When naps are no longer cool...

[coyotemist]

Daddy had quite a bit of last week off of work. And he held Charlie every spare minute. For every single nap and rest session, Daddy held Charlie.

Now what do I do? The baby won't sleep unless I hold him. And we've got to have dinner, and he's got to have babas.

I'm not sure if there's a smilie for pulling my hair out, but thats how I feel right now!!! And I'm dreading the fact that Daddy has another 5 days off in just a couple days....as soon as we start getting routines back, they'll get shuffled again.

Any suggestions?

[Sioko]

First choice, a sling or carrier. My babe won't sleep unless she's swaddled or held and since I want her to sleep her longest periods at night, I don't swaddle during the day (unless she's inconsolable) so it's the carrier. Dishes, laundry, clean up, bathroom, EVERYTHING, wearing the bug until she's rested enough to be in a good mood again. If she's not in the mood to nap in the carrier, it's the swing.

At night, same problem. So I swaddle her and she stays asleep longer when I put her down (though it's not 100% it works most of the time). Last night was a "bad" night. She slept from 12am to 6am, then from 8-9am, then from 9:30am to 11:30am. Usually she only wakes up once for about 15-30 min inbetween 5-6hr stretches. thanks to swaddling

[TefferTWH]

K was like that and I wore him constantly. It probably contributed to my oversupply issues, as I can't spend too much time with baby on my breasts or under them without getting engorged (I now have a bunch of carriers to switch positions). We also use the swing for naps if she dozes off while chillin'.

When Daddy is home, tell him he can hold him for 1 nap or 20 minutes of each, but he has to make the transfer to the cradle himself, without help, LOL!

[emc03]

Originally Posted by Sioko

Last night was a "bad" night. She slept from 12am to 6am, then from 8-9am, then from 9:30am to 11:30am. Usually she only wakes up once for about 15-30 min inbetween 5-6hr stretches. thanks to swaddling

can dylan come over and do a sleep internship with your little one? he's got a lot to learn.

coyotemist - i'm in the same boat. dh has had the last couple of weeks off and doesn't go back until next week. he's better about laying him down when dylan's napping though. he "swaddles" dylan and gives him the binky. unfortunately dylan won't accept this from me yet. so i wear him. we also caved on the bassinet issue and he just naps there. cosleeping in a lofted bed makes me nervous, but since he's between us or me and the wall or it's safe enough until he's mobile. and we all sleep A LOT better.

i second teff. you wear when you can and he puts charlie down. and i saw his pic in the other thread. supercutie!! i can't imagine such a beautiful little boy giving you any trouble

[coyotemist]

OK, confession here, sometimes I get tired of wearing him...My neck starts to ache, and my arm becomes a pillow.

I got a ring-sling for Christmas, and that thing is so convenient. But the wrap is more comfortable. Icant wait until i can put him on my back. I really want a babyhawk or ergo. Its on the want list, hee hee.

Ok, no napping on daddy. And I think we are switching to a more broken down formula, he's been really gassy and so fussy.

Sioko, I think you could patent and sell your sleep philosophy. None of my kids have ever been that good of sleepers. They don't sleep through the night until 2 or 3. on a good night i get 3 hours.

[Sioko]

I can't take full credit for swaddling. It's an age-old custom, and unfortunately a lost art. I learned ALOT from Dr.Karp's book "The Happiest Baby on the Block".
Thank you Dr.Karp! :::