Your baby is so awake/aware/alert! - Page 2

MissinNYC · 11-09-2009, 12:40 PM

I have 4 children, none of whom I think are remarkable in any ways other than being fabulous because they are my children. The first, who wasn't terribly cute as a baby (but is a lovely little girl) they all said she was very alert, awake, bright eyes, etc. The second was a more typically cute baby, and everyone said she was gorgeous, beautiful, pretty, etc. The third has special needs (developmental delays) and they always say he's "happy, sweet, a "good boy" etc). The last is very tiny and cute, but not "pretty" and everyone has gone back to "alert" "bright eyes" etc. I think it's most what people say to babies, especially those who aren't what is considered to be typically "beautiful" in a baby.

YMMV, of course.

Sk8ermaiden · 11-09-2009, 12:50 PM

That is really interesting. I wonder if all my babies will have different overriding characteristics people will comment on as well.

The theory doesn't fit for us though unless I'm a typical delusional mama. My little one is super cute!

Flower of Bliss · 11-09-2009, 01:05 PM

We get that all the time about DD2 and we got it all the time about DD1 too. I often think it's because she's being worn. Not that being worn makes her more alert, but that her wide opened eyes are more noticable as she's up on me not lying down in a car seat or stroller at a lower level.

Sk8ermaiden · 11-09-2009, 02:33 PM

This is really interesting! I can totally see that. It might explain why people will cross the store to tell us she is alert! I am trying to think of the times we have used the stroller...we still get the comments, but not nearly as many. Anyone who bends down to look at her still says it, but everyone we pass doesn't chime in.

LROM · 11-09-2009, 05:58 PM

I've also been hearing this about DD since the day she was born. And mostly I figured it was just either a nice thing to say or she just stood out cuz at the moment she was the only babe in the room.

But I started paying attention to WHO said it, and like a PP said, when midwives and pediatricians and people with babes the same age (or older!) than DD say it, I take a lot more notice, because they have a LOT of babes to compare it to or at least they are comparing to their own babe.

We went to a gathering this weekend that had many older babes and every single parent (and observer) was commenting at how advanced DD was and how she was already doing/saying things the older babes weren't yet.

Of course we all get major warm fuzzies when it seems like our babes are superstars, but I am guessing that at the end of the day the truth is somewhere in the middle: they may be a bit more advanced than the average babe, but probably not in a class all by themselves.

You know what's really a bummer? When other parents look a bit discouraged when they compare! We were at the playground and in the baby swing next to another momand babe. We were looking at the babes and talking and then she asked how old mine was and I could tell she almost didn't want to hear. When I said "10 months" it was like her face fell. I asked about her DD and she said "14 months" but sounded so discouraged and I just didn't get it! Her DD seemed healthy, enjoying the swing, and I wondered why she'd be so down about just one other baby on the swing, or say even a lot of babies in the playground?

Makes me wonder if many parents don't start sowing the seeds of extra pressure and also discouraging their kids even at the infant stage?

Aufilia · 11-09-2009, 06:09 PM

DS is only 2.5 weeks but I've found myself commenting several times in the last week that he's so much more, well, ALERT than DD was. Though by "alert" I mean "won't sleep if anything is happening nearby". Will instead stare or root, depending on whether he's content to be awake/alert or not. DD spent a lot more time sleeping in my arms at this age, and even slept in public. DS? Will NOT apparently sleep in public. So much for "newborns are so portable, they sleep through anything!" Not this kid.

Anyhow, babies are different from each other, even at young ages.

seafox · 11-09-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flower of Bliss

We get that all the time about DD2 and we got it all the time about DD1 too. I often think it's because she's being worn. Not that being worn makes her more alert, but that her wide opened eyes are more noticable as she's up on me not lying down in a car seat or stroller at a lower level.

I actually think being worn *does* make them more alert. I wear DS a lot, and even *I* think he looks oddly alert when I do it. When he's not worn I guess he's alert but also wiggling/trying to crawl/smiling/etc so he's still alert but not as 'intense' I guess. When I wear him he gets this serious stoic expression w/ big eyes and it even freaks *me* out so I don't get surprised when other people comment!

the downside of a super-alert baby is trying to get them to sleep. Took two hours tonite to get DS down. jeesh! (he's 4.5months)

and yeah, we got told this a lot. He was pretty alert the first week which did seem unusual to most of the nurses in the hospital. I took notice also when the pediatrician commented about it. They've all seen a lot of babies! He's also very mobile and hyperactive.

Cherry Alive · 11-10-2009, 03:51 AM

We hear that all the time with DD. DH also ponders on what "other babies" are like. I have to agree, though, with other posters that a lot of times this is just conversational, because I'll hear one day from 10 different people that DD is "so alert" only to later hear from 10 others that DD is "so layed back." I've also heard her get called a "Gerber baby" a few times. I do think she is very interested in things and people, but I think lots of babies are or can be this way and get these labels.

I think the comments mostly come from the fact we don't see babies that much any more. It seems rare to see a baby being held upright (worn or in arms). It seems so many of them get strapped in the carseats and shoved into shopping carts like forgotten goods. It's very hard for a LO to really make eye contact or interact with people that way. The result is they don't get noticed very much (except when they cry) and when they do, they don't appear very alert as they can't really see you so easily. It'd be an interesting study to look into if being worn as a baby makes a difference to a young child's vision (and ability to socialize). I have a feeling it does...especially compared to children who spend most of their babyhoods in carseats.

fridgeart · 11-10-2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8ermaiden

Has anyone heard this before? Everyone tells us we're "in for it." (I can't wait!

) Has anyone had a baby like this and how did they end up being? I would love for this to mean she is going to be a curious, inquisitive, into-everything toddler/child. That is just my cup of tea.

She sounds a lot like my DD (now 4), and if so, yes you are in for it, ha ha!

My MW commented on day 1 how alert she was. She hit all her milestones really early and she has a crazy, crazy imagination. She is always ON. She is a handful, but a pretty fun one. I have to say that I am kind of happy my DS (14 mos) is not so alert. I didn't quite reailze how "on" she was until I had him, and I was like "Ohhh, so this is a "normal" baby...how EASY!", ha ha. I'd been gearing myself up for another E.

Enjoy! You will never be bored.