My Baby Sleep Guide

Wonder Weeks are now the Wonder Months

2012-01-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

After some complaints from one of my perfectly wonderful sisters, I have updated the When are the Wonder Weeks? post to include months along with the weeks.

Apparently some {ahem, ALL} people don't know exactly how many weeks old their child is at any given time :)

You're welcome!

Dream Feed - Dropping the Dream Feed

2012-01-26T00:23:00.002-07:00

You may also want to check out the posts What is a dreamfeed and how do I give it and Dreamfeed Troubleshooting Tips.

Source

When do I stop the dream feed?

How long you do the df depends a lot on the baby as well as the routine you are following. Some babies can sleep longer stretches at night at an earlier age than others, especially if they are getting adequate food and naps during the day. Some babies take longer to drop the df and are not as consistent of sleepers. Age of solid introduction and solid intake may or not contribute to the situation. I've tried, but I'm not able to come to any conclusion with this yet.

Some signs that baby is ready to drop the df include: baby consistently sleeping through the night, baby stops waking for the df, baby is difficult to wake for the dream feed but used to wake easily, and baby doesn't eat much at the df. Keep in mind that some babies never wake for the df and other babies start to wake habitually for the df.

Do I drop night feeds, the dreamfeed or a daily feed first?

Most experts suggest you drop all night feeds before dropping daily feeds or the df. This is generally what I recommend (although The Baby Sleep Solution, among others, do things differently). I'm not saying it is the only thing that works, it is just what I have the most experience with and what I have found to work well with my kids and others I have talked to.

After the night feeds are dropped and baby is consistently sleeping through the night (as in, baby has been sleeping through the night for several days at least) you have to decide if you are going to drop the dream feed or a daily feed first (also known as extending the routine or, if you are following The Baby Whisperer, moving to a 4 hour routine). Whatever you do, make sure to give your baby time to adjust with each new change. Most people doing Babywise seem to drop the df before extending their daily routine. The Baby Whisperer suggests extending the routine around 4 months before dropping the df to prevent routine problems. I think The Baby Whisperer has a very good point about a need to extend the routine around 4 months. I wouldn't necessarily say you need to move to a 4 hour routine at this time, but certainly around 4-6 months many babies benefit from an extended routine and problems often start to pop up if you keep delaying this just because you have not yet dropped the df. Something to keep in mind.

Average age the dreamfeed is dropped

The Baby Whisperer suggests dropping the df once solids are firmly established, usually around 7-8 months. Some good sleepers can drop it sooner though.
Babywise says that most babies drop the df around 3-4 months of age.
Gina ford says that most babies need the df until 6-7 months of age. One of the reasons she continues it this long is to prevent middle of the night wake ups when growth spurts occur.
In The Sleep Lady's Good Night, Sleep Tight, West suggests weaning from the dream feed around 5-6 months of age.

Possible problems resulting from dropping the dreamfeed too soon:

There are loads are growth spurts in young babies, especially the first 6 months. With some babies, if you drop the df too soon, they will do fine for a while, but then have a growth spurt and start waking at night to eat again. If you aren't still doing the dream feed, they are going to be more likely to wake in the middle of the night to eat.

How do I drop the dreamfeed?

Whatever method you choose, I suggest gradually increasing food during the day before you drop if done cold turkey, or in conjunction with dropping the df if you are doing a gradual dropping method. You could do this by increasing oz or time nursing at each feed or adding a cluster feed before bed.

Drop it cold turkey. I like this method. I get restless of moving things along too slowly. Unfortunately dropping things cold turkey really backfires with some kids and they will start waking up at all hours of the night. So beware.
Decrease how many oz or how long you nurse every few nights.
Slowly move the dream feed closer to the bedtime feed. Once you get pretty close to it (and baby is likely eaten less too) drop it.
The Baby Whisperer suggests giving 1 oz less every third night and adding that 1 oz to one of the daily feeds (staring with morning and moving along through the day). At the same time you will move up the dream feed time 30 minutes every third night. Continue until the df time catches up with the bedtime feed.
Do a combination of the above methods.

The dreamfeed and breastfeeding:

Once you drop the df you will likely be going around 10-12 hours at night without breastfeeding. This is fine for some moms, but for others, they will need to pump before they go to bed to keep up their supply. If your baby is several months old when you drop the dream feed (compared to say, 3) then there is less of a chance you will need to pump. If you are feeding around every four hours during the day then there is more of a chance you will need to pump. Just monitor the situation. It isn't true that you have to nurse at least 5 times a day to keep up your supply (um, I know because I have nursed several months without doing this), but it also isn't true that moms will be fine only nursing 5 times day. Every mom is different. You will have to figure out what works for you.

If you have any tips about dropping the dream feed please share them!

Birth Stories

2012-01-25T09:05:00.003-07:00

I wanted to share a new blog I found called The Birth Stories Blog. It is what it sounds like, a blog about birth stories. You can submit your own if you have one as well as read about other people's experiences. It is a really neat idea!

Have a great day!

Rachel

Dream Feed - Troubleshooting Tips

2012-01-23T07:02:00.006-07:00

I put together some troubleshooting tips for the dream feed. I hope they are helpful! You may also want to check out the post What is a dreamfeed and how do I give it and How to drop the dreamfeed.

Source

Troubleshooting when baby is too sleepy to take the dream feed:

If baby is too sleepy to take the dream feed and you are nursing, look at the suggestions under breastfeeding and the df above. If these don't help, then try pumping and giving baby a bottle. If you are giving a bottle and baby is still to sleepy, try waking baby up a bit for the feed. You can try changing baby's diaper at the beginning of the df or half way through (Just like any other night feed, I never suggest changing baby's diaper at the end of the feed since you want them to be relaxed from the feed and ready for sleep, not revved up from a diaper change). Maybe you will need to unswaddle baby, turn on the light, or even talk to baby for a moment. Just make sure you don't go overboard with these things and certainly make sure to stop doing them as you near the end of baby's feed. Another method to try is moving the dreamfeed a few minutes later when baby may no longer be in as deep of a sleep.

