Lil' General has always been a very good sleeper. And, I think we as parents contribute in a big way to that. I often hear friends and other members of the family with small kids comparing their children to LG and complain that they don't sleep as well as LG. So that makes us lucky parents, they say. I say that's ridiculous. You don't expect your kids to go to bed if you don't establish a bedtime routine, if you keep your mobiles' ringtones blaring at the highest volume setting available and if the entire family decides to camp in front of the TV at 10:00. Still better if you came up with the novel idea of dining at 10:30 p.m. in the neighborhood restaurant. Nothing wrong with any of these. That's the lifestyle you are used to and have consciously made the choice to continue with the same even after the arrival of your child. Kids will grow up fine. They accustom to the environment they are brought up in. If you are the "late to bed, late to rise" kind then they will grow up to be just the same. My only grouse is that please don't blame it on the kids for not sleeping well.
We or rather I, might be stretching it too far when it comes to LG's sleep routine. But this is what works for him, me and us.
- he has been in bed by 9:00 p.m. every night from the time he was 2 months old, usually dozing off between 9:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. He associates the yellow light with sleep time. I can just recollect one day - the day after Diwali when he wasn't asleep even by 11:00 p.m.
- between 5 months and 9 months he slept once in every 2 hours, the duration of the naps varied depending on the time of the day. He had 3 to 4 such naps during the day - the longest being 2 hours and the shortest of 45 mins.
- the interval increased to 2.5 hours between 9 months and a year. The number of naps stayed the same at 3 but the morning nap duration decreased further and the afternoon one prolonged to 2.5 hours.
- it has all changed now that he has crossed the 1 year milestone. The morning naps are slowly going away. Some days he sleeps, some days he doesn't. It has been replaced by one long afternoon nap of 3 hours followed by a short late evening one.
- The time he wakes up in the morning has also changed. From waking up at 6:3 0 a.n. every morning, he now stays in bed until 8:30 a.m.
What we do to help him sleep better:
- First rule, our phones are in discreet mode which means we miss many calls and call back later. I know it's annoying but works for us.
- Loud noises such as washing of utensils, water taps and running the washing machine are generally avoided during this time.
- The volume on TV and music system is pretty much under control.
- Screeching doors are always kept well oiled.
Don't worry we do have a life!
If he sleeps better, then he wakes up happy; plays a lot, eats well and is a happy child. Else he gets cranky.
Changing sleep patterns - six months to 1 year
The ded footiya (1.5 foot) at home has decided to take a nap after being on a damage mission for 4.5 hours. And, there is nothing more calmer right now than seeing your toddler take a break, which in turn means I can rest my bones before he gets up all charged to be on a troll.
I am aging and I hate to admit it but I'm no match for his energy and enthusiasm. He is on his knees the whole time he's awake; it's a struggle to keep pace with him. I'm blank right now; can't think what to do - there are tons of work that needs to be completed - assignments to be sent, stories to be submitted and money to be made but all that will have to wait. I can barely manage to get words out of my head and mouth.
Over and out until I get my energy back!
A rough month compounded by eating problems
Quite a few people who've been down the I've-raised-a-child road have told me, "It's easy until your child is 5 years old." My mother has a different viewpoint, "It's never easy. Every age of your child brings with it a new problem - if it's eating while young, then maybe it's studies later on and marriage when you are grown up." I think I may have been a tough child to my mom."
Pregnancy and Parenting has not been easy from the day LG was conceived. But I've seen people go through more tougher times so I'm not complaining. The past month or so has been rough as LG first through a cough-cold-fever cycle which was naturally accompanied by refusal to eat periods. Then he got well until Christmas when he got all excited on seeing the plum cake and literally snatched it out of my hand. I felt bad eating in front of him so I let him have a piece. That did it. It was bad food for him and he got a stomach bug that troubled him like mad for a week that finally led to fever again. Constipation, refusal to drink/eat anything, pursed lips was all we got to see for a week. When things don't go per schedule it gets taxing. I was all the time making and throwing food. For over two days, he drank nothing but formula and ajwain water. I didn't have any choice. Milk wouldn't have helped his already upset tummy. Finally we gave in and took him to the Ped. A digestive tonic called Sorbiline was prescribed and that seemed to have helped him. Normalcy is slowly returning and so is my sanity. It's funny how a small kid can frustrate adults and lead to arguments in an otherwise peaceful house - blame it on exhaustion.
