Thursday, May 3, 2012

Babywise

For the first two weeks of Brody's little life, our apartment was filled with family. Brody was never put down for more than five minutes before the next loving aunt, grandma, grandpa, great grandma, mom, or dad came by and snatched him back up again. He was spoiled for sure. This weekend Jeff worked three straight days, like he usually does, and I was left alone with Brody. Friday night Brody and I hung out and I enjoyed holding him, feeding him, playing with him, and having him all to myself without anyone else wanting to touch him. Saturday though, I realized what we had turned this little guy into. Brody was a baby with an obsession, an obsession for being held... at all times. I realized that he wouldn't even sleep content without being in my arms. That night, I didn't eat dinner, clean the house, get up to turn on the TV, brush my teeth, change into my pajamas, or anything else that included leaving Brody's and my spot on the couch. That sounds so lazy of me! And it is. I was being controlled by my little baby. When he was hungry, I'd sit there and feed him until he fell asleep. Then he would be asleep, and since he would wake up when I tried to sit him down, I'd sit there until he woke up. When he'd wake up, he'd be hungry, and so my "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" senario would start back over again. By the end of the night, it was decided, some change needed to be made.


On Sunday I opened up the Babywise book I had bought months ago for my Kindle. I had hoped to have had it read by the time Brody came. But with school and work, that never happened. I started and finished that book on Sunday and was ready to begin training Brody to take naps alone, in his own bed. I also must add that we were currently creating another bad habit for Brody- sleeping in our bed. I know, I know, it is bad, dangerous, not smart, and so on.. but really, can you say no to this cute, chubby little face when all he wants is to be next to you??

You get my point. So while I was reading about how to train Brody, I was also taking notes on how to train myself to get out of these habits and into some better ones.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Babywise, it is an informative book on raising babies. It talks about everything from breastfeeding to sleeping habits. What they are most known for is their program to get your baby to sleep through the night. While Brody had been sleeping great through the night, I needed to figure out how to have him do this alone, in his own bed. After reading the book, I created his Babywise schedule. This is a schedule filled with a feeding time, wake time, and sleep time every 2 1/2 hours throughout the day.
At first Brody was not used to being just put into his pack and play and left without anyone there rocking him or holding him. This forced him to make this sound come out of his mouth that breaks my heart and causes me to sweat everytime I hear it.. I think it's called a cry. On Sunday night, Jeff was at work again, and I was feeling as though I was being put through torture listening to my little guy cry. Boy how ten minutes of crying can feel like a century.

It is Thursday now and I am pleased to announce that Brody has not slept in our bed since that Sunday night. I like to believe that he enjoys his pack and play now. Yesterday I came to check on him during one of his sleep times and he was just chilling in there, looking around and sucking on his little Seahawks pacifier. Most of the time, he doesn't even cry when I lay him down to go to sleep anymore. He takes five naps a day and sleeps through the night, only waking up once when he is hungry. Jeff and I really couldn't have asked for an easier baby.
If I have learned anything from putting Brody on this schedule it is that all babies really do is eat and sleep. I don't know why this surprised me so much but I just never noticed it before. Him sleeping on the couch or in our arms didn't really feel like he was asleep as much as placing him into his bed to go to sleep does. Babywise is working for us though. I am able to get a lot more accomplished now than I was that Saturday night. Thank goodness, cause that was bad! Brody seems even happier and more content than before since he is getting so much sleep and is getting so used to this consistent schedule.




3 comments:

  1. Karli, you are an amazing mom, I am so proud of you and Jeff! Brody is so blessed and lucky to have you and Jeff for his parents! The pictures of little Brody are adorable!!! I need to come by and see him in person!! Love you guys and I am so happy for you. Brody is such a sweet good little baby boy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Shantay! I absolutely love being a mom. You are an awesome babywise coach by the way! We need to just get together soon. My schedule is superrr light this semester so whenever you want to take the strollers out or quilt together or something.. let me know (:

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete