Margo à la Maude

We're starting a new sleep program with Margo tonight. It consists of a bedtime routine that will begin at 7:15 on non-bath nights and 7:00 on bath nights. We will:



1) Give Margo a bath if it's a bath night (7:00)

2) Put on a clean diaper with night time soaker and clean sleepers (7:15)

3) Last feeding of the night (7:20)

4) Bring her to our bed, and spend five minutes massaging her (7:25)

5) Read her a story, cuddle, something quiet for 5 minutes



and most importantly - leave the room at 7:30 or so.



We can go back in the room every 15 minutes if Margo is crying to soothe her, stroke her, but I will not nurse her and we will not pick her up.



Strong words, these. MUCH easier said than done, but it Ms. Margo is going to learn to self soothe, we think this is necessary.



This is all according to a book loaned to us by friends, entitled The Sleep Sense Program. The author advises a sleep time program that includes an early bed time (Margo will be going to bed at 7:30 instead of 9pm) and a firm commitment by the parents to teach their children to sleep well. Margo is not a problematic sleeper once she's down, but getting her to fall asleep without nursing is next to impossible, which means I have to be there, lying down with her for upwards of an hour a night, as well as naptimes. We'll report back on how we're doing.



Last night we worked to get Margo to fall asleep on her own, and she was downright pitiful. I went in to check on her at the second 15 minute break, and she was soooo relieved to see me she smiled up at me through her tears (real ones), and sighed a big sigh of relief between sobs. This child really wears her heart on her sleeve. She's looking like a little clownish dreamboat with the rosy cheeks, so you can imagine that it was very difficult to just calm her and then leave again. (I snapped this picture before the sleep program began . . she's not crying yet).




In other news, the teeth. Ouch, the teeth. Margo needs to learn how to NOT use her teeth while nursing. I've talked to quite a few moms since the arrival of Margo's nibblers, and all have been bitten at some point. Let me tell you, those brand new teeth are SHARP ( not having been ground down by chewing yet). I have to remind myself to relax while nursing and get the image of a blood thirsty monster out of my mind, but sometimes it's a challenge. Seeing as how Margo doesn't really understand "NO!" or "Don't bite!", my yelping and pulling away will have to teach her. I love my baby girl, but it's somewhat difficult to re-enter the mouth of the monster once you've been bitten.

I'll get over it, and Margo will learn not to bite the breast that feeds her. I have faith.

- Donna

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at 11:48 a.m.. You can skip to the end and leave a response.