Thursday, September 9, 2010
L got his first tooth!!!
We didnt even know that he was teething! He got his first little tooth a couple of days ago. Its a little sliver poking through, but its there. Hes in alot of pain so we're hopinh we can help him get through this with as little pain as possible. Poor little guy, hes too young to be dealing with all this.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
L rolled over for the first time today!
Today was a big day for L. He rolled over for the first time! He is a little early, they are supposed to do that at 4 months.
He has been rolling onto his side and almost getting all the way over, but today was finally the big day. I laid him on his jungle mat and turned around to check my email, and when I looked back a few seconds later he was on his belly. :-)
Way to go baby boy!!
He has been rolling onto his side and almost getting all the way over, but today was finally the big day. I laid him on his jungle mat and turned around to check my email, and when I looked back a few seconds later he was on his belly. :-)
Way to go baby boy!!
Attachment parenting
I started to read about attachment parenting when L was around 7 weeks old. I found in my reading that we were already practicing attachment parenting but werent really aware that it had a name. We were just handling him with our instincts and doing what felt right.
Before L was born I bought a Sleepy Wrap to hold and carry him in. I read at that time that babies that are "worn" develop better and faster than babies that are not. They learn to speak sooner, they are more independent, and they learn more about their world because they are spending so much time at their parents level rather than being pushed around, lying down, in a pram where they have no contact and cant see much.
I have been wearing L since the very beginning. We both love it, and it makes us both calm and happy. He does not like being in his stroller when we go out and so I dont make him. Im much happier with him on my chest, anyway, and he can see so much more.
After meeting Jack Newman who suggested cosleeping with L to help with our breast feeding relationship, and bathing with him, I started reading more and more about these things and just gradually became aware of this style of parenting called attachment parenting that Dr Sears talks alot about.
A woman that I spoke to during my breast feeding troubles at Breastfeeding Buddies suggested his "The Baby Book" and that was when we really realised that our style of parenting has a name.
A few big aspects of attachment parenting are breast feeding, baby wearing, cosleeping/bathing...etc. We only just started cosleeping/bathing when L was 7 weeks because we were afraid that cosleeping was dangerous. After looking into it and doing our own research we found that it is not dangerous at all when done properly and that the manufacturers of baby cribs are the main ones that talk about the dangers of cosleeping. (Conflict of interest?) In reality, far more babies die from SIDS in their own crib and a tiny fraction die in bed with their parents. Those who do- the parents are either obese, have been drinking or doing drugs, are overly exhausted, or are not doing it properly (must have a firm mattress, no pillows, no blankets).
Another big aspect of attachment parenting is not allowing your baby to cry it out. (CIO)
We have never let L cry for any reason. Crying is the only form of communication that a baby has and they depend on their parents or caregivers to respond to their needs. Babies are not controlling or manipulating you at this stage with their cries. We have always responded to L immediately and sensitively and the result is he trusts us and is a happy baby.
I could never put him in a crib by himself and leave him crying until he exhausts himself to sleep. It just feels too heartless to me. I cant imagine, myself, being frightened and alone and crying my heart out only to have the one person who I depend on ignore me and leave me alone. I cant imagine how horrible that would be and we have never and will never do that to our child.
We have read that those babies eventually stop crying when put down and their parents think they are such good babies and good sleepers when in reality they have simply learned that they cant trust their parents and that no one will come to them if they cry anyway, so why bother.
I also read (and its very disturbing to think about) that babies dont have a concept of mommy is in another room and not in this room. They cant understand that if they dont see you, that you are just in another room. They cant understand the concept that you exist somewhere outside of where they can see you. When you walk out of the room, you are simply gone to them. Imagine being put in a crib and being frightened, and mommy is just gone. They dont understand that you are just in the next room and that you can hear them, and they are safe.
The way we have been parenting is working beautifully for us, and we're very happy with it. Everyone has to find what works for them. All this being said- I understand that not everyone has the luxury of being a stay at home mom and that this kind of parenting might not work for you if you werent. Alot of it could be, but maybe not all of it.
This is exactly why we waited so long to have L. We knew we wanted to raise him in a certain way, and that we wanted me to be able to stay home with him until he starts school. We needed to be in a situation where we were secure enough with one income to be able to do this.
