July Chit Chat - Page 9 « Back to Group Discussions

[CDsMom1031]

Originally Posted by Jaimee 

Thanks ladies! 

I got ya!!! I posted one, too. =)

[Jaimee]

I'll go vote for you!

[CDsMom1031]

Thanks!!!

Our babies are growing up, ladies. Being a FTM, when do you ladies actually start TEACHING your kiddos how to do things? Obviously I do what I can right now, but I have a friend who does "speech lessons" with her daughter and stuff like that... I obviously don't want Conner to be behind, but at the same time, any childhood memories I have, it was just me playing, LOL. I don't want to take away his childhood by always having him in lessons for various things. I encourage his standing. When he's laying down and wants to sit up, I have him do it on his own as much as possible to help his little ab muscles. I'm constantly talking to him, and I can proudly say that's officially saying, "Mama. Dada. Lala. Baba. Nana." He blows bubbles with his mouth, and he recently discovered his scream. =) O_O It's not a crying scream or anything... He literally will just scream... Okay, I'm rambling. Tell me how you ladies do it! LOL

[dashley111]

Babies learn at their own rate, regardless of what parents will encourage or push them to do. If your talking to Connor, that is all he needs to learn to talk. If your providing a stimulating environment, that is all he needs to learn to walk/crawl/manipulate object. I would say don't focus on "lessons", but just give him opportunity to learn when he is ready. I actually find the idea of teaching a baby a little ridiculous, and somewhat pushy. Think of everything they learn in the first year, why push them to learn more? It seems to me like that could be almost over-stimulating. They are babies!

Kids will learn most thing they need to know in their own or from example. I did not start teaching my kids anything until they showed interest. We read books about shapes and colors, and I would use those things while interacting or in play, but it was hardly exclusively teaching time. It was more just something we did to interact.

[Jaimee]

Agreed... the only things I might consider trying to consciously teach at this age would be signs for basic things (like more, all done, milk, baby, mama, dada, etc.) and how to get down from heights safely (by turning around and going feet first).  Other than those things, like Ash said, babies will learn things by simply being exposed to them- no lessons necessary. 

Now, if you're looking for new ways to interact with your baby (and I understand this b/c with your first it can get boring just you and baby sitting around), there are exercises that can be done that are fun for baby and can encourage brain development.  They are simply things and usually happen automatically when baby is carried around and played with frequently, but sometimes it can be fun to purposely move baby around and have him experience different positions and movements.  Check out the book How to Make Your Baby Physically Superb... awful title, but full of interesting information and things to do with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers as they develop physical skills.

[MrsKatie]

Originally Posted by Jaimee 

Now, if you're looking for new ways to interact with your baby (and I understand this b/c with your first it can get boring just you and baby sitting around), there are exercises that can be done that are fun for baby and can encourage brain development.  They are simply things and usually happen automatically when baby is carried around and played with frequently, but sometimes it can be fun to purposely move baby around and have him experience different positions and movements.  Check out the book How to Make Your Baby Physically Superb... awful title, but full of interesting information and things to do with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers as they develop physical skills.

That title totally sounds like a bad translation from another language.  OMG.

I agree with the others, Conner's life will be so full of schooling/lessons/etc before you know it.  This is such a precious time, one with no schedule, school, activities, etc... if you are a loving, attentive, engaging parent, Conner will thrive.  My mom talks about her fondest memories of childhood: sitting in the back yard, playing with sticks.  Yep.  That's the good stuff!  I think we should focus on creating a secure, nurturing environment and trust the rest will follow, kwim?

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by MrsKatie 

That title totally sounds like a bad translation from another language.  OMG.

Unfortunately not.  Just really poorly chosen.  I have no idea why they thought that was a good idea!  Those that are drawn to it hoping to create super kids will be disappointed to find it is mostly about brain development with some physical exercises in between.  Whereas those that are turned off by it are surprised to find it fascinating and helpful.

[Becky Wheeler]

How much should an 8 month old be sleeping? Levi is taking 4 naps a day for 2 hours and sleeps from 8-7AM(he wakes up in the night to eat, but goes right back to sleep).

[Jaimee]

Becky, I'd say TAKE it!  Avery naps 2-3 times a day for 20-90 minutes each, goes to bed around 9:30-10pm, wakes up 1-4 times in the night, and is up for the day at 6am on the nose.  This means Avery is probably getting about 10 hours of sleep a day when he should really be getting more like 14-16.  Sounds like Levi is getting around 18-19 and I'm sure he will be dropping nap #4 very soon and probably #3 shortly after that, as is typical of this age.  I'm not sure if it's common for an 8 month old to be taking 4 two hour naps a day, but some babies need more sleep than others.  Like I mentioned, I'm sure he'll be dropping one or two of those naps soon enough.  Enjoy it!

[Becky Wheeler]

I just have a feeling that this is why he seems to be behind. He's still not sitting up without some sort of assistance.

