which would then mean more naps but just cat naps! or just the keeping the same napping you want her to have and doing it everyday till she learns what you want her to do. i alwasy let tylee just cry it out but each baby is different. she is such adoll, i love her easter outfit, she is so strong for rolling already, what a toughy!
oh yes, and Tylee would not sleep long if there was music in her room she just liked the silence in her room even though it could be loud outside her room. that might be a try for her going to sleep faster, i dont know
great outfit -- glad you posted it! isn't dressing up little girls so much fun?
good luck with the naps...brett was a bad napper at first too, but i was just consistent and soon he settled down (funny enough, i don't remember him being a bad napper, but when i read his baby book, i realize he was!) hopefully she will just grow into them.
good luck with the napping. I agree with your friends. Decide on a way to be consistent and she will get used to it. Give it a good time period,.. if it's still not working after you've passed your set trial period (not sure what's a good trial,.. a couple months? haha) then maybe it's never going to.
I can't believe how big she is now. she's such a doll!
I love the cute tights!!! Way to go with the rolling over. She is a cutie!
like kelsey, i'm a big babywise proponent. some of the stuff is wacky, but for the most part, i think it's great. i also agree with what amy said.
sleeping or not, she's a cutie patootie.
LOVE the leggings!
I think I told you I read the "Healthy Habits, Happy Child" and although it doesn't give you a formula, it does reiterate the importance of letting your baby learn to soothe herself. She needs to learn to go back to sleep by herself. It is HARD to hear them cry but you'll have to do it sometime (sooner rather than later!). So just sit on the porch or put your earphones on. My limit was always 1 hr, then I could crack the door. But for that first hour I couldn't even let myself get within 1 foot of her door or else I would cave.
Also, according to the book, if she is fussy and rubbing her eyes it is too late and she is overtired. Try putting her to bed while she is still happy.
Anyways. Come visit me at the Lucky Leaf if you want a break this summer! We will have some relaxing quiet beach time, just us and the babies. I'm totally serious!
I totally agree with the last comment - if they are fussy it is too late. I'd suggest a scheduled nap time (are you surprised?!?!) just like a scheduled bed time. I think the clock should decide the bedtime - then you aren't the bad guy and she'll get used to just going to bed, feeling tired or not, and putting herself to sleep. Hmmmm . . . good luck, Lady Lou. By the way, you are a fabulous mom with one happy little chickie. That means you are doing something VERY right! Love you!
Gracie did the exact same thing. I loved Babywise, however I was a bit of a softie. It's truly so hard to listen to your baby crying. I wish I hadn't been such a softie though because we are still having sleep problems with Gracie.
I did follow the babywise suggestions for her naptime and she eventually got through the 45-min nap phase. I just left her in her bed for the allotted nap time whether she slept or not.
Good luck. Hang in there.
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