A quick list of what I do once the fussy eater returns:
The first indication that all is not well is when LG refuses to eat. He is a non-fussy kid when it comes to eating. He will eat so long his tummy gets filled. Whe he starts acting up, I know something is boethring him which is either a bad throat or tummy. If it's a bad tummy caused by constipation then -
- Loads of water to drink. Two or three spoonfuls of home made ajwain water with little sugar two times a day.
- Make him chew black currants
- Banana, apples, soup and lots of roughage in the form of vegetables.
If it's dysentery then,
- ORS or salt sugar solution prepared at home.
- Stop milk. Stop Cerelac - heavy to digest
- Boiled Sabudana mixture.
- White puffed rice.
- Banana and curd.
Getting over the 1 year mindset
Lil General turned 1 on 18th December. Strangely, that changed a lot of things for me. My attitude, my mindset towards him. He is still a baby to the world but to me he has grown up in ways only I can understand.
Let me explain. I don't panic at the drop of a hat. I'm cool if he has fallen down; if he is running temperature. Don't interpret that as being reckless or callousness towards him. I still take the precautions and necessary action when needed but don't raise hell and call every person in the family. I can handle stuff on my own. I've grown up with him; I treat him just like another human being who can understand me but can't communicate verbally yet. I am confident enough to take him to the Doctor alone. I don't rush to pick him or massage him when he falls. I stay close but I let him recover. He is growing and has to understand the consequences of actions, I tell myself.
His food has changed phenomenally too. As if it made a huge difference between 17th December and 19th December. On 17th December it was the same old Cerelac and mashed rice and dal. Suddenly, on 19th all that changed. He has tasted more vegetables/ fruits, more textures, more variety in the past week than all the months put together. He was all grown up in a week to be able to bite Pomegranate, grapes and musk melon - something that I had never tried before. I refrained from Honey for fear of botulism for a year. When he coughed a couple of days back, I felt honey would soothe his throat and it did. Cheese slices were hard on his digestive system, I perceived earlier. Now, it's ok to give even 2 slices in a day. A month before, when he would hang around us while we ate lunch. dinner with dropping tongues all he got was a hug / kiss and his bottle of water. Now, I treat him a with a bite from my plate that is met with a satisfied smile.
It's alright to venture out without wearing socks now while we protected him with socks, cap and jacket every time we went for a walk. How come it's alright to pick something from the floor and eat now? Ofcourse, we are quick to snatch it from his hands and throw it away.
Nothing has changed much. Only our mindset has. The difference a date makes, a milestone makes. He reminds us that he is still a baby when he falls asleep after every three hours and that his body can only take so much.
Curiosity at its best
Kids are curious little creatures. I admire the vast reserves of energy and enthusiasm they carry - wonder where all that goes once we grow up! The one thing we were scared of in our house happened today. The entrance to our house does not have a wooden door, instead it is a large iron grill that opens to the drawing room on one side and a staircase on the other. Once LG learned how to crawl, we've ensured that the grill is always closed at all times of the day.
Our fear came true this morning. The Seniol had gone downstairs briefly after closing the grill to attend to some mechanical fault in our scooty while I was preparing tea in the kitchen. It's LG's habit to follow The Seniol on his way out. He usually stands by the grill until The Seniol returns. I assumed he did the same this morning too and continued with my chores. There was a loud sigh from The Seniol after a few minutes and I rushed to see with shock that LG was sitting at the top of flight of stairs. One wrong step and he would be rolling down.
The Seniol swore he had pulled the grill gate, so we recreated the scene to see what LG does and how he managed his way through. He stood on the extreme corner and mustered all his strength to slide the door wide enough to let his head through, then got down into crawling position and pushed his head out. Once the head was out, he pushed his body sideways and got himself out in a matter of seconds. That really was child's play. We've decided to secure it with a lock now and stay careful.
