I just read this article on the four month sleep regression that made me feel a thousand times better. To sum it it up: Babies under 6 months shouldn't be sleep coached yet (the majority of the time). It makes me feel better for humming and harring, and now I can settle back and just wait for this phase to be over, rather than wondering if I should be sleep training for Pi's benefit.
Read it here:
When does the 4-month-sleep-regression-end
Monday 18 August 2014
Sunday 17 August 2014
My baby isn't broken
I really must remember that, though sometimes it is really hard to. During this sleep regression, little Pi seems to go from bad to worse. Up every two hours, then awake every hour from 3am. Sometimes he never actually settles after 11am, unless he is in my arms. His day naps have gone from 40mins, to 30 mins average, but often 20mins. Yesterday he only did 11 mins in one and today his first nap lasted for 6 freakin' minutes (believe me, I tried for 25mins to get him to go back down). This means not only am I not sleeping at night, but the day is one long 'try and either put the baby to sleep, or keep him from crying' saga. Anyone with the advice 'sleep when the baby sleeps' obviously has not met a catnapper...
Because of this, I have been reading "Save our Sleep" by Tizzie Hall. In a nutshell, this book is very routine based. Here is a sample of a routine based on a baby aged 10 weeks until you introduce solids:
Feed times:
7am
11am
3pm
6:30pm
Sleep times:
9am
1pm
Nap times:
4:30pm
Bedtime:
7pm
Waking the baby up at 7am sharp, and dream feeding at 10:30pm.
I have a few problems with starting this routine. Pi is fed on demand, and at the moment he likes it every 2hours or so (sometimes less, sometimes more). This routines also runs off the fact that baby will sleep for 2hours straight, so if I did this today, between 7am and 1pm, Pi would have had 6mins sleep in 6 hours. If baby is under 8 weeks, she also wants to keep these 4 hour feeding routines and express before a feed. Tizzy says that you can still go out but as it takes me an hour round trip to get anywhere, I would either have to be away for 40 mins, or 3 hrs and 40mins, so it's not entirely practical for having a life. The book also uses a bit of 'crying it out' in order to teach the baby to self settle. She says it is only protest cries that you ignore and you can go in for emotional cries, however Pi really only has emotional cries- tears and all- I think it is left over from the colic days..
I realise I am a bit of a softie and following this routine half arsed won't work. That if I could do 5 days of it, then possibly Pi's sleep problems would be solved. That he just needs to have a few days of zero naps for his to realise he needs to nap properly, or not at all. I understand the logic, but it is not a guarantee and I am worried about the effect this will have long term.
The wealth of information out there and on the internet has many babies falling into a one size fits all category. I might not have a magical unicorn baby (that sleeps all the time, takes a dummy and never cries one bit), but my baby isn't broken either. I read that babies often get better on their own, usually at around the 6 month mark. Now is not a good times to train him anyway, as this 'wonder week' means he isn't sleeping like he was.
While I am stressing over putting Pi into a routine, as long as he is happy and healthy, isn't that what really counts. I know I can handle a few more weeks of little sleep, and I know I will handle it much better if I stop worrying about what Pi isn't doing (sleeping), and focus more on what he is doing (being amazing!).
Hats off to all those parents functioning on little sleep. This too, shall pass.
Because of this, I have been reading "Save our Sleep" by Tizzie Hall. In a nutshell, this book is very routine based. Here is a sample of a routine based on a baby aged 10 weeks until you introduce solids:
Feed times:
7am
11am
3pm
6:30pm
Sleep times:
9am
1pm
Nap times:
4:30pm
Bedtime:
7pm
Waking the baby up at 7am sharp, and dream feeding at 10:30pm.
I have a few problems with starting this routine. Pi is fed on demand, and at the moment he likes it every 2hours or so (sometimes less, sometimes more). This routines also runs off the fact that baby will sleep for 2hours straight, so if I did this today, between 7am and 1pm, Pi would have had 6mins sleep in 6 hours. If baby is under 8 weeks, she also wants to keep these 4 hour feeding routines and express before a feed. Tizzy says that you can still go out but as it takes me an hour round trip to get anywhere, I would either have to be away for 40 mins, or 3 hrs and 40mins, so it's not entirely practical for having a life. The book also uses a bit of 'crying it out' in order to teach the baby to self settle. She says it is only protest cries that you ignore and you can go in for emotional cries, however Pi really only has emotional cries- tears and all- I think it is left over from the colic days..
I realise I am a bit of a softie and following this routine half arsed won't work. That if I could do 5 days of it, then possibly Pi's sleep problems would be solved. That he just needs to have a few days of zero naps for his to realise he needs to nap properly, or not at all. I understand the logic, but it is not a guarantee and I am worried about the effect this will have long term.
