Luck

I have had a few people tell me how lucky I am that I have had good babies. They all have slept through the night by 8 weeks, they have good temperaments, they are happy and content and don't cry very often. Yep, I'm lucky. But often I think that it's not just luck.

I have some opinions when it comes to newborn babies and I feel like for the most part, my ideas work. When I was a new mom with Hayden, I had a lactation specialist tell me to just feed the baby whenever he wanted and to let him sleep whenever and wake up whenever. Let him determine his schedule. Thinking back to this, I am amazed that anyone would think this way. I wouldn't let a toddler determine when they slept or ate. Why should I let a newborn? I read a few books and took an approach that I felt like would work best and I put Hayden on a schedule. I fed him every 2 1/2 to 3 hours during the day (full feedings-making sure they got at least 3 oz. or nursed for 15-20 min.), KEPT him awake for an hour after I fed him, then I laid him down to fall asleep on his own. (I didn't let him cry it out. I would go back in and comfort him and give him his binkie, but ultimately he fell asleep on his own.) And low and behold, he was sleeping through the night (9 hours) by 6 weeks! I have done this with all three, and it has worked all three times! (not with Crew yet, but we're close!) This schedule makes it so that when they are awake, they aren't tired or hungry. They are content and happy. It totally works! I think that children thrive on a schedule, regardless of age. (the book the schedule is base on is called Babywise)

It takes some effort, for sure. Newborns want to sleep all the time, and they fall asleep when they are nursing and it's hard to wake them up. In my experience, when I have had enough sleep, I can handle a lot more than if I'm exhausted. I am more patient and I enjoy being a mother more. There's my two cents.