Troubleshooting when baby won't eat:

He may be too sleepy (see above) or he may not be hungry. If he isn't hungry, he may be getting too much food right before bed. You can try dropping the cluster feeding if you are doing it, moving bedtime a bit earlier (while keeping the df time the same) or decreasing how much you feed baby right before bed. Many baby's don't do well with going to bed without a full feed so what might work better is decreasing the feed amount right before the bedtime feed and while moving the bedtime feed a bit earlier and keeping the dream feed at the same time. So, if baby normally eats at 4 and 7 with a dream feed at 10, try feeding him less than usual at 4, while moving the bedtime feed to 6 and keeping the dream feed at 10.

Can the dreamfeed turn into a habitual feed?

Yes, it can, just like any other night feeds. This doesn't usually happen, but keep a look out just in case. I'd suspect this if your baby is far past the age of needing the df but still wants it or if he wakes for the df but only eats a tiny bit. If you suspect a habitual feed, then work on trying to wean from it.

The dreamfeed used to work, but now doesn't

Sometimes keeping the df too long ends up causing sleep problems with babies. It starts to mess up with their nightly sleep rhythms. Other times, all you need to do is change the timing of the df to fix the issues. You will have to do some trial and error to figure out what is wrong. Oh, and don't forget that babies, like us, have their off days. And they get sick too and go through a bunch of developmental stages that can cause havoc with sleep for a time (remember those Wonder Weeks?). So if one bad day pops up, wait it out a bit before making changes. It may be a fluke.

Do you have any helpful advice about dream feeds? Please share!

Signs a Wonder Week is about to Start

2012-01-20T08:05:00.004-07:00

Before each Wonder Week most babies act in a predictable way. Yes, even your neighbor's baby that always seems so easy going! They will act fussy, clingy and probably sleep badly. Some babies will be more miserable than others...as will some parents! Why such a change? You can look at these posts, WW Book Review and What are the Wonder Weeks, for more on that. If you want to know when to expect one of these weeks, look at the post When are the Wonder Weeks?

Source

A couple extra things before I get into the fussy signs

The fussy periods usually start and stop suddenly, which, of course, is always super fun as a parent :)
Your baby's behavior during each fussy period may vary from the previous one.

Here's the list of SIGNS that a Wonder Week is about to start. The signs near the bottom of the list are more likely to happen with older babies.

Clinginess
Crankiness
Crying
Demands extra attention from caregiver
Fussiness
Sleep badly (won't fall asleep, wake often, wake early in the morning etc)
Restless sleeper
Wants to be held all day
May wanted to be treated like a tiny baby again (if she isn't still a tiny baby)
Extra cuddly with you or with objects
Loss of appetite
Stranger anxiety
Moody
Listless and Preoccupied and daydreamy
Wants to suck or nurse much more
Shyness
Refuse to have diaper or clothes changed
Regression of behavior and physical abilities
Jealousy
Mischievousness
Acts sweet (to get attention)
More temper tantrums

Whoo! Are you worn out yet? Don't worry. After each Wonder Week baby generally has a period where she is super happy and easy going. Many parents of extra fussy babies find themselves praying for this day to come!

I wasn't planning on adding the below section when I started this post, but I think it'll help many of you feel better about yourselves and know that you aren't alone :) So here it is...

During this time Mom and other caregivers may feel:

Worried
Concerned
Exhausted
Trapped
Resentful
Irritated
Annoyed
Aggravated
Pressured by others
Insecure
Consider stopping breastfeeding
Overwhelmed!!

Has your baby experienced any of these signs before a Wonder Week? How did you handle these phases? Please share your experiences and any advice!

How much sleep did you get last night?

2012-01-18T07:55:00.009-07:00

Have you ever noticed that how much sleep someone gets shows a lot about their personality, interests and life circumstances? Such a simple little number can say so much about us!

Source

Are you a night owl, do you work night shifts, do you have a newborn? Maybe you had a work project you had to stay up for or your family came down with the flu. Maybe you decided to work on your blog (ahem) during your few childless free hours when you should have been snoozing.

So how much sleep did you get last night? And, most importantly, WHY?

Dream Pee

2012-01-17T07:17:00.007-07:00

Ha ha, don't you love the title of this? I bet you're wondering what this post is about!

from baby corner

Do you remember the dream feed? You know, the feed that you give baby before you go to bed at night, usually between 10-11? Well, instead of feeding baby before you go to bed, with the dream pee (name courtesy of blogginaboutbabies) you are taking him to the bathroom right before you go to bed. You get him up, put him on the toilet, and quickly put him back to bed. If he's anything like my son Joshua's he won't even open up his eyes.

Now why in the world would you do this? Well, if you have a recently potty trained child (or maybe even a child who has been potty trained for years) you know that not only is bedwetting sometimes a problem, but having to wake up to go pee in the middle of the night or early in the morning often happens. And this means less sleep for your child which means less sleep for you! So if he is going to wake up anyway to go pee, then you might as well wake him up and take him before you go to sleep, especially if bed wetting is an issue.

What has worked for us:
We do the dream pee only occasionally with Joshua. He has been amazingly good at going around 12 hours at night without waking to go pee since he was potty trained (gosh, I'm saying pee a lot in this. What kind of google audience is this going to attract?). But he does often wake up a little earlier than his diaper days to use the bathroom and doesn't fall back asleep since it is so close to his morning wake time. So If I know he is going to miss a nap the next day or something special is going on, I will often do a dream pee so that he'll sleep in a bit later in the morning.

Another time I do it is when he drinks a lot before bed. I don't usually let him drink loads before going to sleep (for obvious reasons), but sometimes he is crazy thirsty so I let him drink his cup or two before bed. Obviously that amount isn't going to make it sitting in the bladder of a 4 year old until morning!

What might work for you:
Do the dream pee if it makes sense for you. Certainly don't introduce a night waking for your child if it isn't needed, but if it is, I don't see any harm in it. Plus, having to wake up night after night to take a child to the bathroom or change wet sheets, along with other night wakings that may happen with other children (especially newborns!), is really wearing on you. You need your sleep (and sanity) too.

Just like the dream feed, some times may work better than others to wake up your child. This will likely have something to do with his bedtime hour. Try out some times and see how they go and adjust as needed.

One last thought I have concerns a dream pee vs having your child in diapers/pull ups at night. Diapers/pull ups at night aren't the end of the world to me, but I know some parents and kids really don't like using them. If you take away the diapers and introduce this waking to use the bathroom, you will be hurting your child's sleep continuity, or hours of uninterrupted sleep. You'll have to evaluate your own situation to see which option is best for you and your child.

Have you ever done the dream pee? Please share your experiences!

