I've read 2 books that talk about it. Babywise & Dr. Sears' The Baby Book. These books are so completely different, it's funny that I bought them both. I read them both a couple of months ago, and decided I would likely fall somewhere in between these two philosophies. While Dr. Sears is a big advocate of "attachment parenting", Babywise is the polar opposite. I don't feel like I can follow Babywise really, while sleeping 10 hrs a night by now does sound great, it just doesn't feel right to my heart to treat sleep and scheduling in such a regimented, scientific, cry it out kind of way. Where as I'm also not ready to sleep with Norah until she graduates High School like Dr. Sears nearly suggests. (just kidding, that was a bit of an exaggeration) I did however learn from both of these books, and I appreciate that both methods and philosophies are good for some people, and I by no means think that following either of these is wrong, it's just not for me.
So basically this has left me in sleep philosophy limbo. So I forgot about philosophy and just went on the best way I knew how, and a few weeks ago Norah starting actually basically sleeping through the night. From around 9 or 10 to 5 or 6! However, she has gone back to waking up at least once to eat, and usually more (not to eat but just to be awake). I have tried a million different things, which probably in itself is the problem, which leads me back to my original quest for a philosophy. I know I personally crave organization, and have a feeling my dear daughter does too. So I plan to find a philosophy and start being consistent in the next couple of weeks. We have guests coming to stay with us in 1 1/2 weeks and from everything I've read, I need to wait until after that to really try and start something because it totally throws the little ones off.
For those of you reading this that had kids 20 or more years ago, you are probably laughing at all of this "philosophy" talk and thinking just rock her to sleep, go to sleep and feed her when she's hungry. Ha. For those of you more recent moms, I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about, it seems that every where I go moms are talking methods, baby wise, cry it out, don't cry it out, attachment, baby wearing, co sleeping, and on and on and on. And I'm thankful that there is so much information out there, it is just tough to sift through it all.
I've been getting some recommendations from moms on facebook and I'm looking into them. I'm excited to get a plan and hopefully soon, last night I was up for 2 hrs straight with Norah in the middle of the night, and then broke down and put her in bed with us around 5. So anyone with any book suggestions please share!! I'm open to all ideas, I just know I need something not too extreme either way. Thanks for listening to my babble, like I said I'm sleep deprived so if none of this made sense, at least it made me organize my thoughts!
One more thing on the subject of organization. I am a fan of Jon and Kate plus 8, and the most recent episode she made the comment of how much clutter and disorganization bug her and said that to her "a cluttered house = a cluttered mind". I totally agree! I am such a mess when my house is a mess, and when our schedules/sleeping/napping etc. is unorganized, I feel like I'm losing my mind. So amidst the craziness of our non sleeping and no schedule; I decided I would at least organize something since I couldn't yet organize sleep. So I completely cleaned out our master closet. I mean down to every little thing on the floor, vacuumed the heck out of it, and then reorganized and purged (my favorite thing - sorry mom you know i'm not a clutter, keeper person) tons. It felt so great! So even though I'm sleep deprived and losing my mind otherwise, it makes me feel great to have a clean closet!
And now for the real reason you all read my blog, a few pics of my dear Norah, I love her so stinkin much, that part of me actually likes to wake up in the night just to hang out with her and cuddle her.....weird I know.
after bath time, her favorite time of day, even though you wouldn't know it from this face!
off to her first birthday party!
in her new broncos outfit, obviously girly, after my last post, my mom showed up with this, because she just can't handle Norah being called a little boy.
sitting up like a big girl!
1 comment:
I already told you about the book that helped us a lot, "Good Night, Sleep Tight." If you are so inclined, check it out and see if it's a philosophy that caters to you. I liked it because it does involve schedules, but loosely, which is essential for us. Plus it was such a gentle way of doing it that I never felt that pain of letting them cry it out! What it comes down to is that you will likely hear all these moms saying, "Oh, my baby has been sleeping through the night since she was 2 weeks old...." I heard that a lot and later found out that people were just flat out lying! I was freaking out thinking that there was something wrong with my baby because he was only sleeping 6-7 hours at a time. The more I researched it through doctors, honest moms, and books, I realized that 6-7 hours at a stretch is great! Babies get hungry, they need diaper changes, they need their moms and dads. It's all totally normal, as is your worry about needing sleep for you and Norah! Eventually they all sleep and you will too. Hang in there and keep praying for God's provision for you all in terms of energy and physical needs. Some nights I KNOW that the only reason my boys slept was because I was on my knees in prayer.
And might I add, Norah is getting cuter and cuter as her personality develops! I love the fun pics you post! :)
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