So, simply put- I wear him often, I breastfeed, we co sleep and co bathe, and we never in a million years use "cry it out." We do waht feels right. If it feels wrong to us, we dont do it. Anyone who suggests that we leave the baby to cry immediately loses our respect and we dont bother listening to their any of their advice. We are all very happy and this is working perfectly for us.
This is a link to Dr Sears' website, with alot of information about attachment parenting.
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t130100.asp
Before L was born I bought a Sleepy Wrap to hold and carry him in. I read at that time that babies that are "worn" develop better and faster than babies that are not. They learn to speak sooner, they are more independent, and they learn more about their world because they are spending so much time at their parents level rather than being pushed around, lying down, in a pram where they have no contact and cant see much.
I have been wearing L since the very beginning. We both love it, and it makes us both calm and happy. He does not like being in his stroller when we go out and so I dont make him. Im much happier with him on my chest, anyway, and he can see so much more.
After meeting Jack Newman who suggested cosleeping with L to help with our breast feeding relationship, and bathing with him, I started reading more and more about these things and just gradually became aware of this style of parenting called attachment parenting that Dr Sears talks alot about.
A woman that I spoke to during my breast feeding troubles at Breastfeeding Buddies suggested his "The Baby Book" and that was when we really realised that our style of parenting has a name.
A few big aspects of attachment parenting are breast feeding, baby wearing, cosleeping/bathing...etc. We only just started cosleeping/bathing when L was 7 weeks because we were afraid that cosleeping was dangerous. After looking into it and doing our own research we found that it is not dangerous at all when done properly and that the manufacturers of baby cribs are the main ones that talk about the dangers of cosleeping. (Conflict of interest?) In reality, far more babies die from SIDS in their own crib and a tiny fraction die in bed with their parents. Those who do- the parents are either obese, have been drinking or doing drugs, are overly exhausted, or are not doing it properly (must have a firm mattress, no pillows, no blankets).
Another big aspect of attachment parenting is not allowing your baby to cry it out. (CIO)
We have never let L cry for any reason. Crying is the only form of communication that a baby has and they depend on their parents or caregivers to respond to their needs. Babies are not controlling or manipulating you at this stage with their cries. We have always responded to L immediately and sensitively and the result is he trusts us and is a happy baby.
I could never put him in a crib by himself and leave him crying until he exhausts himself to sleep. It just feels too heartless to me. I cant imagine, myself, being frightened and alone and crying my heart out only to have the one person who I depend on ignore me and leave me alone. I cant imagine how horrible that would be and we have never and will never do that to our child.
We have read that those babies eventually stop crying when put down and their parents think they are such good babies and good sleepers when in reality they have simply learned that they cant trust their parents and that no one will come to them if they cry anyway, so why bother.
I also read (and its very disturbing to think about) that babies dont have a concept of mommy is in another room and not in this room. They cant understand that if they dont see you, that you are just in another room. They cant understand the concept that you exist somewhere outside of where they can see you. When you walk out of the room, you are simply gone to them. Imagine being put in a crib and being frightened, and mommy is just gone. They dont understand that you are just in the next room and that you can hear them, and they are safe.
The way we have been parenting is working beautifully for us, and we're very happy with it. Everyone has to find what works for them. All this being said- I understand that not everyone has the luxury of being a stay at home mom and that this kind of parenting might not work for you if you werent. Alot of it could be, but maybe not all of it.
This is exactly why we waited so long to have L. We knew we wanted to raise him in a certain way, and that we wanted me to be able to stay home with him until he starts school. We needed to be in a situation where we were secure enough with one income to be able to do this.
So, simply put- I wear him often, I breastfeed, we co sleep and co bathe, and we never in a million years use "cry it out." We do waht feels right. If it feels wrong to us, we dont do it. Anyone who suggests that we leave the baby to cry immediately loses our respect and we dont bother listening to their any of their advice. We are all very happy and this is working perfectly for us.
This is a link to Dr Sears' website, with alot of information about attachment parenting.
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t130100.asp
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
If you dont want to wash your hands, then dont touch our baby!!
I usually find that people are very good about keeping their hands clean and not touching or kissing L's hands and face. But then I also find that some people have no sense at all when it comes to this.
