For the sake of your sanity, do not buy toys which make annoying electronic noises, especially those which pronounce Z as "Zee"
And for the record, I'd just like to say if anyone EVER buys her those shoes which squeak with every step taken, they are going straight in the bin. You have been warned!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
New tricks
As far as development goes, at 16 weeks, Abigail is a textbook case. In the last couple of weeks she has learned to roll over. This is quite entertaining during the day, but less so on a night when she wants to practice her press ups at 4am. I usually have to turn her over onto her back a couple of times a night at the moment. It's not that I'm obsessing about her sleeping on her front, but sometimes she screams, as though she's stuck! Usually in the morning we find her asleep on her belly anyway. I'm sure the baby police would tell me this is all wrong, but hey, she's got strong neck muscles and anyway, what am I supposed to do?!
This month was also a major developmental milestone for us as parents. It wasn't until my friend, Suze, came round to help out that I realised I was a living in a state of permanent tension watching the clock. Aaggh! She's been up for 2 hours! Must get her down for a nap before she gets over-tired. But will she sleep and how long will it take to get her to sleep? And how to get her to sleep? All these baby books are full of useful (if patronising) advice about routines, but very few of them offer any practical advice on how to settle a baby.
I always had this nagging doubt in the back of my mind that I could never settle my child. No wonder nap times had become a battle. Suze pointed out that Abigail tensed up every time we took her to her room. "Take a deep breath and relax your shoulders" Suze suggested. "Don't just try and stick her in the cot, have some cuddle time to wind down and when you swaddle her up talk to her, explain what you're doing". Finally, on the subject of the shusshing and patting, a favourite technique of the Baby Whisperer, Suze said "I prefer to sing, shusshing is so boring!"
I cannot tell you how useful this bit of free consultancy was. I now approach nap times with a totally different mentality. For the first time I feel that I'm really able to enjoy my baby. I don't have that all-consuming tension that the whole thing is out of my control. Of course, I'd be lying if I said I was always a picture of calm; that's not quite in my nature. But just the simple act of going about things with a smile on my face and humming all sorts of silly baby songs has lifted my mood considerably.
This month was also a major developmental milestone for us as parents. It wasn't until my friend, Suze, came round to help out that I realised I was a living in a state of permanent tension watching the clock. Aaggh! She's been up for 2 hours! Must get her down for a nap before she gets over-tired. But will she sleep and how long will it take to get her to sleep? And how to get her to sleep? All these baby books are full of useful (if patronising) advice about routines, but very few of them offer any practical advice on how to settle a baby.
I always had this nagging doubt in the back of my mind that I could never settle my child. No wonder nap times had become a battle. Suze pointed out that Abigail tensed up every time we took her to her room. "Take a deep breath and relax your shoulders" Suze suggested. "Don't just try and stick her in the cot, have some cuddle time to wind down and when you swaddle her up talk to her, explain what you're doing". Finally, on the subject of the shusshing and patting, a favourite technique of the Baby Whisperer, Suze said "I prefer to sing, shusshing is so boring!"
I cannot tell you how useful this bit of free consultancy was. I now approach nap times with a totally different mentality. For the first time I feel that I'm really able to enjoy my baby. I don't have that all-consuming tension that the whole thing is out of my control. Of course, I'd be lying if I said I was always a picture of calm; that's not quite in my nature. But just the simple act of going about things with a smile on my face and humming all sorts of silly baby songs has lifted my mood considerably.
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