The other morning I was doing my morning workout trying to become to next Michelle Bridges clone. I was chatting with my exercise partner who was talking about how her 9 month old was still waking up every four hours over night.
As we got chatting I was relaying some of the key points from Brooke’s video (sleep psychologist) on sleep and our idea that infants will sleep through the night etc etc.
I found myself very annoyingly giving advice on how to stretch her babies sleep.
Then she said he baby was not unlike all her friends and she was going OK with the night waking.
How did I become all those annoying people I normally hate by giving advice that she wasn’t asking for! Then as I groaned through my squats I thought how inadvertently we can make new mums feel like they are doing it all wrong even though they are quite happy with everything.
As Brooke did say if you and your baby are OK then everything is OK.
Perfect doesn’t exist.
Is enough ever enough??
The books and sleep strategies will always give you a plan to make things better or longer.
However, if you and your team mate are going all OK then there is no need to change anything. Over time things will change and get easier. Your baby will not need to be patted to sleep when they are six or twenty six. So try and enjoy the moments and not think to hard.
If things are going a bit rough think through is this change normal and only transient?
If so doing something dramatic is probably going to be a big waste of time and energy.
Or is it time to get some sleep strategies in place that suit you and your baby?
Make sure your true to yourself and not going hard core with something that doesn’t sit well within you.
As with diets there are many options some work some don’t. Try and think through what your trying to show or teach your baby and if that would reassured you or make you more anxious? eg- crying to sleep or patting to sleep.
These are two extremes- if you had four kids they likely hood of patting your baby to sleep is very low. So be honest with yourself about what will work.
And please always remember perfect doesn’t exist (unless your MB my girl crush!)
Please add any useful advice you have got over the years- or even some of the not so helpful advice!
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This course has many fantastic contributors to help guide you with up to date knowledge directly from the expert on newborn baby concerns, great baby advice and midwife support.
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Introduction for new parents to guide you through what to expect, how to prepare and some important starting information useful for all parents, new or returning.
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This selection of videos takes you from birth to 8-16 weeks discussing sleep needs and evidence to support how much sleep your baby actually needs. Use these guides to help you trust your baby and support normal sleep behaviour for your newborn.
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Guide to postnatal changes for mum
This selection of videos is perfect for a new mum confused about how her body is changing after birth. Included is great information and pelvic floor changes, diet advice and simple exercises to do at home- a must see for all new mums
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Week-by-week guide to the postnatal period
Join us through your first few weeks by letting Donna guide you through the complex and often amazing changes your body does after birth to nourish your baby and heal after birth. Normal baby changes are also discussed within the week by week guides.
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Ever wondered about sterilisation, what the number on the teat means or even what formula is best? These three videos will explain formula, bottles and sterilising. All explained by Midwife Donna to help build your parenting confidence.
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