How does he sleep?

I get asked a lot about how Asher sleeps. The first five weeks I would just laugh (what sleep?). I was excited if he slept three hours in a row. He was/is a hungry baby- putting on lots of healthy baby weight.

Just before a trip to Perth to take my citizenship test, when Asher didn't sleep well at all, I bought a book called Save our Sleep. It was recommended by a few mums from my mother's group. I read through it- it was very helpful and informative- and pondered the "cry it out" thing. This book isn't about CIO (Crying it Out)- but it does recommend letting babies cry if it was just an 'I'm annoyed' kind of cry, not a hungry/scared/uncomfortable/sick cry. And I pondered it. I needed sleep.

The first night back from Perth Asher slept from 7pm to 7am, waking up once for a feed at 2am... then 3am... then 4am. Currently Asher sleeps from 7pm to 7am and wakes up for a feed at 5. That is 10 hours. He has been sleeping 10 hours a night for a few weeks now. I worried (new mom worryings) and called the breastfeeding hotline. What if he was hungry? Is it normal? They confirmed what I had guessed- I am really lucky. He will feed more during the day to make up for the lack of sleep at night, and as he becomes more active during the day he may not sleep as well.

We have a routine- I feed Asher, every other night Dave bathes him, then Dave reads him a story while I give Asher a 'top up' feed. We put him to bed awake, he lays calmly in his bassinet and falls asleep. It is somewhat eerie. (Once I snuck in to check on him, and he was laying there in the dark, eyes open, and very still. I poked him to make sure he was still alive. He was. He didn't like being poked!). He will fall asleep at 7 after a feed at church, or if we are out.

In the morning he wakes up calmly and agoos and coos to himself until I get him up. He still makes noise and cries out in his sleep.

On the other hand, I still haven't managed to get him into a day sleep schedule. He has only just this week been able to sleep in his bassinet during the day for any length of time (but no longer than an hour). If I need him to sleep for a long time (if he hasn't slept well during the day) I have to hold him.

I am still amazed that Asher managed to sort out the night sleeps himself- I haven't used the Save our Sleep book except as a reference. I am not convinced that CIO is good, I wonder if it teaches the baby not to trust that help will come. Sure, the baby eventually falls asleep, but at what cost?

I am definitely blessed, sleep or not.

Thank you, Father, for our sleepy little baby. For his happy morning smiles when he sees a face peek over the side of his bassinet. For baby cuddles. Amen

Easter Sunrise Service

6am, Easter sunrise service in Exmouth.

Asher "Reads"

DIY Pram Liner

I have discovered that summer + babies + synthetic pram lining don't mix! I understand the need for the synthetic fabric- a bit more durable, you can just wipe stains off of it... but it doesn't breathe well under baby. So I found some instructions and attempted my own stroller liner. It was easier than expected- 2 hours and about $20!
1. I traced around the outside of my pram liner, including the holes for the straps. I wasn't sure I could get the liner out of the pram, but it looked more complicated than it was! Notice the fabric is folded in half, right side in.
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2. Then I remembered to put the wadding in. I used a cotton fabric and cotton wadding. I pinned it together, cut it out, then put it back together right side out.
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3. I used bias tape around the outside because I wanted it to have a finished look. This was a wide tape.
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4. Sewing the first side of the bias tape. After I sewed the first side I trimmed the edges of the fabric that stuck out beyond the tape.
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5. I flipped the pram liner over, pulled the bias tape around from the other side, and sewed it on. I didn't bother with pins that time (just too lazy!).
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6. The holes for the straps were the most complicated bit. I thought I would buttonhole them, but my sewing machine didn't like the thick fabrics. I used the bias tape in a rather complicated, fiddly and difficult way which I won't bother repeating as I am sure there is an easier way. But I will show you the photo of part of the process! (above)
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7. In the pram, on the pram liner I traced around. The top strap holes look crooked but that is just the way I was photographing. I am quite happy with the way it turned out- it brightens up the pram and will be easy to remove and wash. Now I need to get a photo of Asher in it!

In the stillness of the night...

We hear Asher say, very loudly, a happy "AGOOO!" and go quiet again.

I tiptoe over and peek in his bassinet.

He's found his lamb comforter (which I periodically stick in my shirt to give it mommy-scentedness)....

And has it snuggled next to his face.

And he was happy.

So he said Agooo to his lamb!