Dropped Pacifier Update

2012-01-14T07:16:00.009-07:00

This has been a long 11 days!

Jacob with his daddy

Things went pretty well the first day I dropped the pacifier, as I told you in my post We did It! We dropped the Pacifier!

Then came the next day. And life decided it had a sense of humor :)

Jacob came down with a very bad cold/virus AND started to get 3 teeth (because this is what always seems to happen anytime you try to make any changes, am I right?!). Have I ever mentioend my little guy, who is normally pretty easy going, is a bit of a baby when it comes to pain and illness? And I mean crying and fussy most of the day and up crying for hours during the night. He pops back to normal once he starts to feel better, but it is a long handful of days and nights!

Anyway, I considered giving Jacob back the pacifier when he came down with the cold but decided to keep up with the no pacifier plan. He normally gets frustrated during colds because he can't suck on the pacifier so it made sense to keep it out of the picture, especially since he was doing pretty well with it gone.

What happened next:
Outside of the waking up crying at night which I'm sure was due to illness, here are the issues we had 1) fussing for a few minutes before going down for some naps and bed, 2) waking a little early in the morning some days 3) some short naps (1.5 hours, but short for him)

After a week Jacob no longer fussed for a few minutes before going to sleep and no longer woke up early in the morning. I'm pretty sure these two things were, at least in part, related to the dropping of the pacifier. He did continue waking up at night crying for a couple days and had some short naps. These are no longer an issue. I feel pretty confident the night waking was due to illness (and a little teething) since it is typical of illness for him and also started on day 4. As for the short naps, I'm not sure what caused them, but they did seem to be more illness related since he woke up screaming and extremely distressed.

After 11 days my little Jacob is sleeping like usual, has two incisors broken through and has a few sniffles and a mild cough remaining. Whew! I'm glad this last week is over with. I'm exhausted. There have been too many sick people in my house and very little sleep!

In case you're wondering, here's how I went about things with the pacifier.

I gave Jacob a pacifier whenever he wanted until 6 months of age. This was mainly for sleep since he was perfectly content without it while awake and I didn't try to push him to take it. After 6 months of age, I tried to use the pacifier for sleep times only. If he was sick or we were out and about and missing naps he could have it then. Pretty much, I used it when it made sense for him and me (because I like to have a happy baby too :)

I tried out multiple pacifier holders for Jacob. He got attached to the myblankee pacifier blanket that I talked about in the post plush pacifier holders. I gave this to him once I unswaddled him. My plan was to detach the pacifier when it was time to wean him from it and he'd hopefully have an easier time at it since he'd still have his blankee to cuddle. You don't need a plush pacifier holder, but please get some kind of lovey for your child early on. A pacifier should not be their only lovey!

When the time came, I got rid of all the pacifiers. Some people will poke a whole or cut off the tip but I preferred to do it cold turkey. I gave Jacob his {sans pacifier} blanket to hold once I got him up in the morning. I figured this would help him get used to the blanket without the pacifier so it wasn't such a shock when I put him down for a nap.

At nap time I cuddled with him a bit longer than usual with the blanket in his arms. I put him down with a positive and confident attitude and walked out like usual. He cuddled right up to his blanket and has gotten more attached to it by the day. If it wasn't for his illness, I'm pretty sure our only issues would have been a few days of fussing before falling asleep, a handful of early morning wake ups and possibly a few shorter than usual naps.

So this is what worked with us. What has worked for you?

10 Ways to Save Your Sanity

2012-01-12T08:20:00.004-07:00

by Valerie Plowman Chronicles of a Babywise Mom

As adorable, intelligent, sweet, kind, fun, loving, and all around perfect we find our children to be, there are still those moments when our children absolutely drive us to the brink of insanity. Some days you think you just might lose your mind. Some children push us there harder and faster than others. I love this quote, "A sweet and obedient child will enroll a father or mother only in Parenting 101. If you are blessed with a child who tests your patience to the nth degree, you will be enrolled in Parenting 505." Oh how I know that.

I recently faced a day when a certain child of mine had pushed me to my limit. I was very frustrated. I don't like to be frustrated in general and especially not with my children, so I came up with a list of things to do when I need to save my sanity.

First, five ways to collect yourself:

Pray. The first thing I did when I reached my limit was hit my knees and pray. I prayed for patience, for understanding, for love, and for help. I definitely got it, and thus this list was born.
Take a Time Out. It can help to take a time out for yourself and gain some perspective. Chances are once you are able to take a moment to breath, you can assess the situation for what it really is and will realize it is not as terrible as it seems in the heat of the moment. Taking a time-out for yourself is definitely not as easy as just walking away if you have young children. You need to first get that child in a safe situation before you go take your time-out.
Call Your Spouse. I find strength in calling my husband and talking things through with him. He can offer some sanity-saving perspective and yet can also understand to some degree what I am talking about. Sometimes just venting about it can help relieve some pressure. You can also brainstorm with your spouse ideas for solving the issue if it needs to be solved.
Get Inspiration and Peace. Sing a favorite tune--something that brings peace to you like a hymn. Read a favorite scripture--especially one that encourages you to press forward or to love unconditionally. Read a favorite quote that boosts you up.
Find the Humor. You know how when someone else's child is acting up you can find it really funny, but when it is your child, you are not so amused? I think of a friend whose son one day got into her 5 gallon bucket of flour. Hilarious story from my perspective. It might not have been so funny to me if I had walked into my kitchen to find 5 gallons of flour spread by a toddler...try to find the humor in what you are facing.

Next, five ways to grow that love for your child so you can maintain better patience in the future:

List 10 Things You Love. Either write down on paper, think to yourself, or verbalize to your child ten things you love about your child. What is it about this age you will miss when it is gone? What unique personality traits do you enjoy about your child? What things does your child do that you appreciate? This turns our focus to the good--we see the wheat in our field rather than the tares. There will always be good and always be bad, and focusing on the good helps us love and appreciate the good there is.
Recall Memories. This is when some form of journal-keeping comes in handy. This can be in a traditional written journal, a scrapbook, a baby book, a slideshow of pictures on your computer, a list of funny things your child has done...take a moment to remember the good times. Remember how you think this child is pretty much one of the top five most amazing people to grace this planet? Remind yourself of why.
Do Service. The answer to our own pity parties is always to serve others. Think of some service you can provide to your child at this moment.
Do Fun. Create a new fun memory. Read a book, play a game, paint fingernails...do something just fun together that is no-stress.
Cuddles and Hugs. Cuddle up and give your child hugs. I find when I am feeling frustrated with a child, giving a nice, long hug always melts away that frustration.