Nothing makes us cringe more than someone kneeling down and kissing his hands, or even just touching his hands. His hands are always in his mouth right now and whatver is on their hands goes right in his mouth... You would never shake someones hand and then stick your fingers in your mouth and suck on them, would you?? Being his parents we have to watch out for these things since he is not able to himself.
We have people wash their hands before touching L and now we are asking them not to touch his hands and face, also. The more we read about childhood illnesses and even just cold/flus, we dont want people passing on any more germs then what I know he will unavoidably be exposed to. Their little immune systems are just not strong enough for that kind of onslaught.
I hate that these things even have to be said to people. I just wish they had enough common sense to know better. Usually its not a problem, but you always get those few.
I find so often now people try to kiss his hands and it drives me crazy... just crazy. Since when is it ok to go around kissing peoples hands first of all. No one would ever do that to another adult but they think babies are fair game.
Anyway, gosh, that turned into quite a little rant. :-) I always hope that people wandering around online will read random little posts like this and learn from it. Dont touch or kiss anyones babies' face or hands! Parents dont like it!
:-D (Im only smiling to make this post appear to be polite, when actually its not meant to be at all. :-) lol
Nothing makes us cringe more than someone kneeling down and kissing his hands, or even just touching his hands. His hands are always in his mouth right now and whatver is on their hands goes right in his mouth... You would never shake someones hand and then stick your fingers in your mouth and suck on them, would you?? Being his parents we have to watch out for these things since he is not able to himself.
We have people wash their hands before touching L and now we are asking them not to touch his hands and face, also. The more we read about childhood illnesses and even just cold/flus, we dont want people passing on any more germs then what I know he will unavoidably be exposed to. Their little immune systems are just not strong enough for that kind of onslaught.
I hate that these things even have to be said to people. I just wish they had enough common sense to know better. Usually its not a problem, but you always get those few.
I find so often now people try to kiss his hands and it drives me crazy... just crazy. Since when is it ok to go around kissing peoples hands first of all. No one would ever do that to another adult but they think babies are fair game.
Anyway, gosh, that turned into quite a little rant. :-) I always hope that people wandering around online will read random little posts like this and learn from it. Dont touch or kiss anyones babies' face or hands! Parents dont like it!
:-D (Im only smiling to make this post appear to be polite, when actually its not meant to be at all. :-) lol
Breastfeeding help!
Ive decided that I would really like to help other mums with breastfeeding, because of all the trouble that I had with it. I really understand how heartbreaking it can be when its something you really want to do. Im looking into becoming a lactation doula/postpartum doula. Im not sure if this will work out or when, but its something Im really thinking about. I keep reading the bfing forum on WTE and there are so many women being screwed over at the hospitals. Theyre just not properly trained for bfing and mothers are paying the price for it because of their horrible advice.
When L is a little bigger I may try to make a website for help with bfing and of course suggest with all I am that people either see or contact Jack Newman.
L is doing really well. We had a family picnic over the weekend and he did really good with meeting some relatives for the first time. He let the cousins and aunties hold him and giggled and smiled for them. I was really proud of him because a week before he had a meltdown at a relatives house and I was feeling like a bad mother wondering if we hadnt been taking him out and around other people enough. I found this weekend that thats not true at all. hes a really sociable little guy when hes well rested.
When L is a little bigger I may try to make a website for help with bfing and of course suggest with all I am that people either see or contact Jack Newman.
L is doing really well. We had a family picnic over the weekend and he did really good with meeting some relatives for the first time. He let the cousins and aunties hold him and giggled and smiled for them. I was really proud of him because a week before he had a meltdown at a relatives house and I was feeling like a bad mother wondering if we hadnt been taking him out and around other people enough. I found this weekend that thats not true at all. hes a really sociable little guy when hes well rested.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Ok... I cant believe THREE months have gone by. lol
I had been copying this blog to a journal all through my pregnancy so that baby boy would have it when hes older. Right before his birth I stopped posting here, and just continued privately with his journal where I talk about daily life with him and all of his milestones. I will try to start writing here again when I can now that things are slowing down a bit for us.
L is doing really well. He is almost to his 4 month mark now, on September 11. Next big thing on the horizon is the four month shots which I am dreading of course, even though he did really well with the 2 month shots.
He is right on track with development, and breast feeding continues to go really well for us- with all the thanks in my heart to Jack Newman and his clinic!
