Finally sleeping!

Madeline is two months old and I think we have finally gotten into a good sleeping routine. Thanks to Anne Pagano and her book recommendation, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, I have really started to notice when Madeline is tired and I am understanding just how much she needs to sleep during the day. There is a marked difference between days when she gets her nap every 1-2 hours and when she does not...trust me, the days when she has not slept are not pretty! One thing I did not know before was that there is a difference between sleeping while in the car or in the stroller and sleeping in her crib (or any quiet place). The sleep she gets in her crib is sooo much better.

We had been getting a couple nights here and there where she would sleep for five hours or so, but I was cautious about getting my hopes up that it would be a regular occurrence. Then the other night she slept for a little over six hours and last night she slept for a little over eight hours! It was great, but a little scary (I think I have mastered the art of opening the door, making sure she is breathing and getting out before I wake her up)!

Part of our "going to sleep" routine is reading. Madeline has really started to enjoy being read to...and I love reading out loud, so it works out really well! She sits on my lap and listens. I read long stories from a Disney book and the sound of my voice helps her relax. There aren't many pictures, but she doesn't seem to mind! She usually dozes off while resting her head on my shoulder and rocking in the chair. The she gets wrapped up in her swaddle blanket and into the crib. She fights the swaddle a little bit (and sometimes gets a hand free) but she sleeps so much better. Without it she startles herself awake and then her arms and legs flail around and she freaks out.

Getting to this point has required a lot of patience, but it has been worth it!