I wanted to add a bit of advice, also. If your child is suddenly acting out of sorts and not being himself, there is a good chance there is a good reason for that. He might be teething or have an ear infection. Maybe he is feeling like he needs more one-on-one time with you. Once you have saved your sanity and are ready to face the day with grace again, take some time to see if there is an extenuating circumstance that has put your child in a super grumpy mood. Remember my day I was super frustrated that I talked about in the beginning? Well, I knew it was uncharacteristic, and a trip to the doctor the next morning revealed a double ear infection.

I leave you with this quote from Thomas S. Monson: If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.

I believe this to be true. Grandmother after grandmother tries to impress this upon me and every other young mother out there when she gets the chance. I already see things I miss profoundly; as our days go by more and more quickly, I try to maintain my sanity and cherish each moment to the best of my ability. I want to remember these moments with fondness, a bit of humor, and without regret.

When are the Wonder Weeks?

2012-01-10T08:01:00.019-07:00

There are ten Wonder Weeks the first 20 months of a baby's life. Each wonder week has a fussy period at the start of it (see the post Signs a wonder week is about to start for fussy signs). If it sounds like I am speaking total gibberish to you right now, then check out the posts WW Book Review and What are the Wonder Weeks :)

from ehow

Knowing when one of these weeks occurs can help a lot when troubleshooting baby's suddenly fragile condition. Yes, you'll want to rule out that baby isn't sick or in pain etc first, but after you do that, you can be comforted by the fact that baby is being fussy not because of something you have done, but because she is in a Wonder Week.

All babies go through these wonder weeks at a predictable time, give or take a week or two. They usually last anywhere from 3 days to a few weeks (although, gulp, they can last up to 6 weeks long!), often increasing in length as baby gets older. But don't worry, they also occur less often as baby gets older.

They don't necessarily coincide with growth spurts, cutting teeth or other common baby milestones, although they might end up, by chance, happening around the same time. Physical gains may be indirectly related since babies start to be able to do more physically as they understand more mentally.

Make sure to calculate weeks from the due date, not the actual delivery date. If it is tricky trying to figure out how to keep track of how many weeks old your child is, try writing your baby's age in weeks on your calendar at the beginning of each month. I have also included the months for you with each of the weeks (following the complaints of my sister Sharon:)

Here's a helpful chart on the Wonder Weeks.

Wonder Weeks and Fussy Periods:

Wonder Week 5 - fussiness starts around 5 weeks and usually lasts 1-7 days.
Wonder Week 8 - fussiness starts around 8 weeks and usually lasts 3-14 days
Wonder Week 12 - fussiness starts around 12 weeks/2.8 months and usually lasts 1-7 days
Wonder Week 19 - fussiness starts around 15 weeks/3.5 months, peeks at 17 weeks and skills appear around 19 weeks. It usually lasts 1-6 weeks **From now on Fussy periods will last longer than previously
Wonder Week 26 - fussiness starts around 23 weeks/5.3 months, peeks at 26 weeks and skills appear around 26 weeks. It usually lasts 1-5 weeks
Weeks 29/30 or 6.8 months - This isn't actually a Wonder Week, but many babies act fussy during this time as they begin to understand that their mommy can leave them. Just thought I'd let you know :)
Wonder Week 37 - fussiness starts around 34 weeks/7.8 months, peeks at 36 weeks and skills appear around 37 weeks. It usually lasts 3-6 weeks
Wonder Week 46 - fussiness starts around 42 weeks/9.7 months, peeks at 44 weeks and skills appear around 46 weeks. It usually lasts 3-7 weeks
Wonder Week 55 - fussiness starts around 51 weeks/11.7 months, often peeks at 53 weeks and skills appear around 55 weeks. It usually lasts 3-6 weeks
Wonder Week 64 / 14.7 months
Wonder Week 75 / 17.2 months
Over 20 months - Other wonder weeks have been documented throughout childhood. It is also suspected that adults even go through some wonder weeks.

What is a Wonder Week?

2012-01-09T09:44:00.004-07:00

I explained a bit about what Wonder Weeks were in my review of the book, The Wonder Weeks, but I thought I'd give a bit more of a description here before I jump into more posts about it.

What in the world is a Wonder Week and what happens during them?
A wonder week is like a growth spurt for the brain. It happens quickly and over a relatively short period of time. And it is really upsetting to a baby. Her perception of the world suddenly changes and she perceives it in a whole new light. As you can imagine, it is pretty distressing and confusing for such a tiny person.

Because of this, she may act very fussy for a short time as she adjusts to all the changes. These changes are a good thing though. They cause her to assimilate information in a new way which helps her advance in her physical and mental skills.

Some babies will pick up more skills than others at each leap. A lot of it has to do with your baby's interests. Try not to stress about it :)

Some good quotes from the book that also explain things...

Our reserach has shown that from time to time all parents are plagued by a baby who won't stop crying. In fact, we found that, surprisingly, all normal, healthy babies are more tearful, troublesome, demanding, and fussy at the same ages, and when this occurs they may drive the entire household to despair. From our research, we are now able to predict, almost to the week, when parents can expect their babies to go through one of these "fussy phases." (p. 2)

During these periods, a baby cries for a good reason. She is suddenly undergoing drastic changes in her development, which are upsetting to her. These changes enable the baby to learn many new skills and should therefore be a reason for celebration. (p. 2)

But as far as the baby is concerned, these changes are bewildering. She's taken aback--everything has changed overnight. It is as if she has entered a whole new world. (p. 2)

RELATED POSTS:

The Wonder Weeks - Book Review

When are the Wonder Weeks?

Signs a Wonder Week is about to start

Top Ten List

2012-01-07T12:55:00.002-07:00

I thought I'd do a top ten list, being the new year and all. The below list is actually for the last two years. I'm not tech savvy enough to figure out how to find the most popular posts for the last 12 months, if that is even possible. Techniques from the baby whisperer appear to be the most popular.

1) Wake to Sleep - 23,062 views

2) PU/PD

3) Blog Index

4) Shush-Pat

5) 4 S wind down ritual

6)Extending a Short Nap

7)Short Naps

8)Habitual Wakings

9)Sleep Training - Baby Wise

10) Waketime

And here are some other posts specifically from 2011 that were popular but didn't make the above list because they were newer:

Dreamfeed - All you ever wanted to know and more

What I wish I'd known with baby #1

Thriving rather than Surviving

Is Cry it out (CIO) harmful?

