Here we are- 5 months, 4 weeks and 1 day into parenting. The main thing I've learned so far.... don't be stupid. After a fairly successful few months (minus one ding on the head and a slight catapult out of a swing) I thought I should share my advice.
Immediately after Brooks was born- I spent HOURS pouring over the babywise book. My sister had followed this book and had an amazingly happy 6 month old who slept through the night at 9 weeks! Every time I would nurse (which in the beginning was 8-10 times a day) I would read every chapter - reading and rereading the "schedule," the nap suggestions, "waketime activities" and of course the part that read "99% of baby wise babies sleep through the night at 12 weeks." So, when 12 weeks came and went and my little angel was still sleeping only 5 -6 hours increments- I deemed myself a babywise failure and turned to another book- the happiest baby on the block. After three pages I need a tall glass of wine followed by a skinny margarita- I was doing it all wrong! Where babywise had said don't rock the baby to sleep - the happiest baby said to rock at every nap and night! Where babywise said don't use the swing or the car as a sleeping "tool"- happiest baby said to use them all! Including the dryer and a sound machine -whatever works! When babywise said let the child "cry it out" at night- happiest baby says to pick your child up every time he/she cries at night- up to 70 times some parents have done!!! The list goes on...
Thanks to a very supportive hubby and realistic sister, some wonderful friends, and my momma- I realized I wasn't a failure! I learned that every baby was different and that I had to carve out my path with my own gut. I remember one night when the little guy was crying and I was trying to "cry it out"(which I was a TOTAL failure at anyway), my husband said "why again can't we go rock him? He is a baby!" and I thought - man I am Stupid! We can!
When Brooks started sleeping, I thought "which book was it that worked!!" Bottom line- no book, sister or blog can teach you how to be a parent... I am happy to say the little guy now sleeps about 10 hours a night through a combination of rocking, holding and crying that worked for me.
Now, if I could just apply this to the rest of my life- next blog- "Don't be stupid- how to lose the last five pounds (or ten if you just had a baby)."
