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Offline mxv124

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becoming a human pacifier & pat/shush as a prop
« on: September 08, 2005, 05:12:08 am »
Hello!

New mom here.  So far EASY has been working well for us.  We started last Friday (9.2.05) for the Labor Day weekend when both my husband and I were at home. 

My husband had to go out of town Tuesday night, came back Wednesday.  I had trouble putting the LO to sleep especially at night when I literally had to make myself the human pacifier.  I tried giving him a Soothie but he'd just spit it back out.  Could it be he sensed his dad not being there??

Also, when is  pat/shush considered a prop??  (or is it ever).  So far I've had about 2-3 nap times where the LO fell asleep outside the crib (in my arms) while I was doing pat/shush....

Any insight/advice is greatly appreciated! 

Thanks in advance!
Monica
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Offline marlowho

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becoming a human pacifier & pat/shush as a prop
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2005, 00:45:10 am »
Welcome and congrats!  Good to see another Georgia gal on the boards!

I dont' know if my advice is true Baby Whisperer- but I have a feeling that you shouldn't worry as much about this at this point since your lo is so small.  -I've noticed distinct changes when both of my girls hit the 3 month mark. 
Definitely keep trying - I think b/c we had a training in place/in progress, once Noel hit the 3 mo. mark, she just finally "got it." 
But i hope you get some more suggestions.
I also don't think of pu/pd as a prop b/c the idea behind it is that hopefully you won't have to do it forever.  (There should be a day when you won't have to pu/pd- in an ideal world, of course!)
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-Marlo, mommy to
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Offline GG

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becoming a human pacifier & pat/shush as a prop
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2005, 03:31:25 am »
Monica, you should be doing pat/shh in the crib, not in your arms.  That way you don't become a human pacifier.  ;-)

Try that and let us know what happens.

(btw... I'm a "Georgia" gal, but just by name, not location ;-))
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Offline mxv124

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becoming a human pacifier & pat/shush as a prop
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2005, 05:29:01 am »
Hi Ladies!

Thanks for the input! 

I'm happy to say that the human pacifier incidents have not occured for a few days now.  We're now back on track with our EASY routine.

Pat/shush is still a small problem because my LO gets too comfy while I'm holding him against my chest to calm him down.  Once I put him down in the crib, he'll jolt awake and begin fussing while inside.  However, I'm thinking that I may need a longer pat/shush period than what Tracy has prescribed in the book (I think its 20 min??). 

Inspite of this, my LO is sleeping more soundly and waking up more rested than before I started EASY....

Go Georgia! (the state and the poster with the same name)

Thanks again!
Monica
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Offline GG

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becoming a human pacifier & pat/shush as a prop
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2005, 13:20:39 pm »
Great job!

By the way, your daughter is adorable!  Be sure to post photos of her in the Photo Gallery section, to 'show her off'.  ;-)
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Offline kzener

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becoming a human pacifier & pat/shush as a prop
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2005, 15:30:57 pm »
My DS is only 2 months old so I'm certainly not an expert but this is what we did:

Before starting the Shhh/pat, we struggled for a few weeks getting him to sleep in his crib and I don't think we even had any bad patterns to break, we were just inconsistent.

1. Swaddle
2. Sit in rocking chair...don't rock.  Started with having him nuzzle into my chest so I could get to his back and Shhhh/pat when he was crying/kicking. At that point the pacifier also channeled his sleep fighting energy into sucking.  Eventually he preferred laying in my arms looking up and rarely needed a shhh/pat there.  Sometimes I held his hand or put my hand on his chest as extra comfort
3. When his eyes got really heavy and closed for a bit I would put him in his crib (I waited until his eyes were closed for a bit because it got him extra relaxed and he still opened his eyes when I placed him in the crib to know he was there)
4.  I stood for just a few seconds to make sure he was settled and then sat on a stool next to the crib so that I was out of his sight.  If he needed it, I would drape my arm over the crib and shhh, pat when he started crying.  If he really got crying I would pick him up, but he most often settled down with the shhh/pat and pacifier. I would continue the Shhh/pat after he stopped and then stop the shhh...but keep patting....then stop patting.  (Eventually he got to the point where I rarely shhhed, and I just put my hand on his chest with no patting.)
5.  I would sit there for a very long time to catch the jolt..or to start over ...sometimes this whole process took up to an hour.  I kept my sanity by starting a good thriller book as I sat on the stool.  Once he appeared to be in a deep sleep I would leave the room.

After about 3 weeks of this I'm happy to report that we now swaddle, sit in a chair for 10-15 minutes, put down in crib (sometimes eyes closed but awake, sometimes with eyes open) and then walk out of the room. 

I was concerned about the pacifier being a prop but just when I think he is relying on me too much to put the pacifier in his mouth when he wakes up, he'll change and not need it for that nap.  So..I'm not worrying about the pacifier anymore.

Also...we stayed consistent and never resorted to any other method.  It got really frustrating at times (lots of tears on my part) but having a plan with your husband to relieve each other helps a lot.

I hope that helps!
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Offline mxv124

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becoming a human pacifier & pat/shush as a prop
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2005, 02:44:06 am »
Hey everyone!

Sorry for not clarifying this but my LO is a boy...LOL! but I'll be sure to post his picture in the gallery.  Thanks to GG for the head's up.

Thanks for the great input!  My main struggle right now is maintaining the consistancy of the routine.  My dad has been in town for several weeks helping out while hubby is traveling for business and of course, he's got his own advice for settling baby down (i.e. co-sleeping!!).

In-laws in town this weekend and of course grandma and grandpa totally overstimulated him when it was time for bed.

Keep on truckin' they say so I will...
Take care!
Monica
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Mom to Rajan born 7/22/05
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