Can I successfully breastfeed and have a schedule/routine?

Tanking up - a trick to help your child sleep longer

Cluster feeding

Do you have a favorite post? One that has been the most helpful? Please share!

JJ Cole Toddler Bundle Me - Product Review

2012-01-05T13:13:00.006-07:00

Brrrr! It's cold out! Time for winter gear!

I've been using the JJ Cold Toddler Bundle Me for years. I've got two of them now so both my boys can stay warm on our winter walks. I have the fleece lined Urban. Why? Because the fleece seemed like the right amount of warmth and I also liked how it looked (a good reason, right?). There is also the less expensive fleece lined Original bundle me, a lighter fabric bundle me and a super protective Arctic bundle me available.

We are a very active family and the Bundle Me let's us keep active even during the cold winter months. At the minimum, we go on 2-3 mile walks with our stroller most days of the week. I do get some glares from people who I'm sure think we are nuts to be out, but our kids are warm and cozy in their 'sleeping bags'.

The bundle me works with most strollers. It has worked with all the strollers I've tried it on (my baby jogger city select, which I love, is shown above), but I'm sure the the second I say it works with all strollers I'll be found wrong:) It has holes that you can put your car seat/stroller straps through, although we don't usually use these since we have a bar with our strollers that keeps the kids put. You can unzip the bundle me if it starts to get warm out and zip it back up if it starts to get cold. My only complaint is that I wish there was some way to keep the zippers in place so baby can't push them down. Also (ok, I guess I had two complaints), the zippers can be tough to pull up when your child is inside the pouch. I suppose this is true for most zippers if they are not at a straight angle, but I can wish for a miracle zipper, right?

We have only used this for our stroller (I had a different one specifically for newborns) so I can't really comment on the use of this with a car seat although I know it can be safely done.

If you buy one, I would buy the toddler size if your baby is past the infant stage so you won't have to upgrade soon and end up spending unnecessary money. If you have a newborn, there is the infant size you can buy.

As for quality, it is well made. I've used one of them several hundred of times, the other, a few hundred times. No problem so far. Even the zippers are still holding up well.

Below is a picture of my son Joshua in the stroller before we got the bundle me. I do not miss the days of dragging blankets and retucking blankets! Since we're on the topic, isn't that the cutest blanket ever?

We did it! We dropped the pacifier!

2012-01-03T07:15:00.003-07:00

I've been thinking about dropping the pacifier for a while. Partly because I wanted to (but at the same time didn't want to!) and partly because my pediatrician, whose opinion I highly value, wanted me to.

And guess what. I did it. Yesterday. I really did!

It was scary. I was worried about sleepless naps and sleepless nights and a fussing and crying baby.

My 18 month old Jacob really likes his pacifier. In fact, I would say it is more of an obsession than a like. It is in his mouth all night and I'm sure it would be in his mouth all day long if I let him.

I prepped myself for a handful of nightmarish days and nights. I thought about how I would handle any crying. I even made sure to get extra sleep the previous night so I'd have the patience to handle the situation.

You will never believe what happened when I put him down for his nap. I'm still in shock over it. NOTHING. That's right, nothing happened. No fussing, no crying, no short nap. Night time was almost the same. He talked to himself for a few extra minutes when falling asleep and woke up a little early the next morning but that's all. Crazy.

I'll give you an update of how things are going next week (cause I can't be this lucky!) and I'll tell you what I did to drop the pacifier.

Until then, wish me luck! And if you have a pacifier dropping story, feel free to share it!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T20:12:00.002-07:00

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all the best!

Rachel

Tanking Up - A trick to help your child sleep longer at night

2011-12-29T07:21:00.003-07:00

What is tanking up?
Tanking up consists of the dream feed and cluster feeding. I go over dreamfeeds here. I go over cluster feeds here. Pretty much, tanking up is getting more food into baby's tummy during the day**, and specifically right before bed, so she she'll sleep longer stretches at night.

Why should I tank up?
So you and baby get longer stretches of sleep at night! And so you can start feeling less like a zombie and more like a person! Tanking up is also helpful with growth spurts which are plentiful in newborns.

When do I start tanking up?
Start it as soon as baby comes home from the hospital. If baby is under 8 weeks of age and you aren't cluster feeding, then you can give it a try. If baby is under 7/8 months (sometimes later) of age and you aren't doing a dream feed, then go ahead and give it a try.

When do I stop tanking up?
You can stop tanking up with the cluster feed around 8 weeks of age. Some babies need to stop sooner (my big boys both did) and some need to do it a little longer.

You can stop tanking up with the dream feed around 7 to 8 months of age. Some kids can drop it sooner, and some need it a bit longer.

Does tanking up work for all babies?
Like most things, tanking up doesn't work for all babies. It does seem to work for most, so it is worth giving it a try. If your baby is struggling with cluster feeding and the dream feeds then I suggest you drop the cluster feeds and just work on the dream feed. Many babies will not do both, and the dream feed is the more important of the two.

Remember to give it at least a few days to work before deciding that it doesn't work. And keep in mind that there are a lot of factors that determine when a child will sleep through the night. So tanking up can help, but it can only help so much.

**By day at this age I mean between morning wake time (likely around 7 am) to dream feed time (likely around 10-11).

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2011-12-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

Source

Live in Harmony with First-Time Obedience eBook

2011-12-22T16:57:00.004-07:00

Get your copy at this price HERE

Maureen from childwisechat has her ebook, Live in Harmony with First-Time Obedience: How to use love, authority and consistency to teach your child to obey the first time, every time on sale for just $6.99 right now. A great deal!

Cluster Feeding

2011-12-21T12:43:00.006-07:00

What is Cluster Feeding?
Cluster feeding, or bunch feeding, is when feedings are spaced closer together than usual. This usually occurs in the evening with younger babies and is often followed by a longer than usual stretch of sleep. Many babies will cluster feed on their own during the early months while other times moms may introduce a cluster feed to help extend night sleep.

Please keep in mind that cluster feeds are totally fine and normal, even if you are trying to do a 2.5-3 hour routine etc. You will just adjust your routine to work with this while it lasts.