The wealth of information out there and on the internet has many babies falling into a one size fits all category. I might not have a magical unicorn baby (that sleeps all the time, takes a dummy and never cries one bit), but my baby isn't broken either. I read that babies often get better on their own, usually at around the 6 month mark. Now is not a good times to train him anyway, as this 'wonder week' means he isn't sleeping like he was.
While I am stressing over putting Pi into a routine, as long as he is happy and healthy, isn't that what really counts. I know I can handle a few more weeks of little sleep, and I know I will handle it much better if I stop worrying about what Pi isn't doing (sleeping), and focus more on what he is doing (being amazing!).
Hats off to all those parents functioning on little sleep. This too, shall pass.
Monday 11 August 2014
The 4 month sleep regression- AKA: Why won't you sleeeeeeeeppppp....!
The four month sleep regression sounds a lot like it is a completely separate thing, but in reality, it is just a mix of a possible growth spurt, and a long, long wonder week. Wonder week 19, while not for a few weeks actually starts at week 15. The start of the stormy week has hit Pi hard and fast, and while I didn't think it possible to go into a regression, as he was always waking up several times a night (I still believe these mythical babies that sleep twelve hours 12 night belong in the same category as unicorns), but I certainly got my comeuppance.
Little Pi now fights naps with a vengeance, whether I put him down after an hour, an hour and a half, two hours, two and a half hours. It makes no difference. I was getting him to sleep in under 5mins in his bouncer, with little crying. Now it is screaming, barely goes down in his bouncer, but sometimes has to be rocked to sleep, or will only sleep in my arms if I go up to bed. Talk about a regression. 20 min naps are common, too. Sigh.
As for sleep: he isn't really getting up any more often than before (touch wood), but has lost the ability to put himself back to sleep. So when he wakes up after two hours and wants a feed or a cuddle, it takes up to an hour and 30 mins to put him down. He doesn't even want to suck on my thumb! Which is usually his catnip. I can see the poor little man get so sleepy, roll onto his side as he always does, but then cries after a few seconds as he can't get to sleep and thus rolls back and cries some more. Repeat process; many, many times.
From what I have read, this stage usually lasts from about 2-4weeks, sometimes up to 6. Some people still swear their little one is still there at two years. Whether or not there is a growth spurt at 4 months, I am not sure (some websites say there is, some only at 3 and 6 month) but it is definitely start of the 'stormy' period for the wonder week.
Here is what to expect of the behaviour change:
Demands more attention (check)
Sleeps poorly (Check!)
Clingy (check)
Cries easily/mood swings (check)
Fights naps (CHECK!)
May have difficulty holding head up (not sure about this one)
*I have ordered the book from bookdepository.com ($25AUD), so will do a bit of a write up of what to expect for week 19.
But the main problem is sleep. I have read a great article on Sleep, Baby, Sleep who put it into great perspective. Baby is learning all these skills during the day, and is thinking about them all night and still wanting to practice, so he can't sleep. Like if it's the night before your wedding, or a big event and you are too excited to sleep, and the more you thinks about not sleeping, the more you can't sleep, and then the more frustrated you gets, and then the more you can't sleep. This also sounds EXACTLY what happens to Pi at night; his cries are more frustration and tired.
As I mentioned, I have ordered the book, so I am curious to see how useful it will be. I am hoping if I can help him over these 'leaps' quicker, things will get back to normal.
One thing is still normal though: Pi is still as adorable as ever!
Little Pi now fights naps with a vengeance, whether I put him down after an hour, an hour and a half, two hours, two and a half hours. It makes no difference. I was getting him to sleep in under 5mins in his bouncer, with little crying. Now it is screaming, barely goes down in his bouncer, but sometimes has to be rocked to sleep, or will only sleep in my arms if I go up to bed. Talk about a regression. 20 min naps are common, too. Sigh.
As for sleep: he isn't really getting up any more often than before (touch wood), but has lost the ability to put himself back to sleep. So when he wakes up after two hours and wants a feed or a cuddle, it takes up to an hour and 30 mins to put him down. He doesn't even want to suck on my thumb! Which is usually his catnip. I can see the poor little man get so sleepy, roll onto his side as he always does, but then cries after a few seconds as he can't get to sleep and thus rolls back and cries some more. Repeat process; many, many times.
From what I have read, this stage usually lasts from about 2-4weeks, sometimes up to 6. Some people still swear their little one is still there at two years. Whether or not there is a growth spurt at 4 months, I am not sure (some websites say there is, some only at 3 and 6 month) but it is definitely start of the 'stormy' period for the wonder week.
Here is what to expect of the behaviour change:
Demands more attention (check)
Sleeps poorly (Check!)
Clingy (check)
Cries easily/mood swings (check)
Fights naps (CHECK!)
