Friday, September 9, 2016

Bending the Rules

I think it is safe to say that I have relaxed a lot as a parent this third time around.  Things like
asking my sister to change her clothes when she first came to meet Owen because she had
been on a germ-filled airplane (something I will never live down) are in the past.

I've been a lot more lenient on the baby experts' "rules" with Miles.  I've learned doing what I
need to do to keep myself sane and rested is most important, and he will be fine.  Take his
sleeping arrangements for example.  He is totally different than my other two.  I used to
swaddle them like mummies with their arms tucked in tight.  He wants no part in that.  He
prefers his arms up by his face, so I haven't swaddled him since his first few days home.  

This made things difficult though because he didn't sleep very well at night if he was laying
flat.  He would flail his arms and wake himself up.  Yes, the startle reflex does in fact exist.
I decided to put him in a rock n' play to sleep, despite my fears of him having a hard time
transferring to the crib.  He loves it!  He's warm and cozy and sleeps on an incline.

Fast forward to him being almost 3 months and needing to move into the crib.  He wakes up
the second I lay him down.  Which brings me to my initial point.  Never in a million years
would I put a pillow in the crib with my other two.  I don't think Owen had a pillow until he
was almost 3!  And a loose blanket??  No way!!  Suffocation hazard for sure!  Yet here is
how I am debating letting Miles sleep in the crib.


A nice fluffy (yet still pretty flat) pillow to remind him of the rock and play, and a thick cozy
blanket.  I still think it is going to be an adjustment, but I'm willing to bend the rules
a little to make things easier on everyone.

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