What does The Baby Whisperer suggest:
Along with the dreamfeed, The Baby Whisperer suggests cluster feeding to help baby "tank up" before bed. Click on the link to find more about tanking up.

She suggests you cluster feed at two hour intervals in the evening before bed. Usually you will end up cluster feeding the last two feedings before bed, often turning the last feeding into two feedings and making bedtime a bit later. So, if you normally feed baby around 7 pm, then feed at 6pm and 8 pm instead and have baby's bedtime be after the 8 pm feeding. Instead of long naps, you will have short ones before and after these cluster feedings, so the nap before 6 pm would be short and the nap after 6 pm would be short. This is just a suggestion, you can cluster feed in whatever way works best for you and your baby.

When should I start cluster feeding?
I suggest you do it soon after baby's birth. If you haven't been doing it and baby is younger than 8 weeks, then go ahead and try it. Most babies will naturally cluster feed in the evening.

When should I stop cluster feeding?
Most babies do best when cluster feeding is stopped around 8 weeks of age. But pay close attention to your baby to see if it needs to be stopped sooner or stopped later. My kid have needed it to be stopped sooner. More like 5-6 weeks of age.

What if my baby won't cluster feed?
First off, try a little longer. Many babies need time to get used to things. If this still doesn't work, then don't worry about it. Put all your focus on the dream feed instead.

What if my baby does a nursing marathon cluster feed?
Some babies will want to nurse all evening long, usually during their fussy period. Sometimes babies will even nurse for a minute, cry for a minutes, then nurse again for a minute. Many mothers start to worry about their milk supply and about their diet (i.e. is something they are eating hurting baby's tummy?). Rarely are these things a problem and supplementing, which sometimes occurs in response to this, often makes the situation worse, not better. Baby is just fussy and this is how many babies react. I have even had to nurse my boys standing up and rocking in the evenings to get them to be content.

On a side note, but a very important note, I want to point out that I do not sit and nurse my babies endlessly in the evening. I generally stick to a feeding routine, feeding more often if baby actually seems hungry, or if baby isn't soothed by other methods (i.e. rocking, baby carrier, pacifier). It is important to me that baby knows how to be soothed in other ways outside of nursing. It is also important to me that someone, mainly my husband, can soothe baby if I am not available. These things are important to me and reflect in the advice I give, but they are certainly not the opinion of everyone.

Do I really need to cluster feed? It is so hard to do!
Of course you don't have to do it. But for many babies it is extremely helpful in encouraging them to sleep longer stretches at night. It sure can make the evening extra busy when you are trying to take care of children and get dinner ready so some people don't do it (that is, if baby doesn't ask to be fed). If doing cluster feeds makes life too difficult in the evening then 1) keep in mind that it is only for several weeks and will be over soon or 2) Don't' do it and focus on the dreamfeed instead.

Dreamfeed- What is a dreamfeed and how do I give it?

2011-12-16T23:24:00.015-07:00

Source

What is a Dreamfeed / Dream Feed? The dreamfeed is the feed that you give baby before you go to bed. It is the feed right after baby's bedtime feed when he is already asleep and in bed for the night.

Other common names for the dreamfeed:
Late-evening feed (Babywise),
the 10 pm-11 pm feed (Gina Ford),
dream feed and lastly,
df (my favorite, as you will see)

Why should I do a dreamfeed?
The df, along with evening cluster feedings (when appropriate) help to "tank up" baby before bed to help him sleep longer at night. It also helps by matching up baby's longer stretch of sleep with your longer stretch of sleep so you can be better rested.

Why should I NOT do a dreamfeed?
Well, obviously if it doesn't work don't do it (see more about this below). That really isn't what I'm trying to talk about here though. I wanted to address that some experts do not recommend a df (i.e. The Baby Sleep Solution). They feel it hinders baby's ability to sleep through the night at an earlier age by disrupting baby's natural rhythm.

What is the best time to do a dreamfeed?
Most experts suggest you do the df between 10 and 11, depending on how long you stay up and how baby responds (this is with a 7 am wake up). A too late of df can lead to fitful sleep with more night wakings and an early morning wake up. Plus, it encourages a baby to eat more during the night which is the opposite of what we are trying to do here. If you are doing a df too late and baby is sleeping great then you might not want to change anything. If baby isn't sleeping perfectly and the df is late, try slowly moving it to an earlier time.

Something else to keep in mind with the df is how long it has been since baby's last meal. You want baby to be hungry for the df so he will take a full meal, have a full tummy and be more likely to give you a long stretch of sleep after.

How do I give the dreamfeed?
The Baby Whisperer suggests giving the df while baby is still asleep, dreaming away. She suggests you leave the light off and do not have any talking or any other sort of stimulation. Baby should be so relaxed that burping after the feeding may not even be needed, especially with older babies and breastfed babies.

I personally always changed baby's diaper during the df when he was a newborn and eating often at night. I never like leaky diapers (umm, who does?), but I especially don't like them during my one long stretch of sleep at night! Just make sure to change the diaper near the beginning of the feeding so baby is relaxed and ready for bed near the end of the feeding.

I also always burp with younger babies. I really think they need it. I just try to mostly finish up the feeding, burp really well, then do the last tiny bit of the feeding followed by little to no burping.

Some babies do better when woken up completely for the df. Sometimes it is the only way they will eat, and sometimes it simply helps them sleep better at night and wake up later in the morning. Gina Ford suggests you keep baby up for approximately 45-60 minutes during the df for the first 2-4 months of his life or until he is regularly sleeping until the desired morning wake time (at which time you slowly decrease the wake time at the df). Ford believes that failing to keep baby awake at this time is one of the main causes of early morning awakenings, especially once night feeds are dropped.

How to do the dreamfeed with a bottle:
When you use a bottle you can wiggle the nipple in baby's mouth to activates the sucking reflex. Milk also drips out of most bottles simply by holding them upside down which encourages baby to eat. Don't let too much milk come out before baby starts sucking or he may start to gag on it.

How to do the dreamfeed while breastfeeding:
You can do the dream feed while breastfeeding, but it often a bit harder, and sometimes almost impossible with some babies. You can stroke baby's bottom lip with a pacifier, your finger, or your breast to get his sucking reflex going. You can also try to express some milk into baby's mouth to get him interested in eating. Many moms (myself included) will pump and then feed baby by a bottle. Baby often eats more food and more easily this way. Plus, it gives dad a chance to feed baby, gives baby practice with the bottle, and lets you go to sleep a few minutes earlier.

