The Happiest Parents On the Block

August 5th, 2009

Asher has been a weird sleeper. Some nights he does great with just nursing and going back to sleep but we have had no luck putting him in the cosleeper so he’s been sleeping in either the car seat, rocker, brestfriend, or on one of us. Needless to say this is NOT WORKING FOR ME AT ALL WHATSOEVER. I mean come on, its been 2 weeks man – get with the program already.

2 nights ago he slept maybe one hour. All night. When he wasn’t eating he was crying. It was not cool. We figured it was gas since he was grunting and scrunching up his face and body but didn’t really know what to do for him. We were waiting until 8:30 when we could call the pediatrician and then about 7am he fell asleep for a few hours so we didn’t bother calling.

Instead we popped in the DVD of “The Happiest Baby on the Block.” I ordered it on a recommendation from mom’s group (yes, again!) but we never bothered watching it. Since Matthew was heading back to a 12 hr workday today we were a little frantic at the prospect of a)him, having to drive 2 hrs each way and work on no sleep or b)me, alone for 2 long ass days, having to take care of our bundle o’joy who wasn’t sleeping and getting crankier by the second.

Within 2 minutes they were describing our baby. It was amazing. Yes! Our baby grunts too! Our baby looks and sounds just like that! What do you mean its not gas??

HEEEELP UUUSSS!!

The principles are pretty simple. Fourth Trimester, bla bla bla, recreate the womb, bla bla bla we’ve heard it a million times but it took actually seeing the steps in action that made the lightbulb go of over our tired little brains.

We swaddled him up immediately and started to do what they recommend. And WOW. He was out. I mean out. He slept most of the day and better yet he slept for hours last night. Big huge stretches of 3+ hrs, nurse for 30 or so minutes, 10 minutes to get him down then repeat and repeat again. It was a miracle.

I made it through today just fine thanks to Ramona who came over in the afternoon to keep me company and offer moral support. Luckily she is an expert swaddler. Oh and also Dr. Karp.

Lets see if we can do it again tonight buddy!

Entry Filed under: Raising a kid