[CDsMom1031]

Originally Posted by Becky Wheeler 

How much should an 8 month old be sleeping? Levi is taking 4 naps a day for 2 hours and sleeps from 8-7AM(he wakes up in the night to eat, but goes right back to sleep).

Conner sleeps like that. He'll be 9 months on the 31st. I love it. And his night sleep is usually 9p-10/11a... Then two to three hour or more naps during the day. For instance, today he woke up at 10, went to sleep at noon, woke up at 2, went to sleep at 330, woke up at 530.

[ZippyGirl]

Originally Posted by Becky Wheeler 

I just have a feeling that this is why he seems to be behind. He's still not sitting up without some sort of assistance.

Yes, but he can give kisses!!!

[Becky Wheeler]

Originally Posted by CDsMom1031 

Conner sleeps like that. He'll be 9 months on the 31st. I love it. And his night sleep is usually 9p-10/11a... Then two to three hour or more naps during the day. For instance, today he woke up at 10, went to sleep at noon, woke up at 2, went to sleep at 330, woke up at 530.

That's what Levi does.

Originally Posted by ZippyGirl 

Yes, but he can give kisses!!!

LOL This is true! Love me some Levi kisses!

[Zoopath]

Hi jaimee, sorry for the very late reply from the June thread. Work was somewhere between a cluster f and a perfect storm. The upside was that I was so drained that I had to take some time off, which was very sorely needed. 11/30 baby girl Teagan 5lbs 9oz, 19 inches long

[birdhappy85]

Nicole - Does Conner actually sleep through without a single waking until 10 or 11am?! How is that even possible?! Jeez. And I thought I was lucky with Sora STTN until 5/6am... I'd give anything for her to sleep an extra hour. If she slept an extra FOUR or FIVE hours I'd have all the time in the world to myself! Dang!

[dashley111]

I might die of sheer joy if B would even sleep 2 hours.

[TalkToMeNow]

Originally Posted by dashley111 

I might die of sheer joy if B would even sleep 2 hours.

Hehe. Sorry, but that made me laugh!

On a perfect day, meaning staying at home most of the day, Jasper will take 2-3 naps totaling 4-5 hours. On a perfect night, he sleeps from 8:30-8:30. However, he wakes up at 9pm, 10:30pm, 12am, 1am... I'm asleep after that and don't check the clock, so I don't know what happens. Lots of nursing, for sure. It's a very rare evening that he stays asleep without me in bed more than an hour and a half at a time.

Anyway, I guess his ideal sleep is 16-17 hours a day. He loves sleeping! Even if he isn't that tired, if I lie down with him and nurse him he will sleep. He just doesn't *stay* asleep for long. Oh well. One day he will!

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by dashley111 

I might die of sheer joy if B would even sleep 2 hours.

Right?  For us the problem is TWO kids that don't know how to stay asleep.  So two nights ago Avery slept like a dream- waking up just once to nurse and actually go right back to sleep.  Did I get to enjoy it?  No, of course not. Because Austin was up 4 freaking times and require me to lay with him for upwards of 20 minutes each time.  That meant no sleep for me pretty much at all.  Last night Austin got up 3 times and Avery was up most of the second half of the night.  Again pretty much zero sleep for mama.  I'm a zombie.  Solo parenting SUCKS.  I was just about to give Austin some zyrtec to try and knock him out when my all my hopeful words finally managed to resonate with him and he told me to tuck him in, close the door, and go sleep in my own bed.  I was practically crying with joy that he actually meant it and stayed in his room until 6am.  Of course Avery was up chirping at 5:30.

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by Zoopath 

Hi jaimee, sorry for the very late reply from the June thread. Work was somewhere between a cluster f and a perfect storm. The upside was that I was so drained that I had to take some time off, which was very sorely needed. 11/30 baby girl Teagan 5lbs 9oz, 19 inches long

No problem... I'm not actually the thread starter this month, so Sarah will need to add you.  Do you mind sharing your first name as well?  It's nice to be able to call each other by our real names if you feel comfortable doing so.

[seraf]

Originally Posted by Jaimee 

Right?  For us the problem is TWO kids that don't know how to stay asleep.  

When we were out of town, we ran the gamut with sleep.  s slept very well.  Up at 4 am to eat two nights (actually Sara woke him up the second night because she was leaking) and slept all the way through the third night. S was up every 2 hours the first night, crawling around, up at 4 to eat the second night and slept all the way through the third. I thought it was pretty funny.

Originally Posted by CDsMom1031 

Thanks!!!

Our babies are growing up, ladies. Being a FTM, when do you ladies actually start TEACHING your kiddos how to do things? ... When he's laying down and wants to sit up, I have him do it on his own as much as possible to help his little ab muscles.

We play games.  I teach signs, climbing off the bed and "gentle" because I don't want him hurting his brother. Other than that I just talk to him, play like mad and enjoy him. On sitting up, none of my babies has done sit-ups.  They use their arms to push themselves up. I always thought that was normal? I actually remember reading that our babies have been developing abnormally strong abdominals since the back to sleep campaign started, coupled with babies being carried all over the place in car-seats.