Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Double Edged Sword

Having family in town is a bit of a double edged sword. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that my parents get to see and hang with their first grandchild. They definately are a blessing by helping with feedings, changes and giving me a chance to catch up on sleep. I can't thank them enough for doing all of that and sharing in our joy.

I am though a little irked that while I got that extra sleep they never put Oz down. The last couple of weeks we've been working with him so he would sleep in his pack n play or his crib. Now the little man wakes up every 40 minutes or so and wants to be held and to sleep on your chest. I am a little frustrated with my parents for undoing something so simple as being able to put a sleeping baby in his crib.

I know, I know it can be fixed and I have asked that they please put him down while sleeping, but to feel free to hold him during feedings, play with him during wake time and of course gurgle cute sayings during changes. It just kills me because just as he was allowing me to sleep a 4 hour stretch from 10 pm to 2 am - I'm now back to not sleeping at night more than say 2 hours in a row.

ETA - Before I get more hate mail, I don't put my son in his crib the instant he's asleep. I also don't employ the tricks like taking him for a car ride in order to get him asleep just so I can "get rid" of him either. I didn't even know Ferber was a real person until MammaLuxe pointed it out in another post. I thought Ferber was a joke from the movie Meet the Fockers. So no we aren't trying to Feberize him. But, after 10, 15, 20 minutes of snuggles and cuddles while sleeping we would like him to spend the rest of his nap time in his crib, barring changes or extra burps. Even then we still rock and cuddle him a bit after changing or helping him to burp that extra burp.

So please no hate mail on how I refuse to touch my son & that I am denying my parents the right to hold and snuggle Oz. I'm still just so darned happy to have my parents here, who want to lend a hand and felt like a jerk even having to say to them "can you let him sleep a little bit in his crib."

1 comment:

Linda said...

All I can say is: I have been there. It's aggravating, to no end, to have people MEAN WELL, but mess things up. With a first child, especially, it is SO tough to deal with it, because you have to be so careful with crossing the line, not wanting to hurt anyone. Yet they ignore all your wishes. I'm still fighting that battle with my MIL, 6 1/2 years later and with TWO kids now....GOOD LUCK. The schedule WILL come more naturally to him, though...thank GOODNESS!