Someone's Feeling Sleepy

Things have been going pretty well around here lately, in part, because of this book, The 90-Minute Baby Sleep Program. This book was recommended to me by my friend, Lindsey, while I was pregnant. I felt really strongly that it was really important to help the baby get as much sleep as possible, so I started reading books about babies and sleep before he was born. I read a few, and this is the one that made the most sense to me.

The basic theory is that we all have natural cycles of sleepiness and wakefulness. When babies as born their cycles are 90 minutes long, so every 90 minutes they will have a window when they are sleepy. During this sleepy window is the easiest time to soothe them to sleep. The plan is to note the time that your baby wakes up from a nap (no matter how long it is) then add 90 minutes. This will you give you the time that your baby will want to go to sleep. This works for the first few months and then the babies supposedly start lengthening their wakeful periods, but they still are in increments of 90 minutes (3 hours, 4 and 1/2 hours, etc.).

When Lincoln was born I was anxious to see if he would adhere to these guidelines. It sounded almost too good to be true, but sure enough, just about every 90 minutes he starts exhibiting signs of being tired (for him that is getting fussy or kinda zoning out). So after about 80 minutes I start soothing him to sleep and he usually falls asleep pretty easily. This plan has been keeping me sane for the past few months. Even when Lincoln has really fussy periods I know that they shouldn't need to last longer than 90 minutes. If I've noted the time Lincoln woke up and then am not near a clock when he starts fussing, I'll go and check the time and it is amazing how spot on the 90 minutes it is. On days when I forget to note the time he awoke I feel directionless and frustrated until we can get back on schedule.

Now, I have a feeling that this plan/schedule will get harder to follow the older Lincoln gets, but for now, while he's really little, it has been awesome. Especially as I new parent I feel like this book is almost a cheat-sheet. Now if we could just get Lincoln to stay asleep for longer stretches once he has fallen asleep...

Anyone else have any baby sleep book recommendations?

And now, some pictures of my darling sleeping baby. He was so spoiled over Thanksgiving and almost always napped in someone's arms.

2 Months Old

Dear Lincoln,

Your second month of life has been full of family. We spent two weeks of this month in Utah. You have spent time with every single immediate family member that isn't on a mission - all of mom and dad's brothers, sisters, and brothers-in-law; your grandparents; lots of cousins; and even your great-grandpa! You have been completely spoiled with love and cuddles. I'm not even sure that you remember how to sleep without being held by someone for the entire nap!

You took your first flight this month. I was so nervous and anxious about it, but those are the breaks when none of your family lives even remotely within driving distance. We even practiced sitting in one place for a long time, nursing in public, and our quieting techniques for a week before the flight. I barely slept the night before because I kept picturing horrible scenes starring a hysterical Lincoln. Turns out that I worried needlessly, however, because things went as well as I could have expected. You slept the entire time through security which was a blessing. You peed on me while I was nursing you, which you have never done before, but the wet spot on my shirt was a manageable problem. The lady sitting next to us was very nice and even offered to let me change your diaper on her seat (peed on yourself, of course) when there was no changing station in the bathroom.

We blessed you this month. It was wonderful to be able to have so much family there. Your great grandpa, your grandpa, and your uncles were all there to help your daddy. You were quiet through most of your blessing and only cried at the very end. You are going to be such an amazing kid!

Your first Thanksgiving was overall a success. You cried through half of dinner so I had to leave to nurse you, but we felt so thankful to have you there with us. Later that night we went to our first movie in a theater with you. You were an angel and were just happy on my lap the entire time.

You became such an amazing nighttime sleeper this month and we are so grateful. You sleep consistently for at least six hours before you wake up to eat. You usually go back to sleep for a couple hours after that as well. You even did a ten hour stretch one night! Life for mommy is so much better when she isn't exhausted.

We started trying to train you to take a pacifier this month. We have been hesitant to give you pacifiers before this because we dreaded having you get really attached and then having to wean you off in a few months. We finally decided that the benefit of being able to help you soothe yourself is worth it. You still don't really have the hang of it yet, but you are getting closer.

We took you on your first long car trip this month. We drove from St. George to Centerville, Utah and back a couple days later. It should take five hours, but it took almost double that. You slept for the first while, but after a few hours decided that you hated being in your carseat. We had to pull over and soothe you and let you stretch a couple times. One time you were happy so I switched with my mom and started driving. Right away you became really upset and soon hysterical. My mom could do nothing to calm you, so we pulled over and switched places. As soon as I sat by you, talked to you, and held your little hands (all things my mom had tried) you quieted down. It was an extremely rewarding moment for me. I felt like you really loved me, needed me, and wanted me to be near you more than any other person.

We started taking you to church this month, but I'm not sure you like it. You have had a major blowout every single time and have had to have your clothes changed. I hope you are not trying to send some kind of message..

You took interest in your very first book this month - The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I think you really loved the high contrast illustrations. The trick to keeping your attention is not to sit with the book, but to lie next to you and hold the book above us. After I figured this out we've been doing a lot of reading. You are so darling and really focus on the pictures, kick your legs a lot, and try to vocalize. I really hope you will always love to read.

We love you so much. I love seeing you in the rear view mirror while we are driving around doing errands. When you do take long naps during the day I miss you and have trouble not creeping to your crib to stare at you. You have enriched our lives so much and we are happier than ever.

Love you more than you'll ever know,

Your Mama

For the record:

Weight: 11 pounds, 15 ounces (36th percentile)

Length: 23 inches (31st percentile)

Head Circumference: 15 1/4 inches (11th percentile)