We are pretty well into a good routine now, and have been for the entire third month. Bedtime is great, and days are great as long as he gets the right amount of nap time. He will need between 14-16 hrs of sleep from month 3-6 and he usually gets 14. He sleeps about 10 hrs at night, gets up 3 times to nurse, and then has two 2 hr naps during the day (on a good day). His sleeping is only predictable in that his napes are about 2 hrs apart. He takes his first about 2 hrs after waking in the morning, and the second 2 hrs after the first. Usually.. there are odd days when he doesnt.
People started telling me that I should not worry so much about his naps and that I should go ahead and take him out whenever I feel like it because "he will adjust" and "learn" to sleep anywhere. Well, thanks to these people I learned the hard way that just because other peoples babies do things in a certain way dos mean all babies do things in a certain way.
I tried taking him out like that a few times and we both paid for it dearly. He does not sleep outside of home at nap time, and if he doesnt get all the sleep he needs he gets overtired and extremely cranky and worked up. Luckily for these advice givers- they dont have to mop up the mess, I do. :-)
So, needless to say we have learned to do things our own way. It simply means that if other people want to visit L, they have to go by his schedule and not their own.
I will write more soon, L just woke up from his nap and we have a few things to get done.
L is doing really well. He is almost to his 4 month mark now, on September 11. Next big thing on the horizon is the four month shots which I am dreading of course, even though he did really well with the 2 month shots.
He is right on track with development, and breast feeding continues to go really well for us- with all the thanks in my heart to Jack Newman and his clinic!
We are pretty well into a good routine now, and have been for the entire third month. Bedtime is great, and days are great as long as he gets the right amount of nap time. He will need between 14-16 hrs of sleep from month 3-6 and he usually gets 14. He sleeps about 10 hrs at night, gets up 3 times to nurse, and then has two 2 hr naps during the day (on a good day). His sleeping is only predictable in that his napes are about 2 hrs apart. He takes his first about 2 hrs after waking in the morning, and the second 2 hrs after the first. Usually.. there are odd days when he doesnt.
People started telling me that I should not worry so much about his naps and that I should go ahead and take him out whenever I feel like it because "he will adjust" and "learn" to sleep anywhere. Well, thanks to these people I learned the hard way that just because other peoples babies do things in a certain way dos mean all babies do things in a certain way.
I tried taking him out like that a few times and we both paid for it dearly. He does not sleep outside of home at nap time, and if he doesnt get all the sleep he needs he gets overtired and extremely cranky and worked up. Luckily for these advice givers- they dont have to mop up the mess, I do. :-)
So, needless to say we have learned to do things our own way. It simply means that if other people want to visit L, they have to go by his schedule and not their own.
I will write more soon, L just woke up from his nap and we have a few things to get done.
Friday, June 18, 2010
I cant believe a month has gone by!
Wow, it has really been a long time. Baby is 5 weeks 4 days today, and I cant believe how fast the time is going by. He is doing really well, and we're having lots of fun with him.
We finally have a routine in place at night. Its not easy, but we're getting through it. Dan does the first shift from 11pm-3am, and I do the rest. Baby makes alot of noises din his sleep, I mean *alot* of noises, and its really hard to sleep through them. So what we've done is Dan keeps him in his bassinette in the bedroom during his shift and I keep him in his crib in the nursery for mine. That way we both get at least some undisturbed sleep in the night. Its working so far.
He is doing really well, he started smiling the day before yesterday. The first few were for Daddy but I got mine last night. :-)
I dont have alot of time to get online, but will try to post here when I can. If anyone wants to visit just call or email and we'll work out a time. Afternoons are the best time for us,a nd weekends.
We finally have a routine in place at night. Its not easy, but we're getting through it. Dan does the first shift from 11pm-3am, and I do the rest. Baby makes alot of noises din his sleep, I mean *alot* of noises, and its really hard to sleep through them. So what we've done is Dan keeps him in his bassinette in the bedroom during his shift and I keep him in his crib in the nursery for mine. That way we both get at least some undisturbed sleep in the night. Its working so far.
He is doing really well, he started smiling the day before yesterday. The first few were for Daddy but I got mine last night. :-)
I dont have alot of time to get online, but will try to post here when I can. If anyone wants to visit just call or email and we'll work out a time. Afternoons are the best time for us,a nd weekends.
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