I tried everything - feeding her, holding her, putting her down, playing with toys, giving her a pacifier, swaddling her, turning on the sleep sheep, adding an extra layer of clothes, changing her. The list goes on. After about 3 hours of wailing, she finally tired herself out so much that she passed out for the night. I chalked it up to a day of fussiness and let it go.
Then I woke up this morning to the wailing. I changed her, fed her, dressed her, played with her, but she kept being fussy. So I tried another trick I heard of.
I decided to try "wearing" Peanut. I pulled out the Baby Bjorn
carrier that our neighbors generally gave to us and I stuck Peanut in. (Actually I spent about 20 minutes trying to figure out how to put her in it while she wailed in my ear.) And she stopped crying. She just sat in her carrier and stared at me. Then, within 5 minutes, she fell asleep.I thought this was awesome and once she was in her deep sleep, I tried to put her down. The wailing commenced all over again. So, this is how I've been spending my day.
I've learned that I can do the following while carrying Peanut:
- Laundry
- Change my pants
- Brush my teeth and wash my face
- Clean the house
- Play with the dogs
- Take pictures and use the computer
- Change my shirt
- Take a shower (yup, I'm implying exactly what you think I am implying)
- Lean back on the couch (her head is kind of like a bobble toy)
- Drink a coffee or eat anything that might leave crumbs on my infant
- Actually, eat anything because I don't want to end up licking mayo or something off the top of her head
I think it is key to note you can brush your teeth. That is quite impressive with a baby strapped on, especially because I always drool out toothpaste on anything I'm wearing when I brush my teeth! At least you got some relief to the wailing!
ReplyDeleteThat's a good workout! I'm surprised by all the things you can do, that's great. I recently read "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp and he says babies want to feel like they're back in the womb so baby wearing is perfect! There are some other cool things in there; I feel a little more ready for what lies ahead (end of June!!) http://www.amazon.com/Happiest-Baby-Block-Crying-Newborn/dp/0553381466/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298483199&sr=8-1
ReplyDelete~ GGG
Just checked out your "favorite things" and see the book listed so you already knew about it! Any other books you'd recommend to a mom in training, like myself?
ReplyDelete~ GGG
use a straw for drinks ;)
ReplyDeleteThey actually have shower slings to wear your baby in the shower. It's like a ring sling, with mesh fabric. I have never worn my baby in the shower, but becomingsarah.com has. If you really like wearing Addi, check out some more comfy carriers, like Ergo or Beco. They're pricey, but soooo worth it!
ReplyDeleteI have very fond memories of pacing, pacing, pacing with my baby in our Babyhawk. It's totally great bonding and great naptime for baby! Whenever he got to his mid-morning fussy time I stop anything, throw him in the baby sling and go for a walk.
ReplyDeleteYou can also go to the bathroom while babywearing ;), and I totally dribbled crumbs on him. Never hot coffee, though!
Excellent accessorizing! Complements every outfit!
ReplyDeletelol I used to do lunges across Joshua's room while he was in his carrier and he'd go right to sleep! that and the vacuum cleaner. LOVED that too
ReplyDeleteI had to giggle at this post...I also "wore" my second baby for months. It truly is amazing all that we can done with a little person literally attached to us. Whatever works, though, right?!
ReplyDeleteYou'll be fit in no time! And I think I forgot to say happy 1 month to Peanut before!
ReplyDeleteToo cute! I love the list of can and cannot do's...priceless. I needed a good laugh today :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE our baby bjorn and am so sad Levi is almost at the weight limit :( I am so impressed you can brush your teeth and wash your face! I made the mistake of taking Levi into a restaurant in the BB and ordering SOUP! That was a long meal! Good luck with getting that shower taken with her in the BB ;)
ReplyDeleteHAHA!! You tried to shower?!?! So funny! My first lived in his ring sling. It was the only way I could go to Church, sit down, go for a walk, etc. I had a ring sling and a Mei Tai. I cannot say enough good things about them!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I always wore him when we went to restaurants. He would sleep while hubby and I were on a date. I would just lay a blanket or towel right over his head and make sure what I was eating was never too hot or liquidy!
I'm doing the same workout, last week I pushed the buggy to the supermarket and carried Eilidh in the baby bjorn! On the plus side the buggy holds alot of groceries! I also did an evening workout from 10:30-11pm last night, it was the only way to get her to go to sleep!
ReplyDeleteI have to say I've spilled crumbs on E before, if she insists on being held at meal times I think its an occupational hazzard, hehe. Maybe a travel coffee cup would solve the problem of spilling on her?
Oh wow...your post brought back so many memories. Zoe is 7 months old now...and I remember that day that her cute little cry turned into a wail...and I remember calling my husband while he was at a Fantasy Football draft party in tears asking "do you have ANY ideas for how I can get this to stop???" He couldn't hear me b/c of her crying. Oh man...I know exactly how frustrating that scream is. So glad the carrier worked for you! With Zoe it was almost always gas...I would give her Little Tummies and she would stop almost immediately. Enjoy that baby bjorn!
ReplyDeleteOh wow...your post brought back so many memories. Zoe is 7 months old now...and I remember that day that her cute little cry turned into a wail...and I remember calling my husband while he was at a Fantasy Football draft party in tears asking "do you have ANY ideas for how I can get this to stop???" He couldn't hear me b/c of her crying. Oh man...I know exactly how frustrating that scream is. So glad the carrier worked for you! With Zoe it was almost always gas...I would give her Little Tummies and she would stop almost immediately. Enjoy that baby bjorn!
ReplyDeleteJust checked out your "favorite things" and see the book listed so you already knew about it! Any other books you'd recommend to a mom in training, like myself?
ReplyDelete~ GGG