So, I've been reading the baby books again - this time 'The Baby Whisperer' by Tracy Hogg. It seems to make more sense and isn't as scary as the infamous Gina Ford. However, I have one stalling point. All the books aim to get your baby to sleep 7pm to 7am.
Now, my own family were never early-wakers, and, my whole life long, I have never risen before 8am (ie 8am in school days). People in America and England get up at 6 or 7am. Not us Celtic types. Nooo. We like to get up about 9 or 10am (or 8am if we have school kids). Likewise, I don't want to have to fall into bed at 9pm, when all the good programmes are starting on TV. I love the quiet hours between 11pm to midnight and beyond.
So, when the baby books tell you to get up at 7am it all seems a bit of a cold shower. Can't we have 8 till 8? Or 8 till 9am? Anyway, Hugh has started to comply by sleeping earlier (currently 8 or 9pm). He then thinks it's fun to wake up at 1am, 5am and then 2 or 3 times after that. I keep looking for answers in The Baby Whisperer, while trying not to read the bit that says 'Get up at 7am'. Is that cheating?
Yikes, it's gone 11pm. You see? I feel pressured to get myself off to bed now, instead of chatting to you folks.
I took Hugh to a local Gaelic-speaking playgroup today. They called him Ùisdean, which is Gaelic for Hugh. I love that name, but no one would ever be able to pronounce it. And I thought my name was tricky. Anyway, I tried to look like I knew the words when everyone sang The Wheels on the Bus in Gaelic.
Okay, better go. Sleep pressure! Gute Nacht. That's German for Good Night instead.
-C
4 comments:
Mostly, it's best to take all those "expert" books with a grain of salt and go with your own baby's flow. He'll sleep through the night when he's ready, no matter what time he goes to bed at night (and you'll celebrate when he does!) You might be able to get him to sleep until 8 am then. I think part of the reason babies often wake so early is because of the light. My two boys still get up at 7 am (or 6 am some days), even though they're now 11 and 14! But now, on weekends, we can sleep in and not worry about them...something to look forward to in the distant future!
Take the baby "expert" books with a bucket of salt. I have two healthy children whose sleeping habits were atrocious as babies, no matter what latest advice I followed. You sound like a great Mum and, as Sue Jackson says, I recommend going with the flow.
Lesley. (Blog reader)
Those books are written with the specific aim of driving parents crazy! Only control freaks (with nothing else to think about) can keep to their regimes...
x
Have to agree with other commentators, do what's working for you and ventually they get the message. All three of mine were treated the same and I have 2 late morning (early afternoon if they can get away with it!) and one 6 am shiny button, who's the only one smiling at that hour of the day!!
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