Hellobee

Oh sleep. Is there anything as glorious? Or as talked about by parents?

Although I am more of a quiet observer of the boards here on Hellobee, I think I can say with some certainty that the one of the most commonly talked about topics – perhaps the most talked about even – is how to get your child to sleep. Better, longer, more often, without being held, when to sleep train etc. etc. etc. I understand all too well these concerns and even though I consider myself extremely lucky to have two good sleepers, I still feel like I need to keep up on the tips and tricks just in case tomorrow my little ones wake up and decide “never to sleep again” (I pretty much feel this way every time they skip a nap.)

I was originally going to write this post about both of my little ones, but honestly Lil’ Tea Cup is a little (but thankfully) boring in the sleep department. So instead, I decided to focus on my Lil’ Tea Pot who is a little more of an adventure.

Fast asleep waiting to go home from the hospital

What was Lil Tea Pot’s sleep like as a newborn?

Lil’ Tea Pot was my eat and sleep newborn. If he had a full tummy he was happy and if you were holding him he was fast asleep within minutes.

Has Lil’ Tea Pot always slept in a crib? Did he cosleep or sleep in a bouncer or swing?

Although Lil’ Tea Pot was cleared by the NICU after his birth, he had some serious congestion in his chest as well as reflux troubles. Because of this, the doctors told me to keep him on his side and on an incline until he was cleared by his family doctor. Thankfully he seemed to like being on his side and I became an expert at rolling up a million receiving blankets to keep him from rolling back onto his back or onto his face. However every single time I put him in his bassinet to sleep, I felt absolutely panicked. He slept well – I “slept” with my eyes and ears open. At four weeks, we were told he could sleep on his back but that we should keep the incline. I moved him into his crib at his point, so we used the crib nest idea from Mrs. Blue and this worked well. We dropped the incline at 4 months.

In regard to cosleeping, in the morning hours, before starting a schedule with him, I would often bring him into bed with me to nurse because he would then fall back asleep and it would get us to the time when Lil’ Tea Cup would wake up. Other than that, we has never co-slept. Sadly, neither of my children slept in a swing or a bouncer.

Asleep in his bassinet at a few days old (next to me) in his doctor suggested side position.

Did you swaddle? When did you stop swaddling?

I am a firm believer and follower of Moms on Call which recommend swaddling. Lil’ Tea Pot was swaddled with his arms at his side until he was four months old and began to try to roll over. We dropped the swaddle at night first and then two weeks later for naps. It was a struggle at first and he would take a long time to settle in, but he thankfully was able to figure it out rather quickly.

His last swaddled nap at 4 1/2 months

Does he sleep through the night?

(Please don’t hate me.) From 8 weeks old on, Lil’ Tea Pot has slept through the night. In the beginning it was 8:30 to 7 and has since stretched out from 7:30 to 7. We have had the occasional off night where he will wake up early at around 6 am ish, but he is quite consistent in his night time sleep.

Did he go through any sleep regressions, like the famous 4-month or 9-month sleep regression?

I am knocking on wood as a type this – Lil’ Tea Pot seems to be avoiding any regression up to this point for his night time sleep. His naps however seem to suffer when he is learning a new skill or we are off routine. He has recently started fully skipping a nap once in a while and it makes him a complete bear by bed time. However when this happens usually something new pops up the next day or so. Fingers crossed we avoid the nine month one as well.

Did you ever sleep train or nap train?

I started what I refer to as “gentle sleep learning” at two weeks old. I know this sounds absolutely crazy but it really isn’t. As I said above, I follow Moms on Call and alter it to fit the needs of my family. At the earliest ages, it involves attempting to feed the little one on a timetable as much as is realistic, not keeping them awake too long so they get overtired, putting them down to sleep at set times and putting them down awake. In the beginning, I would go into his room at two minute intervals to calm him if needed and usually he would settle right in. This is still how I put him to bed at 8 months old, although now with a ten minute soothing interval. We have never had to do a true “cry it out.”

I have not needed to nap train, but I do think that we may need to in the future as this seems to be a tougher area for Lil’ Tea Pot. When he doesn’t sleep for his afternoon nap for example, he becomes overtired and struggle more at bedtime as well.

Will he nap anywhere else other than her crib, like in the stroller or carrier?

When Lil’ Tea Pot was very young he would sleep very happily in the carrier. He also was a car seat sleeper. Now if the little guy is not is his bed, there is not shut eye to be had!

Asleep at church in his car seat

When did Lil’ Tea Pot drop from 4 naps to 3, and then 3 naps to 2?

At around 8 weeks, we dropped the fourth nap and then the third nap disappeared around 6 months. This was rather different from my experience with Lil’ Tea Cup, who kept her additional naps much longer. I figure this has to do with being the second child and wanting to be part of the action!

What is Lil’ Tea Pots’s nap routine?

After playtime, we head upstairs to his room and turn on his nightlight. I change his diaper and  slip him into his sleep sack. I then turn out the light and turn on his white noise machine. I give him a quick cuddle and a million kisses before placing him in his crib. I tell him I love him and out I go.

What is Lil’ Tea Pot’s bedtime routine?

At 6:45pm, we head upstairs and both little ones take a quick bath. At 7pm after getting dried off, everyone gets into pjs and clean diapers. We then sit on the glider in the nursery. Lil’ Tea Pot has his bottle while I read both kids a story. My husband then finishes feeding him while I take Lil’ Tea Cup to bed. After Lil’ Tea Pot is done eating, he gets his diaper checked and changed if needed, then his white noise is turned on and he is laid down in his crib.

What is Lil’ Tea Pot’s current schedule?

7:00am – wake up
9:00am –  11:00am Nap 1
1:30pm – 3:30pm Nap 2
7:30pm – Bedtime

If you could change anything about Lil’ Tea Pot’s sleep, what would you change?

I really wish Lil’ Tea Pot would suck his thumb or perhaps take to using a lovey. He is a “noise maker.” Sometimes he moans, sometimes he babbles, sometimes he screams – even when being held as a baby it was how he put himself to sleep. However, I can’t complain too much as  it always calms him down and he is asleep within minutes. It is not however very fun for his big sister next door.

Just for fun a few of his silly poses through the monitor