Saturday, April 24, 2010

Sweet 16 & been kissed lots

This is Kien's 17th week in the world. As each week passes we notice new things he can do. Since last week he started shifting his weight back and forth when held on his feet. Last week he also went 6 1/2 hours between his dreamfeed and the next feed (the very first time ever). He did however wake up in between that time, but he did self settle back to sleep.

Managing naps are still interesting. His awake time tolerance is stretching out; I am transitioning him from 90 minutes to 105 minutes. It really is a juggling act to make sure he wakes, feeds, burps, has a clean nappy, plays, winds down, and falls asleep all within the allotted timeframe. If I get the timing just right I will get a longer nap from him, but it does mean watching the clock like a hawk and hoping he will fall asleep within the budgeted 15 minute window from the time I put him into his cot. Yes it sounds ridiculous, but it is the only method I know when dealing with a short napper.

We went to visit my parents today. Kien was tired (since he only had 2x 30 minute naps in the morning), but he still managed to give them lots of smiles.

When we got home he went straight to bed, and proceeded to wail; after he had 165 mls he looked like he wanted more, and he was also half asleep. As soon as I put the next bottle into his mouth he was wide awake, and only sucked down another 15 mls. Then he kept smiling at me so I left him in his cot for 30 minutes babbling and laughing to himself. We then got him up and played for 20 minutes before trying for another nap. I finally had to rock him to sleep; after > 3 hrs of being awake all sleep training methodology goes out the window and I do whatever it takes to get him to sleep. So I'm still here sitting next to his cot over 2 hours later, transitioning him through every 20-30 minute jolt (when babies are over tired they wake up at these jolts and can't get back to sleep). At least it gives me time to write my blog :-)

This is a cute little clip. Notice how right at the end he just stops - that is why I have to clock watch, because when he switches off like that he should be in bed. For most babies this is one of their sleepy cues and there is a 5-10 minute window to get them into bed, but for Kien it means the window is closed. I put him straight to bed, and he napped for 30 minutes.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

What a difference

I can't believe it - last night Kien went to bed without a squeak. He had his bath, massage and bottle as usual, and then I wrapped him up and placed him in his cot. At this point he would be crying, but last night he just burrowed his face into his lovey, and I gave him a kiss and left the room. That was it! He stirred at 11:30pm and I gave him his dreamfeed, and again at 2:51am for another feed. He slept through until 6am, and I thought he might go back to sleep again so left him in his cot until 6:30am babbling and laughing to himself. Wow is all I can say. What a difference from a week ago.

His daytime naps are still brief, but I have read that between 0-3 months is for establishing nighttime sleep and between 3-6 months they sort out their day sleeps. I do really hope he gets better at naps because right now I have to give him 4-5 naps per day to make up the cumulative hours. Most babies at his age are having two 1 1/2 - 2 hour naps and a catnap (30 mins) in the late afternoon. Kien is still only sleeping 30-45 minutes at a time, and I can't seem to transition him anymore. But he always wakes up from a nap and smiles at me. He is just a short napper baby :-)

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Transformed

What a difference now that the pacifier is gone! The pick up/put down technique really works. Last night Kien had his dreamfeed at 22:00, and he slept through until his need feed 4 hours later. He woke himself up at 5am because his arm came out of the swaddle, so I gave him his feed after I re-wrapped him. He went back to sleep until 6:30 (his arm came out again), so I tucked it back in and he slept for another 30 minutes.

This morning he went down for his nap so well. I didn't even have to pick him up at all. I left him in his cot protesting (load moan without any tears, stops, starts again, and peters out after a few minutes). He is now fast asleep. Yesterday he actually transitioned himself into the next sleep cycle; for his last nap he did one and a half hours...he has only done that a few times since sleep training. I am so chuffed.

I've also transitioned him to a 4 hour feed cycle. Staying on the 3 hour cycle did not make much sense since he wasn't hungry enough to do a full feed, and would really struggle and fight. So now he is having between 120 - 160 mls of milk at each feed - a huge improvement.

