Thanks Noelle for your reply and suggestions! We don't really have a typical day but I'll tell you what we did today (although, I have to admit I didn't write it down.) First though, I don't have Tracy's 3rd book. What is the title? And Eli is a spirited baby (my husband was right on when he took the test-my view must have been a little jaded because I came up with textbook, but the description was no where near).
Today:
Eli slept 6 hours from 8:45-2:45, ate until 3:15 am, and slept until 6:30 am. He woke me with the sounds of his kicking and squirming and farting (I thought it was a poopy diaper). I picked him up to change him. He was wide awake and cooing and smiling on the changing table. (Some mornings he wakes me with fussing and crying though). I then fed him and he ate only 5 minutes or so. Then he sat on my lap and yawned several times and observed the things going on. We played and read a book. He sat in bouncy seat while I had breakfast, then he ate at around 7:45am. This feeding was more typical in length, around 20 minutes, I think. He feel asleep while feeding. I put him in his crib and he actually stayed asleep (he usually wakes up when I lay him down). He slept 30 minutes, which was long enough for me to shower. We did some more playing and activites and he ate again at 10 am. Eli stayed awake after and we went to our Baby Sign Language class. The class was from 11 to 11:45, and he did well until around 11:30 or 11:40 then he started to get fussy. He was content to rest his head on my shoulder. Fussed when I put him in the carseat, but was asleep before we walked out the door. He stayed asleep for about 30 minutes. Awake time was next, while he watched my husband and I eat lunch. At 1pm he was quite grumpy/hungry and ate. Fell asleep on the way home for a total of 20 minutes. (Now my brain isn't quite remembering all the details!) I fed him again at 2:20 and he stayed awake for activities. At around 4:30 or 5 (maybe it was closer to 4) ate again and more activities I think. At 6 or 6:30ish ate and fell asleep. Stayed asleep in swing for about 45 minutes. Changed into pajamas then sat in swing watching me eat dinner, then showed signs of sleepiness. I put him in his crib and he fell asleep without any sounds or me in the room (this was an absolute rarety that I'm hoping will become a habit).
Yesterday, a few new things happened in regards to napping and sleep. He took 2 naps in his crib, 30 or 40 minutes each (better than last week with some days no naps). The first nap I put him down at signs of sleepiness and he fussed for a few minutes, let out one cry, and fell asleep. Second nap he fussed and cried a little longer, but just as I walked in to pick him up he stopped and within seconds fell asleep. These two occurances never happen! Then when it was time to go to bed (he typically stays up until he falls asleep feeding), Eli showed signs of sleepiness at 8pm & had already eaten but was still awake. I laid him in his crib and fussed then cried. I tried the pu/pd method, and the pat/shhs
and they seemed to be working a little. But what worked was: I tried giving him a pacifier (he's refused a pacifier from the start) and he seemed to like being able to suck on it (however, he can't figure it out-he talks to it, chews on it, and pushes it out with his tongue), and when it would fall out & I'd pick it up he'd open his mouth for it. Since he couldn't keep it in his mouth he got frustrated. I gave him a small blankie and he ended up sucking on that until he fell asleep. I however don't like that because he could choke on it (I watched him the whole time to make sure he didn't & then removed it after he fell asleep).
I'm so relieved to have you here! I know with your help (and others!) that I can do this for my son and myself. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
Amanda