How much do I feed baby for the dreamfeed?
Feed baby as much as she'll eat. The more the better when she is young. When she is older you may want to slowly decrease how much she is eating.

Does the dreamfeed work for everyone?
I bet you aren't surprised that my answer to this is no. Nothing works with everyone! Some babies sleep horribly if you give them a df. It really messes up their natural sleep rhythms. You will have to try it and see what happens.

Starting late
Start it and see what happens. You may need to do it for several days before your baby (and you!) benefit from it. Yes, I suggest keeping at it even if baby sleep worse at first because this is the case with many babies. If they continue to sleep worse then I would work on the timing of the dream feed. If things still do not improve, then I would consider dropping the df. Take note that you are more likely to have issues and no luck with this the older baby is.

NEED TROUBLESHOOTING ADVICE OR DF DROPPING ADVICE? Look at Dreamfeed troubleshooting tips and Dropping the dreamfeed.

Have you done a dreamfeed? How did it work for you?

The Fear of the Early Bedtime

2011-12-13T07:31:00.006-07:00

Jacob, 16 months old

The hard to believe scenario: waking early in the morning after going to bed late or missing a nap:

The last few days for my family have been a bit busy. We haven't been home much and sleep has been a bit neglected. My 1 year old Jacob has had some short naps and gone to bed a bit late some evenings. The first two days he did ok. The third day he started to get a bit cranky and woke up 45 minutes early the next morning. The fourth (and thankfully last) day of this he was a bit more cranky and ended up waking 1 hour early the next morning. He was crying both mornings he woke early which is very unusual for him. The second morning he was even crying inconsolably for a few minutes. Overtirendness started to cause early morning awakenings. A super early bedtime, even 5:30 pm, could have prevented these problems.

I often tell people with sleep issues to put their kids to bed earlier. Many people are keeping their kids up late in hopes they will either sleep in later or sleep better at night. Rarely does this work with babies and young children, especially long term (even if it does work, I don't suggest it, it isn't healthy). Others have their children going to bed at a decent hour but need an earlier hour due to overtiredness issues, bad naps etc.

Guess what I often hear when I give the suggestion for an earlier bedtime? Usually something along the lines of "that won't work", "but he's already going to bed so early", or "lady, you're insane". Maybe you are thinking the same thing. That's ok. I don't blame you. No one wants their kid to wake up even more at night or wake up even earlier in the morning, and it is a common fear and ingrained belief that putting kids to bed early will cause both of these things. I know of quite a few people that have successfully tried the earlier bedtime but are still hesitant to do it because of these fears.

The earlier bedtime trick doesn't work for everyone, but please consider it if you are having sleep problems or have an overly tired child. And give it some time to work. You may be surprised by what happens!

To learn more about early bedtimes, I suggest you read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.

Plush Pacifier Holders -Product Review

2011-12-09T16:00:00.013-07:00

I love plush pacifier holders. They keep the pacifier in a young baby's mouth and they help baby more easily retrieve the pacifier and replace it when he is older. They are a lifesaver for parents of pacifier using babies and toddlers. They often turn into a baby's lovey (as is the case with my son Jacob). Some people will detach the pacifier from the plush toy when baby gets older and is no longer using the pacifier but still wants to use his plush lovey.

Keep in mind that these don't work well with all young babies. Sometimes the pacifier will fall out of baby's mouth regardless. This problem is often fixed with a little time.

If you use these, I suggest you buy a couple of them (I always keep three on hand--I like to play things extra safe!). You do NOT want a baby's lovey disappearing with no backup in sight! Also, double check that the pacifier holder will work with the pacifier you are using. Most things that work with a soothie pacifier don't seem to work with much else, and vice-versa.

Here are the ones I've tried:

Wubbanub Plush Pacifier- These are one of the more popular holders with a soothie pacifier attached to it. They are even used in some hospitals. They come in absolutely adorable animals. The angle of the pacifier and hinge is one of the best ones I've found for newborns. It seems to stay in baby's mouth better than some others. Pacifier doesn't detach so it won't come off and get lost, but at the same time it can make cleaning harder and doesn't offer the option of switching it out to a new or different kind of pacifier.

My Blankee Binkie Size with Pacifier Snap - My son Jacob uses one of these with his mam pacifier. This is what he ended up falling in love with. And I mean in love! He would walk around with it all day if I let him. I have the lightweight velour fabric that is pretty breathable and extremely soft. It is around the size of a washcloth. The pacifier snap fits most pacifiers (not soothie brand) and is extremely high quality. They are $11 at the outlet store. I believe you have to special order now if you want the lightweight binkie blankets without the back satin (more breathable without the satin).

Bunnies by the Baby Silly Buddy- This mainly holds baby's pacifier(which it grips with a velcro hand), rather than keeps it in baby's mouth. It also has a little rattle in it. You can tie the rabbit's arms around things to keep it near baby (i.e. a carseat rail). Washes and dries well on delicate (although it suggests otherwise) and isn't stuffed to keep a young baby safe.

Paci Plushies - These pacifier holders have "hug ring" that attaches to most pacifiers (not the soothie brand). You can take the pacifiers off to wash them or to change to a new one. The angle that the pacifier is held at isn't as good as some others I've tried. Machine washable.

Pacimals: The Huggable Plush Pacifier - Pacimals come with their own medical grade silicone pacifier that is similar to the soothie pacifier. This pacifier detatches for cleaning and replacement. You can buy pacimal pacifier replacements so that you don't have to buy a new animal when the pacifier wears out. They are machine washable, and dryer-safe. The pacifiers themselves can be sterilized by boiling for 2 minutes and are also dishwasher safe. Size-wise, it is a little bigger than the wubbanub and also lacks the flexible joint.

Teaching Obedience to a Child with Special Needs

2011-12-07T16:17:00.011-07:00

by Maureen Monfore, www.ChildwiseChat.com

Unless you have been living under a rock, you are probably well aware of the rising incidences of special needs in our world. Autism, ADD, ADHD and other developmental delays are so prevalent, we are experiencing a nation-wide shortage of occupational therapists.

What does this mean for you? First, you should be on the lookout for any developmental inconsistencies in your child. The earlier you recognize a problem and get help for it, the better off your child will be. For this very reason, we have federally funded “early intervention” places that provide services to special needs children under the age of 3.

