Sleep Study Night One

Although Caden did not sleep in his room all night last night it was still a better night. He went to bed at 8:30pm and did not wake up until 12:45am! That is just over 4 hours, which was great! I only got about 3 hours because I didn't go to bed right away, but it was a start.

I ended up bringing him to my room because the hand held monitor light was yellow, which meant the batteries were dying. Of course, the night I decide to keep him in his room I have no extra batteries. I nursed him and he was sleeping again by 1am. He woke up at 3:15am and again at 5:45am. Both times I think he was just restless and wanted to nurse again. He did wake up at 6:30am to eat and we stayed up.

He took 3 really good naps today, which allowed me to clean house and do laundry. I even took a 2 hour nap with him.

I have new batteries, so we will try again tonight.

Sleep Journal 8/29

TNS = total (hours) nighttime sleep - 9 hours and 15 minutes
NOW = Number of night wakings - 3
LSS = Longest stretch of (uninterrupted) sleep - 4 hours and 15 minutes
TDS = total (hours) daytime sleep - 4 hour and 15 minutes
T24 = total (hours) sleep in a 24 hour period - 13 1/2 hours

Information a-holic

I think I am an information junkie. Why do I feel the need to research everything? Well, not everything, but anything baby related. I've been this way since I found out I was pregnant and it hasn't stopped. My most recent adventure in research is all about getting Caden to sleep through the night. I cannot just wait for this happen any longer. I'm a zombie. By the afternoon I can barely focus or see straight. My eyes cross and I cannot concentrate on anything. That doesn't go well with my job.

In my opinion, there is no reason Caden should be getting up as much as he does during the night. He gets cereal twice a day, plenty of naps, a strict bedtime routine with bedtime nursing and formula to top him off. I really believe he finds comfort in nursing throughout the night. I want him to feel comfort, but we need to find a new comfy for him.
Back to my research. I've been looking into different CIO methods and different viewpoints. I know some people are against CIO and others say it works like a charm. Every parent has something that works for them, and that's great. I have no judgement. I would say that I lean towards attachment-parenting, but not 100%. I guess I am just somewhere in the middle.
I've come across 3 different methods and I'm falling towards the Ferber method. However, knowing myself I'll end up doing the no-cry method:

Ferber - Ferber believes you should follow a strict bedtime routine (as they all do) and when it is time for bed, you put your baby in his crib whether they are awake or half asleep. If your baby fusses/cries whatever,don't go in right away. Hold off at least 5 minutes or so before going back into this room. He strongly believes in not picking up your child, but rather pat them and shhh them softly. When your baby fusses again, wait longer than 5 minutes before going back in again. Each time you have to go in the room you are supposed to make the wait time in longer intervals.

No-cry method: This method is very similar to the Ferber method, but I believe they recommend soothing your baby so they are 1/2 asleep. The main difference is when your baby cries you immediately pick your baby up and soothe them and put them back in their crib. You keep doing this all night until they fall back asleep. (Sounds so vary exhausting).
Weissbluth: Then you have the Weissbluth method. He believes in the extinction method where at bedtime you put your child in the crib, leave the room and do not go back.

I can say that the Weissbluth/extinction method is not for us. I do believe that a baby needs the comfort of their parents as a sense of security and I could not deny that to Caden.

Once again, another trial begins tonight.

I almost forgot - I am going to be keeping a sleep journal for Caden. Feel free to ignore as I post them.

TNS = total (hours) nighttime sleep
NOW = Number of night wakings
LSS = Longest stretch of (uninterrupted) sleep
TDS = total (hours) daytime sleepT24 = total (hours) sleep in a 24 hour period

I'll start with tonight and update tomorrow.

Look what I found!!

My little boy has FINALLY found his feet! I've been waiting for this to happen and it happened out of nowhere. I was feeding him, but he was way more interested in his feetsies. Now he never lets go of them and diaper changes are becoming a challenge. Haha!

Visit with Grandma and 4th Month Appt

We had a GREAT visit with Grandma this last week. She flew home early this morning :( I love seeing my mom - it's just so hard when she leaves. I get so emotional and on the verge of tears until they finally break the lid. It's funny how when my parents first moved to SC and my mom would be sobbing when I left and I would comfort her - now the tables are turned. I wished my parents lived closer. Having a baby makes even harder to be away from them. I am planning a trip with Caden October 1st to fly out to see my parents :) Then we'll all be going back for Christmas.

My mom was in 7th heaven seeing Caden. She fed him his cereal every night and read him a book before bed. I felt really bad because Caden is in this phase of just wanting Mommy and Daddy, so he cried a lot when we weren't around. He did give his Grandma some big smiles and lots of coos last night. This phase literally came out of nowhere. He is going to Tammy's tomorrow and Friday, so hopefully he is good for her. My mom's flight was delayed Wednesday night, so my Aunt graciously picked her up from the airport around 2am. They visited my Grandpa the next morning and drove out from Canton to my house in the afternoon. We mostly stuck around house, but we did do a little shopping and went back out to see my Grandpa on Sunday. He looked good and LOVED seeing his great grandson.

***

Caden had his 4 month appointment today. He weighed 15lbs even! He has pretty much doubled his birth weight (7lb 7oz). He was last weighed one month ago today and he is up 1lb 9oz. He is 24.5 inches long; a 5 inch growth since birth. His head is measuring 16 3/4. The doctor said he is average for his weight and just under average for his length. She wasn't worried and said he is well proportioned. When the doctor came in Caden thought he would show off and roll over. I've mentioned before that he can only roll from back to belly and the ped said that is the hardest part - rolling from tummy to back is easy. She was very impressed and said he is developing VERY well. She gave us the go ahead to start solids by giving him cereal twice a day. After a few weeks we can introduce a veggie. We have been giving him cereal (when he'll take it) once a day, but we are going to start upping it to twice a day starting tomorrow.

We also discussed Caden's sleeping habits; or lack there of. She basically said I was crazy to expect a 4 month old to sleep through the night. Haha! I'm not crazy - I know lots of moms whose babies are sleeping through the night. She said that sometimes he probably just wakes up because he is thirsty or just wants his mama's touch and told me to patient. (I think I have been more patient since I found out I was pregnant than I have in my entire life). Guess I should just keep expecting these sleepless nights until Caden decides to surprise his Mommy. **Sigh**

He only got one shot, that had 5 vaccines :( He did handle it rather well. He screamed when they poked him, but as soon as I picked him up he settled down and ate. He goes back next month for 2 more shots and an oral vaccine.

Now for some pictures from our week with Grandma!

Mommy's funny...

Last night my mom and I were eating dinner and had Caden on the table in his bouncer. That we he didn't feel alone while we ate :) I was eating and just talking with my mom and all the sudden Caden started laughing. Not just his little half laugh - all out laughing. You would have thought I food all over my face. I am so glad I had my camera handy take this video!