Babiease, LLC

Sleep, Glorious Sleep!

Yes, my girls are wonderful!  They are sleeping through the night!!!  I've almost have them sleeping without their dreamfeed.  They go down at night between 6:30-7 and I feed them 2-3 ounces at 10 and they sleep until 6-6:30.  I'm hoping this week to totally drop their dreamfeed but not too quickly as they are just getting over a cold.  All said, it's so nice to have sleeping babies at night!

FACTS:  The Twins are 13.5 pounds born at 33.5 gestation, now 4.5 months old.  They have been sleeping through for about 5 weeks.  We still use the Miracles Blankets and white noise machine!

The dreaded tummy

Yes, that tummy!  So often we forget (or mean to!) how important tummy time is.  You lay your baby down like you are told and they just fussy and scream like it's torture.  Well it may not be fun for them but it is important that they get time to strengthen their upper body, neck and shoulder muscles.  This time on their tummy also helps prevents their head from flattening.

There are many ways to "enjoy" tummy time.  To start, the earlier you start adding tummy time to your routine the better.  Place the baby on a mat on the floor with arms close to their chest.  They may complain but they are do.ing just fine.  Actually when they do start complaining you will see them at work! 

Here are a few ideas to encourage a happy time:

*Roll a receiving blanket under their arms/chest.  The same idea is with a Boppy but not as high and they are able to use their arms to push up.

*Talk to them!  We all need encouragement!

*Place a mirror in front of them.  It will be a good distration.

*Though not as helpful in strengthening those muscles, lie the baby on your chest.  There is nothing like cuddling with a little one.

*Though out the day keep offering little bits of time, 5 minutes here and 5 minutes there will add up.  

Enjoy the fun! 

Oh, Ms. Small!

Meredith F. Small is an anthropologist at Cornell University and is also the author of "Our Babies, Ourselves; How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent" just came out with a new article, Should Babies be put on a Schedule.  Check it out. 

The clearly study shows the benefit of a schedule is a well rested happy mother but yet she rebels to say that baby "neurologically unfinished" and need to be on top of Mom.  If the babies are "neurologically unfinished" as she says they need direction!  Oh, Ms. Small, direction of a schedule meets Mom and babies needs!

They really do!

Four month olds need their sleep!  Just in the past few weeks I have done several consultations for four months olds.  They were sleeping on and off during the day and needed to make the change to an older baby schedule.  With a few changes of moving to a four hour schedule and setting a pattern of naps they are doing great!  The yesterday's twins are now sleeping through the night finally!! 

If you have a four month old let me know if you need assistance!  I'm enjoying the smiles!