This post, inspired by MG’s post. I did all the wrong things mentioned in the book, and yet I have never doubt the way I put my kids to sleep. It just never cross my mind. I walked, nursed, rocked, pat my kids to sleep.
When JS was still very young, she needs her “chut chut” (pacifier) to fall asleep and she has 2. One to suck and another she would hold and play with till she fell asleep. And everytime when I put her to bed I would sing her lullaby and it just natural for me to pat her on the back following the tempo. It has been going on like that for I don’t know for how long, but eventually she learned to fall asleep by herself. Eventhough now she still needs me to be beside her but she doesn’t need the patting, walking and rocking anymore.
As for WH, he needs to be nursed to sleep from day 1. That’s because I nurse on demand and when he was very young, I would wear him in the sling in the house (that time got no maid, was on my own for about 6 months) and he would fall asleep in the sling when I am doing my chores around the house. The maid still wears and walks him around to put him to sleep now whenever I’m not able to nurse him. Sometimes when WH is over stimulated and nursing lying down just wouldn’t do, I will wear him down. He will almost instantly fall asleep in the sarong sling.
I have never considered these tasks as taxing and neither have thought that these ways were wrong. The cry out method just isn’t in my consideration. I don’t know any one sane can tolerate a kid to cry for more than 5 minutes and does nothing. I certainly couldn’t and so does my dear hubby or anyone in my family. I just dont have the heart to leave my kids crying and not rush to hug and comfort them. It just isn’t a natural thing to do. No matter what I does to make the kids asleep, my aim is to have a content, well-rested, alert, calm and happy baby. Sleepless night?? When a baby is content and when you co-sleep, I think sleepless night is just a very minor thing that doesn’t happen very often. Anyway it’s just parts and puzzles of motherhood. At least we are luckier than our mothers, they need to wake up to change nappy many many times a night and yet they got through without complaint.
March 31, 2006 at 9:53 am |
Yes, I think our sleep is better and theirs too when we respond to them immediately.
April 4, 2006 at 7:19 pm |
I use the sling as well but mostly when we are outside having dinner. I find that my boy sleeps better in the sling. However, I can’t do house chores with him in the sling even when I pick up the laundry. How do you manage to do it? Maybe it is the way I put him in the sling?