Connecticut Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Dancing_Fiend Reminded me.......
I was thinking last night that I was going to post to all the new mommies about how important it is to establish sleep habits early. Regardless of method, finding one you are comfortable with and can stick to is important. I didn't start until 10-11 months and wished I did earlier.
The reason I wanted to post is that we have tons of friends that spend 1+ hours putting their kids to bed. I can only think of 2 friends that have kids with great sleep habits. Others are laying with them, keeping them up until they are exhausted, still gets up 1-2 times a night and have to climb into parents bed, etc.... Also, parents have no time together and their child is tired during the day.
Times haven't always been easy for us. It took me time to find a method I was comfortable with and 5 nights of mega disrupted sleep. The reward has been sweet. It isn't always perfect. When your child is sick, they are usually right next to you cuddled up so they feel better, but as soon as they are better - back to the routine.
Each night we put Sara to bed - 3'ish books, a few turns of the music box, goodnights to all the favorite things in her room and right in the crib. 15 min total and I am back downstairs by 7:45 reading the paper and cleaning up from dinner. 6:45 am we hear the talking start in the crib and it is a 5 minute warning that the "Momma up" is coming. Not a peep through the night until then.
This is not a AW brag, but a PSA that establishing sleep habits early is sooo important to the child AND the parent.
The reason I wanted to post is that we have tons of friends that spend 1+ hours putting their kids to bed. I can only think of 2 friends that have kids with great sleep habits. Others are laying with them, keeping them up until they are exhausted, still gets up 1-2 times a night and have to climb into parents bed, etc.... Also, parents have no time together and their child is tired during the day.
Times haven't always been easy for us. It took me time to find a method I was comfortable with and 5 nights of mega disrupted sleep. The reward has been sweet. It isn't always perfect. When your child is sick, they are usually right next to you cuddled up so they feel better, but as soon as they are better - back to the routine.
Each night we put Sara to bed - 3'ish books, a few turns of the music box, goodnights to all the favorite things in her room and right in the crib. 15 min total and I am back downstairs by 7:45 reading the paper and cleaning up from dinner. 6:45 am we hear the talking start in the crib and it is a 5 minute warning that the "Momma up" is coming. Not a peep through the night until then.
This is not a AW brag, but a PSA that establishing sleep habits early is sooo important to the child AND the parent.
Re: Dancing_Fiend Reminded me.......
Different kids may require different methods, but I also recommend finding the method for everybody's benefit.
I still think I'm screwed if I have a 2nd, BTW. That one will probably be a peach of an infant, and even cheerful to be up all night, but I figure I can't luck out twice in the sleep dept, despite the work I put in.
Sleep habits for new mommies (>4 months, because prior to that, all bets are off) is just not falling on crutches like rocking or feeding to sleep.
I have to say that I learned a lot from the book I previously mentioned. I now implement a consistent routine for daytime naps & bedtime (which differ). I couldn't stomache the CIO, so I tried the 'shh pat' technique.
It helps Hayden to feel safe, but doesn't rely on any crutches like breast or bimky(not judging). So far, once he's swaddled and patted on the back a bit, he winds down and can fall asleep on his own in the crib. It's supposed to help the baby learn how to settle himself if he wakes...still working on this with naps.
I also tell him that it's naptime or bedtime. Bed gets a book first, but not naps.