So all round Kien has blossomed, and my life his been transformed!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Day 1 Operation Un-plug

Oh boy, last night was horrendous! Kien woke up again and again and again for the pacifier - 10 times from when I put him to sleep in his cot until I gave in and took him to my bed at 00:20. Then once again before his 2am feed, and from 4am it was in and out constantly until I fed him at 5:41am. Then he wouldn't go back to sleep until 7:14am, and was awake again at 7:55am. The culprit is the dummy. He is reliant on it to fall asleep, so can't make it through to the next sleep cycle without it.

Today I was able to get three 45 minute naps from him. It was a challenge.

I've just now finally got him to sleep for the night. He cried so much. I volunteered Jef to do the night-shift because I am feeling a bit loopy now with the severe lack of sleep. Tomorrow I should be recharged.

Good luck to Jef for tonight with "pick up/put down" method.

Friday, April 9, 2010

A day in the life...

Just for laughs this is what my last 24 hours consisted of:

8th April
19:00 bedtime
20:00 replace pacifier
21:55 dreamfeed
22:25 replace pacifier
23:54 replace pacifier
9th April
00:09 replace pacifier
00:23 replace pacifier
00:41 replace pacifier (I had enough of this dance so took him to my bed)
00:50 replace pacifier (gave him some milk as he may have been hungry, but he wasn't)
02:48 feed
04:58 feed
06:22 replace pacifier (kept spitting out and whining every 5 mins)
06:48 feed (our day begins)
08:29 – 09:02 nap 1 (I had laid down hoping for at least 45 mins)
09:02 – 09:31 putting back to sleep
09:31 – 10:28 nap 1 continues
10:37 feed
11:56 – 12:51 nap 2 (10 mins putting to sleep, 20 mins on/off patting until deep sleep)
13:33 feed
14:40 – 15:47 nap 3 (25 mins putting to sleep)
15:47 – 16:26 nap 3 continues (with me holding his arms and legs through jolts, and replacing pacifier)
16:35 feed
17:30 bath & massage
18:15 bedtime

Last night was another typical one with my longest stretch for sleep being 2 hours 10 minutes. Today however was quite a good day since Kien managed 4 hours 11 minutes of cumulative nap time. Here's hoping I get 3-4 hours of sleep tonight :-)

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Peas in a pod

Kien and his dad do enjoy each other's company. It is so much fun watching them play.

Yesterday I took Kien to the Plunket family centre in Grey Lynn for a baby massage class. He does enjoy getting his massage every night after a bath. As you can see Kien is the only baby that is completely chilled out. One baby was asleep, and the rest were having meltdowns.

Over the last few days he has perfected rolling over. So whenever I get him to do tummy time it will not last any longer than 30 seconds. While I was massaging him at the class he kept rolling over too.

Today Kien discovered the art of blowing. He continued to do this all day, which made me laugh, and of course he giggles when I laugh at him.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Middle of the night adventures

So here I am once again; its almost midnight and I've just given Kien his dream feed (which he gets every night around 11pm). Usually he is fast asleep after this feed, but in the last week he has been very restless and I've had to give him his pacifier. However what is happening now is that he is having issues with his pacifier. We've purchased a bigger (and different shaped) ones but he is still struggling. He opens his mouth a lot wider than is necessary to suck it and of course he can't hold it, so it keeps dropping out. I've decided that perhaps its better that I don't keep persevering. So I've introduced him to a 'lovey' which I've cuddled in bed for a week to make it smell like me. That's him cuddling it.

I now have to be patient and pat him whenever he wakes for his pacifier (which can be quite a lot). I'm hoping this will not go on for too long! Lets see how it all pans out in the next few days. When will I ever have a full nights sleep again?

02:02am - spoke (or rather blogged) too soon. He refused his milk and kept whining. As soon as the pacifier went in he went to sleep. I guess the pacifier is staying a little longer until I un-swaddle his hand and he can self soothe.

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