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Photographic Arts And Design Studio

8 Years Ago

Mad Ramblings Of A Sleep Deprived New Parent!

So, I am the proud papa of a 3 week old baby girl...and am finding my self awake more hours a day than I am used too! Mom and baby are well and we have lots to be thankful for...but I am finding myself awake at all hours of the night, sleeping at strange times, and generally confused with my days and nights (so is the baby)! I am looking for entertainment in the sleep deprived hours of the "misery loves company" type. So to all of the moms, dads,grand moms grand pops, aunties and uncles....

Please share your stories of sleep deprived parenthood. Also, I am accepting any words of wisdom you might have as well! Since I will probably checking in At night, try to keep the stories light...not depressing since I have no problem jumping to scarey conclusions each and every weird noise or cry I hear in the dark.

Thanks in advance....and for those of you getting sleep...enjoy it!

Matt

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Janine Riley

8 Years Ago

Don't worry, "they grow on you " ! Lol. Blessings to you and your family on your bundle of joy .

Bleeding eyeballs, yes I do remember those days. Afraid to look in the mirror in fear of what I would see.
Advice ? Sweatpants - easier to pull up and run after you hear a wail. Catch any catnaps you can of zzz's - even if that's 5 mins. in chair, while you were supposed to be tying your shoes. Never mind, no time for that - get Velcro or slip on sneakers.

No toys that squeak, squeal or whose nose will light up red lying on the bedroom floor - because that will just freak you right out @ 3 AM when you trip on it. And the baby will cry.

Hot meals are over rated. Forget about them until your family is in Jr. School at least.

Grandma & Grandpa, Aunts & Uncles - if anyone one says "Can I help you with something ?" LET THEM . Go take a nap.


 

Gregory Scott

8 Years Ago

When the baby cries nonstop, it's easier to be patient and calm and to sleep well if you take turns wearing foam ear plugs (comfortable, good noise attenuation). Of course, the person without plugs has to get up and feed or change the baby.


Great for long trips in the car, also. Don't feel bad about protecting your ears, it's in your baby's best interest.

 

Mary Bedy

8 Years Ago

At least nowadays you can turn off your phone. Mine was hard-wired into the wall in 1976 and no way to turn off the ringer and my mother-in-law called every afternoon just as I was able to sneak in a nap when the baby was down. It never failed. And I swear, the second kid would wake up if you burped in the next room.

Seriously, though, just remember this is temporary and do the best you can. And congratulations!

 

Abbie Shores

8 Years Ago

CONGRATULATIONS,!!!

 

Thanks all! I am reading this while she is fast asleep in my lap. Wife is sleeping too....but now, I'm wide awake!

I will definitely avoid squeaky toys with light up noses! LOL! We have been overwhelmed by the help (and accepted it) from friend and relatives and that has gotten us some sleep. I have those ear plugs for gigs that land me next too the drummer...great idea! As for the phone...I always forget to turn it off...and it wakes me?.but the baby tends to sleep through the noise...she just generally doesn't sleep at night!

Thanks again!

Matt

 

Dorothy Berry-Lound

8 Years Ago

Congratulations Matt!

 

Patricia Strand

8 Years Ago

Congratulations!!! My son was a very wakeful baby so I hear your plight. What helped a little was a friend's advice to keep the baby vertical during the day. My mistake was always trying to put him down for a nap during the day. Of course, they need naps, but babies will sleep in any position. Eventually, the sleep-through-the-night will come

Enjoy your new baby! Pictures?

 

Valerie Reeves

8 Years Ago

Smiling here just remembering those days. My youngest is only 8, but those early days seems so long ago. And it takes a few years to be able to smile about them! I do very very poorly with sleep deprivation, so I really did not enjoy that time. I DO however, love looking at the photos from then. New babies are the most amazing little creatures.

My only advice is to remember that it really WILL pass and it IS short-lived. Oh, and congratulations!

 

Brian MacLean

8 Years Ago

Congrats.... my children are now older.... My daughter will be 12 in Nov and my son is almost 9 but she was an "extremely" colicky baby and he was "is" a cleft baby so I get how difficult they can be when they are newborns......

 

Janice Drew

8 Years Ago

Matt,

Congratulations on the birth of your sweet baby girl.

My son turns 41 on Wednesday; daughter, just turned 39. I still remember those years like it was yesterday.

My son was up every two hours for months.. He was never a sleeper.

My daughter slept the entire night in the hospital. I can recall the nurses running in to tell me. She was a peaceful baby.

Typically, you see a change in them once they reach 10 lbs. Hoping this holds true for you.

My oldest granddaughter wouldn't sleep in the cradle, bassinet or crib. She would only sleep in the car seat. So car seat it was for three months.

Just enjoy this stage. They grow so fast. Like everyone else stated, accept all the help you can get. With a good night's sleep, you will be able to tackle most day activities.

Babies love motion. Swings, cars, walking...will help them fall asleep. I seem to remember the five S words....swaddling, shushing, sucking, swinging and singing.

Much happiness to you and your family.