May have difficulty holding head up (not sure about this one)
*I have ordered the book from bookdepository.com ($25AUD), so will do a bit of a write up of what to expect for week 19.
But the main problem is sleep. I have read a great article on Sleep, Baby, Sleep who put it into great perspective. Baby is learning all these skills during the day, and is thinking about them all night and still wanting to practice, so he can't sleep. Like if it's the night before your wedding, or a big event and you are too excited to sleep, and the more you thinks about not sleeping, the more you can't sleep, and then the more frustrated you gets, and then the more you can't sleep. This also sounds EXACTLY what happens to Pi at night; his cries are more frustration and tired.
As I mentioned, I have ordered the book, so I am curious to see how useful it will be. I am hoping if I can help him over these 'leaps' quicker, things will get back to normal.
One thing is still normal though: Pi is still as adorable as ever!
Thursday 7 August 2014
Atami adventure
Summer in Japan is super hot, and as little Pi is slowly gaining more and more control over his head, we thought it might be nice to take Pi for a swim. The beaches around here are very below average (but then when one hails from a place called 'the Gold Coast' it is hard not to be discerning). We do have a 'beach' right out the front of our house, but it is more rock than sand, and there isn't much water before it drops down quite deep. We also love an excuse for a good road trip.
So as the day was a lovely, sunny 35 degree day, we packed up our belongings and drove to Atami. Atami is technically in Shizuoka (the next prefecture) however it only took us about 45 mins to get there. Little Pi was great and slept the whole way (after about 5 mins of crying), and with the sun gleaming off the ocean it was a beautiful drive.
Atami is a hot springs town, so there are plenty of places to stay, but we were happy with just the day trip. There is a beach there called Atami Sun Beach, which is a man made beach.
The sand is yellow/blackish, and it is in a sheltered cove, so there are no waves. Perfect for a babies first swim.
From the drug store we bought Pi little swim nappies; they only have them from medium size and up, which is 7-10kgs. Pi is only 6.5kgs, but he managed to not 'swim' (excuse the pun) in them. We just put him in a regular long sleeve shirt, as we don't have a baby rashie yet, a hat and slathered the sunscreen on. We really wanted him to wear his sunnies too, but they are a little bit big for him at the moment.
The sunscreen we used is Badger all natural sunscreen, which we bought off i-herb. I wanted to be careful what we were putting on his skin, and this site, safemama, had a big list of baby friendly sunscreens.
The day was, unfortunately, super windy! We had bought our sun-tent, but it was so windy only body weight could anchor it down. The lifeguards (how great that this beach had lifeguards) were telling people to watch out, as tents and parasols were flying all over the beach. Husband went for a dip, but Pi had sand all over him and in his poor little eyes so I wanted to take him away. After we packed up all our gear back into the car, we decided to try the beach one more time, but this time leaving EVERYTHING in our car and just going straight into the water.
It was cold! I am used to much warmer oceans and even the Sea of Japan (in Niigata) was warmer. We dipped Pi in up to his belly, but I thought it must be too cold for him, so we took him out just to sit on the shore line where it was warmer for him to splash his feet in the waves.
While Pi didn't dislike the beach, I think he is way too young to grasp the concept yet. It was still a lovely day out though, and the great little guy slept for most of the way on the drive home.
So as the day was a lovely, sunny 35 degree day, we packed up our belongings and drove to Atami. Atami is technically in Shizuoka (the next prefecture) however it only took us about 45 mins to get there. Little Pi was great and slept the whole way (after about 5 mins of crying), and with the sun gleaming off the ocean it was a beautiful drive.
Atami is a hot springs town, so there are plenty of places to stay, but we were happy with just the day trip. There is a beach there called Atami Sun Beach, which is a man made beach.
The sand is yellow/blackish, and it is in a sheltered cove, so there are no waves. Perfect for a babies first swim.
From the drug store we bought Pi little swim nappies; they only have them from medium size and up, which is 7-10kgs. Pi is only 6.5kgs, but he managed to not 'swim' (excuse the pun) in them. We just put him in a regular long sleeve shirt, as we don't have a baby rashie yet, a hat and slathered the sunscreen on. We really wanted him to wear his sunnies too, but they are a little bit big for him at the moment.
The sunscreen we used is Badger all natural sunscreen, which we bought off i-herb. I wanted to be careful what we were putting on his skin, and this site, safemama, had a big list of baby friendly sunscreens.
The day was, unfortunately, super windy! We had bought our sun-tent, but it was so windy only body weight could anchor it down. The lifeguards (how great that this beach had lifeguards) were telling people to watch out, as tents and parasols were flying all over the beach. Husband went for a dip, but Pi had sand all over him and in his poor little eyes so I wanted to take him away. After we packed up all our gear back into the car, we decided to try the beach one more time, but this time leaving EVERYTHING in our car and just going straight into the water.
