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Thursday, June 11, 2009

Scheduling baby

My neighbor recommended a great book for me to read called Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg. It is a very helpful book when it comes to how to live with a baby. I have learned over the last few weeks that it can be very difficult at times, like right this moment. It is Dallins nap time but he doesn't seem to want to sleep and so he is up in his crib crying until 12 when I will feed him again... I have gotten better at it but listening to him cry the first two weeks was killer... Once my mom left and I had to deal with Dallin all day on my own I learned how to take the crying a bit better... still not too good at it but I am better!

Anyway, the back of the book reads:
"How to get baby to eat, play, and sleep on a schedule that will make every member of the household's life easier and happier."
" How to interpret what your baby is trying to tell you (so you don't try to feed him when he really wants a nap)"
"How to identify your baby's type - Angel, Textbook, Touchy, Spirited, or Grumpy - and then learn the best way to interact with him"
"Tracy's Three-Day Magic - How to change any and all bad habits (yours and the baby's) in just three days"

I really like the book because she is an advocate of putting baby on a schedule from Day 1. When my mom was here she told me to do the same thing because there are so many people out there who do on-demand feeding and just don't have time to enjoy life and baby because they are feeding him all the time! Babys love to have a routine because it helps them to know what to expect. I believe she says to put the baby on a 3 hour schedule, that way you get a while to yourself. The baby eats for 25 to 40 minutes, then has 45 minutes of activity, 15 minutes to fall asleep (unless your baby decides to cry the whole time like Dallin is doing right now) and a nap of 30 minutes to an hour.

Now, a 3-hour schedule lined out like that sounds nice but at the same time it is still tiring so my mom suggested a 4 hour schedule. The book said that after a eating a baby can go 2 1/2 to 3 hours till the next feeding. Dallin has been a star and even when I do feed him (about 3 hours later) he doesn't seem all that hungry. So, a 4-hour schedule works for us. He stays awake longer than 45 minutes though. Usually an hour and a half. It is so hard to keep that baby entertained at his age because I just can't seem to find enough things to do but he loves to be active and to jump around. I can't do it for that long but when Chris comes home in the evenings he plays with Dallin, jumping him around and playing with him and Dallin loves it.

So, I highly recommend the book for anyone expecting a child. I won't do some of the things that the book says to do because I feel silly... but I understand why she says to do them. The one thing I didn't like about the book is that she never once said that sometimes babies just cry, and nothing seems to help them... she doesn't give advice on that but that is the one thing I would love to get help on!

The other thing I want to get help on is something to do with me. I have been reading online on how to produce more milk. Lots of websites say that many mothers are afraid they don't produce enough milk to meet their babies needs but I think that I am really one of those mothers. It is really hard for me to keep up my milk supply. Last night I fed Dallin and after he ate I tried to pump to see if there was anything left in there and there wasn't! Apparently he gets like no milk from me and so I am trying to do different things to increase my milk so he will have more to eat. The part that I don't understand though is that he never seems overly hungry when I finally do feed him! What is up with that! Anyway, if anyone has any ideas on how to increase milk supply, I would love to hear them. He has a doctors appt. on Monday and we will see how his weight gain is and if the doctor thinks that he is thriving. If he isn't I will probably have to do supplemental feedings or switch to a 3 or even a 2 hour schedule... I hope not... Any advice?