In fact, many children can overcome their diagnoses through therapy. I have a friend whose son was recently evaluated after years of therapy for Autism, and they decided he no longer qualified for the diagnosis. Amazing.

In addition to getting the help the child may need, it’s also important for parents to understand their child’s special needs as they decide how to raise the child. If parents do notice any inconsistencies, they can take them into consideration in their obedience training.

Understanding the label 
When you think of a child who has been labeled as being “special needs,” you typically imagine a child whose developmental delays are plainly obvious to the untrained eye. You think of a child who is very low functioning.

In reality, most “special needs” children don’t make their diagnoses well known. In fact, there are times when my son is acting out in public that I wish he had a sign on his head announcing his diagnosis so people would be more understanding.

It’s this misunderstanding of the term “special needs” that makes it so difficult for parents to accept. The diagnosis itself (piece of paper from a doctor) doesn’t fundamentally change who the child is, nor does the classification of “special needs.” Yet many parents resist the notion simply because of the stereotype.

This is unfortunate when a child could clearly benefit from therapy, but the parent is resisting the diagnosis purely from an egotistical standpoint. I see this typically with dads. They are often in denial that there is anything “wrong” with the child, even after a diagnosis has been made. It is usually the mom who pursues the diagnosis because, although it’s difficult for any parent to think their child may be less than perfect, mom knows that getting help is in the best interests of the child.

What is sensory processing disorder?
Most of us are familiar with Autism, ADD and ADHD. Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is less well known, but possibly much more prevalent. In fact, many kids with Autism, ADD or ADHD also have sensory processing difficulties.

Although you wouldn’t know it by looking at him, my eldest, William, has two special circumstances that my husband and I must consider. He has sensory processing disorder and gifted tendencies. (The giftedness is nice, but it must also be treated as a special need since it lies outside the framework of a “neuro-typical” child.) If you’re unfamiliar with sensory processing disorder, it basically means that there is something misfiring in his brain when it comes to all seven of his senses.

The five senses that most people have heard of are sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch. There are two others that are less well known. The proprioceptive sense affects our determination of where our bodies exist in space. If you have a child who frequently bumps into things or stands too closely to others, he might have difficulty with proprioception. The seventh sense is the vestibular sense. This affects the part of the brain that makes us dizzy.

There is so much to this disorder because a child can be under-responsive, over-responsive or sensory seeking in each of the seven senses. Typically, a child with SPD will show several sensory-seeking tendencies. He will mouth objects (well past the baby phase), have difficulties sleeping, react with a fight or flight response to the most minor touch, display hyperactive tendencies, react strongly to an itchy tag on the back of his shirt, cover his ears at the slightest loud noise, have a melt-down over the seams in his socks, and more. My son has displayed all of these tendencies at one point or another.

Here are some other symptoms of SPD**:

Makes noises when trying to concentrate
Loves being upside down
Hates having his hair, fingernails or toenails cut
Will typically do an “army crawl” to avoid putting his hands on the floor
Acts out aggressively or impulsively when overwhelmed by sensory stimulation
Doesn’t cry when seriously hurt
Often seems unaware of body sensations such as hunger, hot or cold
Is constantly on the move
Likes crashing, bashing, bumping, jumping and roughhousing
Shows a strong preference for excessive spinning, swinging or rolling
Constantly touches objects
Often licks, sucks or chews on non-food items such as hair, pencils or clothing

Teaching first-time obedience 
As you can imagine, teaching first-time obedience to a child with special needs is a challenging endeavor, but it can be done! In addition to getting the professional help they need, we must make special accommodations in our first-time obedience training by giving them constant, gentle reminders, getting their attention with physical touch, getting eye contact first, not requiring a verbal response (from a child with a speech delay) and using visual cues.

When it comes to obedience in my home, I have to constantly remind myself that William doesn’t always react as a typical child would. At the moment, we are dealing with auditory filtering difficulties. Basically, he has a hard time distinguishing background noises from the voice of someone speaking directly to him. When we are in noisy places like restaurants, he typically shuts down.

His gifted tendencies play into this as well. His imagination and daydreaming make it difficult for him to focus on the world around him. This is sometimes incorrectly attributed to the inattentiveness commonly found in ADD.

As if that weren’t enough, William’s SPD affects his impulse control. If we are out running errands and his senses are on overload, I need to watch him like a hawk.

You can learn more about teaching first-time obedience (to special needs and typically developing children) in my eBook titled, Live in Harmony with First-Time Obedience: How to Use Love, Authority and Consistency to Teach Your Child to Obey the First Time, Every Time.

Get your copy for just $6.99 now! Through the holidays only, it will be available for 30% off! On January 9, the price returns to its normal cost of $9.99. Click here to get your copy at this special price.

**Sensational Kids, Lucy Jane Miller, Ph.D., OTR

Swaddling and Hip Dysplasia

2011-12-01T07:45:00.012-07:00

I highly recommend swaddling for young babies. It helps a tired baby sleep well and an upset baby calm down.

But did you know that doing it incorrectly can lead to hip dysplasia? I remember this being mentioned quickly in school but I haven't really heard it mentioned in many other places so I have a feeling there are many of you out there who don't know about this. Even those of you with great pediatricians. I think it is often passed over because there is so much to go over and because some pediatricians are unaware of the connection.

First off, if you're not sure what hip dysphasia is, you can take a look here . In short, it is an abnormal hip joint which causes hip instability and/or looseness and can lead to various problems. It is treatable. It is routinely looked for (maybe you've noticed your pediatrician moving your baby's hips around?) by your pediatrician. It is sometimes difficult to find and is missed. This recently happened to one of my nieces so always keep your eyes open for the symptoms. The sooner the treatment the better.

HOW TO SWADDLE THE CORRECT WAY

Pretty much, you need to swaddle in a way that allows baby's legs and hips to still move while keeping baby's upper body nice and snug. This is somewhat tricky with a normal blanket if you want to keep a good tight upper body swaddle and don't want baby to break out of the swaddle. I think specifically made swaddle blankets or swaddle pods are much easier to use and less likely to cover baby's face. Check out some swaddle tips while using a normal blanket here. Learn more about swaddling in the post swaddling.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T13:06:00.001-07:00

I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving weekend and got to spend loads of time with their family!

Hopefully not too many people put themselves in the red with black friday and cyber monday ;) Sales are tempting, aren't they?