Posts Tagged ‘sleep deprived’

 

The best thing about Gina Ford

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Gina Ford is not exactly the Child Whisperer but there is a part of her book that has been invaluable (besides the obvious routine that everyone learns – some too late – that can transform your life if implemented from the start).

Whispering. Such a simple thing. She pushed this in every schedule for baby: never speak in tones above a whisper when it is after bed time or a nighttime feed or when baby has woken too early. My child is now four and when he gets up in the night on those rare (thanks to Gina) occasions or when he wakes up before six, he will walk softly and always whisper. It doesn’t seem like much but, like many little things, makes a big difference.

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For love or money

Thursday, February 21st, 2008

I sat in the interview and my eyes glazed over. I had so much caffeine coursing through my veins there was hardly any room for blood, but there was no way to kick-start a brain that was overflowing with nappies, routine, food, milk and the desperate need for sleep. I had forgotten how to think of anything else, let alone string a sentence together in a coherent business-like manner.

After the third interview, I began to think that perhaps it was self-sabotage … perhaps I actually really wanted to stay home with my baby, on some deep subconscious level I hadn’t quite accessed yet. But then I interviewed for a job I really wanted, was totally stunned when I was offered it and started two weeks later.

The love was lacking and I needed the money.

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Murder One

Tuesday, February 12th, 2008

Add to The Rules, a baby monitor and a spiral staircase between parents and baby … The parents can hear every murmur, cry and scream in stereo, but the staircase and The Rules keep them in bed … it can just be too much effort getting up and down those stairs each time the baby cries when The Rules forbid any comfort or feeding – if you can’t touch the baby, why bother. So, the parents just lie in bed, stiff and helpless … not getting any sleep anyway.

The baby soon gets The Routine but the parents get so sleep deprived that a jury could quite possibly acquit them of murder.

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Sleep Deprived

Monday, February 11th, 2008

A term always used when referring to new parents … but almost never when referring to the new baby. It is usually common for the baby to get all the sleep it requires. Unless, that is, you think Gina is the Rabbi and you are prepared to do whatever it takes for your baby to fall into The Routine.

You don’t let the new baby sleep in your room, let alone in your bed; you never allow the baby to sleep when the Fridge Rules clearly state it is playtime, and you never rock the baby to sleep … ever.

The Rules are very clear on the need to keep the baby awake for two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon for playtime. What they are not clear on is that the Rules are specifically in place to help parents with babies who don’t like to sleep. And what they should be especially clear on is that the parent should not distress if baby would rather sleep for 24 hours a day than lie on its play mat and look interested.

I woke him when he was sleeping. I tried to play with him while he was sleeping. I talked and sang at the top of my voice to try and prevent him from sleeping. I tried everything in my power to keep him awake when The Rules dictated. I deprived my baby of sleep. And then I complained of being sleep deprived myself.

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