How to make a baby sleep…don’t tell DHR
A few weeks ago Tony and I were up for one of our nightly feedings. (yes I would eat too…a practice I have stopped) Anyway, he was almost asleep, and I stood up to take him to bed, figuring I would have to do some swaying, patting, and humming. As I stood up, I guess my dunlap syndrome belly pinched his foot and he went off. It sounded like I had jerked his arm off. I felt horrible…and he was just screaming. Oh damn…but then, when the crying stopped after a couple minutes, he was asleep…and stayed that way. I felt bad that i had caused him pain…or scared him…but man I was happy he was asleep.
So last night, he ate, it was 2:45, and I was trying to put him down. He was squirming but mostly asleep. I had swaddled him and he had pulled his Houdini impression and already was free. I thought if I could get a pacifier in him, he would calm down and drift off. Unfortunately, I dropped the pacifier right on his forehead, and it sounded like I had ripped his bottom lip off…but after a about a minute and a few pouts, he was out, and sleep well.
And now I know how to put the baby down…pain. Maybe it’s a defense mechanism…like playing opossum. “If he thinks I’m asleep, he won’t hurt me anymore.” Now, you may not be heartless enough to try this out, or you might be afraid department of child services will dome take your child…but at least you will be well rested.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
OMG…this is SO true.. When Ben was learning to walk he would fall and hurt himself all the time. Sadly, I knew that if it were close to nap time and he fell down and screamed bloody murder for a minute…he’d go down easy for a nap. Must be the screaming, gets ‘em all worn out!…and I swear I never tripped him
February 21st, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Sudie totally emailed me and said to pinch Tony.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:45 pm
My father used to take us for ice cream at night, when my mother worked at a Friendlys. That way we would see her just before we went to bed. However it also meant we were on a sugar high at 8pm. So his infameous solution was to start us racing around in the house and then TRIP US! I kid you not. We would cry ourselves to sleep, using up the end of the ice cream energy. He still swears that this was a good idea and NOT child abuse.
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:11 pm
1) Sarah is a hater!
2) OMG Lisa, that is the freaking funniest thing I’ve heard all week! Good times…I’ll have to remember that when my inlaws have been shoving brownies down my kids’ throats!
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
It doesn’t work on 7 year olds…by the way…