Coast to Coast with Lyn & Leigh

So Lyn calls me in a bit of a panic tonight. She and I are big ‘Baby Whisperer‘ followers, and she knows how important it is to ’start off how you want it to be’ (begin routines from the get-go). Anyway, for the past few nights Grant had been fussy at bedtime, and Lyn and Michael had picked him up and held him until he fell asleep. Luckily Lyn saw the red flag! She didn’t want him getting used to this and therefore depending on being held - this is crucial ‘learning how to sleep’ time!

We determined that he’s been happiest when held more upright, which also coincides with his increase in spitting up. Might be a bit of a tummy thing or growth spurt - who knows. But relying on being held to fall asleep is a slippery slope. It made me think of back when my babies got head colds. They were so congested and uncomfortable, that I resorted to putting their bouncy chairs IN THEIR CRIB, strapping them in, and letting them sleep peacefully more upright. Yes, I tried the under-the-mattress wedges, but they barely did anything, and my babies kind of slid off them. Perhaps this method would work in helping Grant get back his sleeping groove!

Now, we’re not recommending this long term or anything. But it’s getting Grant back to falling asleep by himself, in his crib, and slightly elevated for his tummy. Seems to be doing the trick - Lyn snapped this photo of him watching his musical fish. The vibrate is on low, which Lyn will click off in a bit, and after his first nighttime feed (when he’s been asleep awhile) she’ll take out the bouncy and lay him down. They’ll be able to transition away from this much easier.

Sometimes what gets you over the hump is not something you’d ever find in a book, but instead, from a fellow Mommy and friend…