Monday, April 28, 2008

A Little Help Over Here Please!

Okay, so I am in search of some parenting advice on a couple of issues- please offer your 2 cents because I'm needing some help!

SLEEP- Delaney slept through the night from about 2 months until about 7 weeks ago. Now she wakes up all night long and hates to be put back down. I rock her back to sleep then lay her down and 20 minutes later she is back up again! AARRGG!!! I am getting very frusterated. I am a little afraid to let her "cry it out" because we live in an apartment and she is VERY loud. We are also going to be moving in the next 2 months and I don't want to go through that process twice... So- any suggestions?!


EATING- my (almost 9 month old) daughter HATES solid foods. She loves her baby food but when you put a cheerio or puff or even bread in her mouth she starts to cry. I've tried about 100 times and still no dice- Any suggestions?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow!

As for the sleep thing, I wish I could be of some help...but honestly, Catheryne is 2 1/2 and still doesn't sleep through the night consistently. You might try filling up her tummy before bed...maybe she is waking up hungry! Yogurt and oatmeal are filling and not solid. She'll get there, Amy...just think about how lucky you've been to get all the nights of sleep that you have been getting and then think of your poor cousin Scott, who hasn't truly slept through the night in his own bed more than once a week for 3 years! YIKES!

Now for food. Sounds like you have a picky eater! Miine is too, though she did love puffs...never cheerios though! It is important for parents to remember (according to my beloved pediatrician, who mocks me whenever I present such worries) that NO CHILD WILL STARVE ITSELF. If she doesn't want the solids, keep mushing things up! She might be teething and thus not willing to eat anything firm because it hurts her tiny gums. Keep trying...she'll find something she likes eventually! Puffs in vanilla yogurt were a fave of Catey's...and nice and soft!

Good luck. I love keeping up on this blog...I need to do more entries in mine!

Carly Andelin said...

Hey Amy,

So, all I can say about the sleep thing is that I have followed the principles from "Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child," and have loved it. Naturally my kids are horrible sleepers, but once we train them how the book says, they are awesome. Kimi has had struggles here and there, but she LOVES her bed and loves to go to sleep. I've read several different theories on how to get your kids to sleep through the night consistently, and this one made the most sense to me. I can't believe there are parents out there that are still getting up with their children when they are 2, 3 and 4. I'd go insane. Start good habits while they are young and it'll make your life much easier and happier. Read the book. I would let her cry even though you are moving. In 3 or 4 days she'll have it figured out. You'll never see your old neighbors again. But you could also just wait til you move and go cold turkey. Up to you.

As far as food goes? Kimi used to be the PICKIEST eater ever, and now isn't too bad. I also have some good literature for you to read on feeding children. Maybe I'll scan the article and email it to you. In a nutshell it says that parents choose what the kids eat and where they eat, and the kid chooses when and how much. Your job is to provide a wide variety of food. I've heard it takes around 10-14 honest efforts before they'll eat a certain food. She's not going to starve. I had to keep telling myself this over and over. It's probably a stage. About when Kimi turned 2 she finally started to eat a wider variety of food. Just keep it up though, she'll get there. The worse thing you can do is to only offer the couple of things that they do like, and then they'll never gain an interest for others. Let me know if you want that article. Good luck!

Boe & Bobbie Stallings said...

Oh Amy, I wish I could help you out but my big baby sleeps like a rock and will eat absolutely ANYTHING!! I sure hope you guys (You,Jes,Fran) will figure out this mothering thing by the time I get around to having kids, so you can get all the kinks worked out for me. :)

Brian and Jennifer said...

Sleeping and eating I think are the 2 most frustrating and stressful things for me. I think Carly said it best. At least from what I've done. I let them cry and it only takes 2 or 3 nights before they figure out that you're not going to give in. That is so hard for me and I just lay in bed almost in tears, but they have to learn. As far as eating just keep offering a variety of foods. She'll eat eventually. It's very frustrating, I know. Sorry, I'm not a lot of help. Each kid needs to come with an instruction book because they are all so different and when they can't talk to tell you what they want it's so hard to know. Good Luck.