Sleep Tome I

Am I the only one that thought newborns fell asleep when they were tired?!?!?

Upon realizing that this was NOT the case, it seemed to make sense. I have to relearn to fall asleep every few months. I create a new routine. My current one is to lie on my back with a fat fluffy pillow curled under my neck. I then place my flat pillow over my eyes. My arms are straight down my sides and I wiggle my toes and exhale. If this doesn't work, turning on a Harry Potter dvd (any one except Order of the Phoenix) will put me to sleep in seconds.*

I digress.

So, a newborn has to learn to fall asleep. Any literature will tell you this. You start a routine. So, why are you reading my blog? To be honest, it's really hard to tell when you pass the threshold of wanting to hold your newborn 24/7 and realizing you can't lay him down without him waking up. And then you very quickly move into rocking for an hour and attempting to deposit him in the crib without him waking up lest you have to rock for an additional hour. Then any blip that awakens him has him crying because he doesn't know how to fall asleep without your drunk-from-sleep-deprivation rocking.

I don't claim that parenting literature lies to us neophytes. They just don't tell us much needed details. It's true, holding your baby a lot does not spoil them--in the sense that they will begin demanding more allowance and rolling their eyes whenever you try to speak to their fellows-in-diapers.**

Okay, this is why you're reading my blog: Lay him down after nursing. If you can't just let him be because he's so frickin amazing, feel free to stare and stroke his swaddled little self. Just let him lie there--crib, bouncy seat, swing, bassinet, where ever. Let him fuss five minutes--this isn't letting him "cry it out." Believe me... been there, done THAT like four times already. Do a routine. Sure. The books don't say it's necessary at first, but what's "at first." When exactly is the transition from no routine needed to routine needed? Just play it safe. Nurse, rock, lay down.***

As quickly as I learned the pillow on top of my eyes helped me fall asleep--one night that I had wet hair and my husband had the ceiling fan going, so to may your newborn quickly learn that being held is the way to fall asleep. THE ONLY WAY.


*Notice I wrote "turning on a HP dvd." I don't actually have to watch it as I fall asleep before the movie starts--though after I hit play. This works especially well with Sorceror's Stone.

**They can't not roll their eyes of course. Every new parent--whether they admit it or not--is worried that their kid will be cock-eyed since in the early days their eye muscles aren't up to focusing both eyes at once.

***Simple Opinion Alert... Co-sleeping. Makes sense with newborns (as in under 13 pounds--roughly the size experts say babies have the caloric base to sleep through the night without being fed). You can sleep while baby nurses. But beyond that, kick the kid out. You all will sleep better in your own beds.