It was cold! I am used to much warmer oceans and even the Sea of Japan (in Niigata) was warmer. We dipped Pi in up to his belly, but I thought it must be too cold for him, so we took him out just to sit on the shore line where it was warmer for him to splash his feet in the waves.
While Pi didn't dislike the beach, I think he is way too young to grasp the concept yet. It was still a lovely day out though, and the great little guy slept for most of the way on the drive home.
Sunday 3 August 2014
Nappy (diaper) reveiws: Merries vs Moony
I bought a bag of both to give a good solid test run. Little Pi is in the small size for this review (though, he will move up to medium now). You can read about Pampers vs Moony post here: (Nappy (diaper) reviews- Pampers vs Moony). For the small and newborn size, they only come in the 'tape' type, not the pull up pants type- or at least I couldn't find any pants type.
Both Merries and Moony nappies have very similar qualities:
Merries
Cost: about 16yen/nappy- depends where you buy and if they are on sale.
Softness: 4/5
Rash: none
Fit: the can fall down and give him a 'plumber's crack' at the back. The fit well around the legs though, and they are a longer nappy so easy to put on (not much adjusting needed eg: pulling up at the back, and then the front, and then the back again).
Absorbency: 4/5
Poo leaks: 3/5
Wetness Indicator: Yes
Notes: Merries is a longer nappy, which makes it a little easier to put on. However, it does tend to fall down. It also doesn't have any gathering at the back which means the poo does leak out easier. Merries are also super thin, so fit better under clothes. Merries have great gathering around the legs too.
(you can see the lack of gathering at the back top, but great along the side)
Moony
Cost: about 15yen/nappy- depends where you buy and if they are on sale.
Softness: 4/5
Rash: none
Fit: bigger around the waist (good thing). They also have good gathering around the back
Absorbency: 4/5
Poo leaks:- 3.5/5
Wetness Indicator: Yes
Notes: Moony has better gathering around the back, so it does contain explosions up the back a little better.
Even though I fell in love with Merries when I first tried them (They are as soft as Moony, but a bit bigger seat so easier to put on, they are super thin, and have great gathering around the legs), they tend to fall down on my LO and give him a 'plumbers crack' (no matter how tight they start around the waist. I think it is due to the bigger seat), this means I have had so many poop explosions. Mind you, I live with a little poop monster that detonates several times a day. I go through about three outfits a day (I am constantly scrubbing in the sink- his clothes and mine).
Moony did contain the poop slightly better and so for that reason alone it has my vote. They are still a really great nappy, and it was close competition. Moony are often just a little bit cheaper too, but both are good when they are on sale.
As a side note on the poop monster- we have gone up to medium size now, and bought both 'pants' and 'tape' type nappies. Let's hope the poop stays where it is (I'll review tape vs pants when I have more experience)
Both Merries and Moony nappies have very similar qualities:
Merries
Cost: about 16yen/nappy- depends where you buy and if they are on sale.
Softness: 4/5
Rash: none
Fit: the can fall down and give him a 'plumber's crack' at the back. The fit well around the legs though, and they are a longer nappy so easy to put on (not much adjusting needed eg: pulling up at the back, and then the front, and then the back again).
Absorbency: 4/5
Poo leaks: 3/5
Wetness Indicator: Yes
Notes: Merries is a longer nappy, which makes it a little easier to put on. However, it does tend to fall down. It also doesn't have any gathering at the back which means the poo does leak out easier. Merries are also super thin, so fit better under clothes. Merries have great gathering around the legs too.
(you can see the lack of gathering at the back top, but great along the side)
Moony
Cost: about 15yen/nappy- depends where you buy and if they are on sale.
Softness: 4/5
Rash: none
Fit: bigger around the waist (good thing). They also have good gathering around the back
Absorbency: 4/5
Poo leaks:- 3.5/5
Wetness Indicator: Yes
Notes: Moony has better gathering around the back, so it does contain explosions up the back a little better.
Even though I fell in love with Merries when I first tried them (They are as soft as Moony, but a bit bigger seat so easier to put on, they are super thin, and have great gathering around the legs), they tend to fall down on my LO and give him a 'plumbers crack' (no matter how tight they start around the waist. I think it is due to the bigger seat), this means I have had so many poop explosions. Mind you, I live with a little poop monster that detonates several times a day. I go through about three outfits a day (I am constantly scrubbing in the sink- his clothes and mine).
Moony did contain the poop slightly better and so for that reason alone it has my vote. They are still a really great nappy, and it was close competition. Moony are often just a little bit cheaper too, but both are good when they are on sale.
As a side note on the poop monster- we have gone up to medium size now, and bought both 'pants' and 'tape' type nappies. Let's hope the poop stays where it is (I'll review tape vs pants when I have more experience)
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