Monday, June 19, 2006

Finding A New Normal

We're gradually finding a routine to our days. My husband is home for a few more weeks, and it always takes some adjusting going from one parent at home to two. I'm going to try getting out without a driver tomorrow (though it has been luxurious being chaffeured about by my husband). I apologize for all the questions you've asked in the comments that I haven't had a chance to respond to yet--and for all of you who have blogs of your own, I'm still reading, but it's hard to comment with a baby in my arms. Elise is up from midnight to four am, alternately alert or fussing quietly. Anyone have suggestions what to do in this case? Just pop the baby in the sling and try to get the housework done? Or should I attempt to reset her internal clock?

12 comments:

Shannon said...

Meredith - I would just rest and enjoy being with her. If you keep it quiet and relaxing, she'll probably come around before too long:) And in the meantime - NAP:)

Anonymous said...

Yikes! That could be frustrating. He wasn't up for such a long period of time but I do remember using Ian's middle of the night fussy time as prayer time. I had so gotten into the habit of doing a devotional before bed and then everything was disrupted after his arrival. So, I picked up the prayer portion in the middle of the night.

Carrie said...

Ah, yes, Reagan had days and nights mixed up at first, too! It was sooo hard, but eventually he figured it out. I'm not an expert, and he still doesn't sleep very well at a year, so I'm not the one to be giving out sleep advice. :) A book I've found sort of helpful (but wish I had found it MUCH sooner) is "The No Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley. I am soooo looking forward to studying her suggestions and applying them to our next child, whenever God blesses us with one!

Anonymous said...

Especially since you have another child, and so you can't switch your sleep schedule (or does he nap?) you can gently encourage her to sleep at night. I would keep things dark and quiet during the midnight waking so she doesn't keep herself awake and so she associates night with sleep. Then make sure she has plenty of awake time as you start your day and in between naps. When she naps in the day, keep up the usual noises so she gets that people are active in the day and there is nothing going on at night.

Monica Wilkinson said...

I had to work at switching Emily's internal clock as well - I think it took several weeks as I remember. I also used the time for prayer time and tried to keep things quiet and fairly dark to make her think of night time. One thing that really helped us, was to play the same music every time she should be sleeping. Emily still falls asleep to Michael Card's Come To The Cradle CD and it has helped her associate bed time with time to go to sleep. Hope that helps - we'll be figuring all of this out again soon too...

Anonymous said...

I would not make it the time to do housework. Eventually you want her to stay asleep at that time and the best way to do that is to make it as boring and unstimulating as possible when she's awake at the wrong time. Keep everything dark or mostly dark. If you can't just keep her in bed and nurse, I would read quietly and not move around and do things.

Anonymous said...

P.S. When life gets more normal, please share pictures of your children's play areas. I saw a neat idea on mommylife.net about storing your books facing out for your children. I know you are keeping the clutter down especially now, but how would you store books/toys usually (as well as now?).

MommyLydia said...

And we don't mind if you don't comment. I'm just appreciating that you're still finding time to post!

MommyLydia said...

And we don't mind if you don't comment. I'm just appreciating that you're still finding time to post!

Anonymous said...

I think I once read that melatonin is not yet secreted in very young babies and so their pineal glands really can't help them sort out day and night yet. For this reason, I would say with such a young baby, you should just do whatever keeps you comfortable, rested and least frustrated!

Anonymous said...

My ped. says one of the gentlest ways to straighten their days and nights is to keep them cool in the day - promoting waking and to keep the warm (not hot) in the night to promote sleeping. This has worked for the last 4 babies we've had. It seems my children always get their days and nights mixed up. -Melissa

Anonymous said...

We used "On becoming babywise," that helps.

Basically, you feed them every 2 1/2 - 3 hours during the day, waking them up at the 3 hour point if they're sleeping. Keeping them up and well fed during the day helps them sleep at night.