 

See My Photos

8 Years Ago

As someone who tosses and turns throughout the night even I was amazed with the one photo of my son sleeping on my stomach as I was dozing as well. Sleep when they sleep.

 

Win Naing

8 Years Ago

my only daughter is turning 18 this year!

When she was a young girl whenever she cry I try to put on music tapes. Especially late evening cry fighting with fatigue. you need to learn have to make baby barb after drinking milk. Help with household duties for your wife. she got more lack of sleep than you. Be patient and kind ( lack of sleep with discord your family somehow).

before she sleep gave her warm bath. When she sleep you tried to rest or sleep. They grow very quick! Sometime read a story book even you think she could not understand. You have to keep your word whatever you say have to follow it up. Daughter cost you more ( just kidding)

Congrats! You will be a real man. you life will change rapidly a lot of scarifies will need from you because she is your blood and flesh!

 

Jani Freimann

8 Years Ago

Congratulations!

My middle daughter, who is now 16, had her days and nights mixed up for a few weeks. She seemed to want to be wide awake from 10pm to 2am. We had a vibrating chair that would help her be sleepy at night. We wore out many, many batteries using that thing. During the day we worked to keep her awake. It seemed like forever, but it was actually a very short amount of time. She eventually got her days and nights back to the right times.

With all my kids I had a pattern of feeding, wake/play time, and sleep. Always and only eating after they sleep. That helped them get a solid sleep and not fall asleep while feeding (which means they get a full tummy and gaining weight properly). You always knew exactly wgat they needed because they were on a schedule. Made for happy babies and happy parents who aren't sleep deprived. Also gets them sleeping through the night sooner (no longer waking up at 2am). Start in the morning and stay consistent with that pattern and I swear the baby will be sleeping through the night before she/he is 12 weeks old. All three of mine did (Everyone I know that did this also had success). My oldest was 4 weeks old, the second pushed it to somewhere between 8 and 12 weeks, and my third was 6 weeks old. Consistancy in the feed/wake/sleep pattern is the key. I started them on this schedule from their first feeding in the hospital (goal to get feedings 3 to 4 hours apart). My middle child was the hardest to get on the schedule. She wanted to eat every hour at first. It took a couple of weeks to get her to 3 hours. It was truly amazing how well this worked.

My kids all took very long naps, 3 to 4 hours in the daytime, and slept 10 to 12 hours at night. That was awesome. I did all my stuff outside the home before their naptime, came home and stayed home for the rest of the day, had lunch, they took their long nap, and so did I. That pattern worked until my oldest was about 6 (my kids are 2 years apart). Believe it or not, you can train them to do this. It takes consistancy and teaching them as soon as possible to be secure in their own beds. Don't sleep with the baby (we started with a basinette in our room and graduated them slowly, a couple months, to their own room and eventually a crib). You'll end up having to wean them off of sleeping with you and the longer you wait, the harder it will be for them and for you.

Happy parenting to you two. Take naps when they nap. Enjoy your baby. Kids are awesome.

 

Karen Cook

8 Years Ago

Our son is a new father as of July 31 to a darling daughter named Charlotte. He has a 10 yr old stepdaughter and an incredible wife who is working on her second master's degree. So, our son is the stay at home dad....and blogging about it.

His insights into pregnancy, delivery, and parenting have had us in tears, doubled over with laughter and remembering those 'days'

http://www.thefearlessfather.com/

 

Thanks again for all of the thoughts and stories. I've been sharing them with my wife when we are both awake at the same time. She appreciates them too.

Sleep when they sleep....I keep hearing it and trying...but there are so many things I need to do around the house too!

And yes, I love looking at and watching this new amazing little creature.

I will,definitely check out the blog too.

I will post a picture soon!

Matt

 

Sarah Lalonde

8 Years Ago

Congratulation!

My spouse and i look forward to starting our own family soon too. They are such blessings. I am hoping to get a basinet to keep beside me and to do a lot of baby wearing. Nature knows best..i agree, try to sleep when they do, or baby wear...where they can sleep or keep you company for the chores.
I find gentle parenting sites to be wonderful help for tips..thete are fb groups too.

 

As I sit here looking at her beutiful sleeping face, I have to agree...magical! As for the bassinet....at night, my little one doesn't want to be separated from mommy or daddy at night yet...at least not for long. So each night we try to put her in with limited success. As for the wearing, she is a little small for the one we have now...but she is almost big enough for it now!

Matt

 

And Karen....I just started reading your sons blog...and laughed hard enough to almost wake little Julia! It's great!

 

Karen Cook

8 Years Ago

Thank you! He has a gift of story telling, that's for sure. We loved reading it too. I have re-read it several times..and laughed as hard each time. So pleased you enjoy it.

 

Dorothy Berry-Lound

8 Years Ago

Karen that blog is great!

 

Karen Cook

8 Years Ago

Thanks Dorothy! We keep waiting for the next installment. I reminded him the other day he was due for a new chapter.... Baby Charlotte was Christened on Sunday...she is Daddy's little girl for sure! Hope everyone is signing up to follow it! He is also on FB and Twitter.

 

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