Warning for those who get bored with my long posts: This is another doosy, and sadly there are no mentions of Michelle (sorry Adam). So feel free to read no further.
Okay, so where the heck were all of you before I decided to get rid of the boppy? Can I just say how absolutely shocked I was at all your comments about your kids still having their pacifiers until they were older? I was completely convinced that Reese was the only child on the planet at her age that still had one. I saw plenty of blog posts about kids giving it up when they were 1 and also had some people giving me a hard time about it and telling me that Reese was just too old.
In my "bye bye boppy" post I mentioned that we were slowly working through some of her sleeping issues. Well, those sleeping issues were working out way too slowly for my taste. I know I've repeatedly said that Reese has never been a good napper, BUT even though her naps weren't always super long and not necessarily every day, they would still happen! But ever since Operation Boppy Removal, she completely stopped and as a result has been more emotional than ever. She's also been waking up WAY earlier than ever before and sometimes in the middle of the night. Tom and I were getting pretty concerned because she was just overall not getting enough sleep no matter what we tried. We tried some Healthy Sleep Habits methods like putting her down super early at night, but NOTHING helped.
My final straw was when Tom woke up early one morning and heard Reese in her room. He opened the door and looked in, and she was sitting on her glider chair just sobbing. This completely broke our hearts and we realized that really seriously something had to change. I do have to clarify that during all this figuring out how to get her to sleep better she never once even mentioned her boppy. So it wasn't like I was purposely holding out on her and being mean about it for an entire month.
So after much discussion and at the advice of my new pediatrician, Dr. Sherie Koch (hey, she's practically a pediatrician after raising us 7 kids), we decided to give it back to her. (My mom was against me taking it away from her to begin with.) But for real just for naps and night-time this time. That is where I promised myself I would be much more hard-core.
So right before nap time a few days ago I told her that we needed to head upstairs and that I had something very special for her (I went and bought some new ones that morning). She very sweetly looked up at me smiling and said, "Brownies?" I laughed then told her that it was something even better! (Hard to believe there's anything more special than brownies!) I took her upstairs to her room, showed her the boppy, and explained the rules---it was just for nap and bedtime and that I would take it away from her if she got out of her bed. She immediately started this hyperventilating giggle type thing because she was so happy! She very willingly climbed into her bed while still giggling, asked for her blankies, turned towards the wall, and fell asleep within minutes. Holy moly that thing has some power! She hadn't napped in a month and bam she was out!
When she woke up I showed her where we were going to keep the boppies when she wasn't sleeping. I had this fancy little box that someone gave a gift to us in that I thought would be a perfect place.
running to/into her closet for the Boppy Box
"Duh, mom. Was it really that hard to figure out?"Speaking of all this pacifying...
I think this girl would be a thumb/finger sucker if we ever let her out of her straight jacket.
28 comments:
Don't feel guilty. I think you set up some pretty good rules. Dr. Sherie knows what she is talking about. I have to call Dr. Robin still. :) I love the little box.
I think Cole is going to be a thumb sucker to.
my sister took her son's pacifier away and it totally affected his sleep as well. so then they had to go back doing sleep training and everything. i think you found the easier solution!! maybe i should give avery a boppy since she isn't even 2 yet and hates to take naps. today was a 40 minute one. totally not long enough.
love the baby wrap! that claire is a cutie!
I think you are absolutely right.
After your last post we decided to phase out the binky. But I had heard stores of kids starting to suck their fingers to replace it and I think if it helps them sleep, what's the harm? Last time I was at the Dr. he told me Jocelyn was still young and not to worry..it's good for them to have a way to self-sooth. The thing that bugged me most was when she was trying to talk. So...long story but last Friday I put hers in a box in the closet and she gets to get one before naps and bed. Good minds must think alike:)
What a story. This will be a good one to read back on when she is a teenager. You are such a good mom. The fancy box is a great idea. Every child is different, you do what you need to.
I trust Dr. Sherie. I hereby certify her with my personal endorsement.
Seriously, sometimes you gotta roll with what you know your kid needs. You know her best, and you have her best interests at heart. Moms just know.
Oh and I think that the satin-lined boppy box is a fantastic idea.
I LOVE it! All hail the almighty bink!!! Like I said in my last comment people try to hate on you if your kid still has a binky but it's always been my experience that they're more ready, not necessarily willing haha.. to give it up at 3!
It's such a comfort for some kids and you were smart to give it back to her!
Good for Reese ...and her parents too!!
Wow, and to think just today the dentist told Allie and I that it was time to get rid of the binkie. Not too sure that I am all that willing to do it after reading your blog :) And without Jason here to help out. She only has it at night...not even for naps. I took that binkie time away shortly after Jason left. Thinking that we would eventually get to no binkies at all. Ahhh...what to do!?! :)
I am so glad that you gave it back. I think we think to much about what other people think. Let your babies be babies. They are only little once. Hey and you need your sleep too!!
I think you have to do what you feel is right and who cares what everyone else thinks! Sleep is a very important thing!
The boppy box is WAY cute! It looked huge until you posted a pic of Reese next to it.
Good job for being a good parent and knowing when to go back on decisions for the good of your child. I fully support your actions (cause I know that's important to you.)
I'm glad you're all sleeping better. Isn't that Mr. "Healthy Sleep Habits" point anyway? I've been thinking the past couple of days about how I've gone through these 2 years with Austin stressing over everything. When should he nap, how long should he nap, what's his eating schedule, will immunizations be bad for him, why does he bite, yada yada yada. Along comes Ruth and I just seem to be going along with everything. I don't have the concentration to worry about if her nap was exactly 1.5 hours because I'm busy with Austin anyway. So Ruthie is more a go with the flow baby. Just 4 months into kid #2 I can tell that I don't stress about things as much. Anyway, my point is, first kids have it rough. They have to teach their parents everything.
Oh and I love the "straight jacket". We found that same style swaddle blanket for Ruthie and I LOVE it. It's so easy to swaddle with! We kept her in hers super way long too because she slept so much better in it. And sleep is soooo nice.
We have that same swaddle blanket for Amelia, and I tell ya it is awesome......she spends a lot of time in hers as well, because it is the only way she will sleep!
YAY for you! Don't worry about what everybody else thinks you should do or what the experts say...you know what is best for your child and your family! All 3 of my boys were all around 3 before they got rid of their binkies and they turned out just fine...it hasn't scarred them at all:) Just watch out for the thumb sucking...braces for sure with that!!! ;)
That box is a great idea. And so pretty!!
We wrapped up our kids like Claire. Each one of them, for months! I swear it's the reason my kids slept through the night at just a month or two. I love a good swaddle blanket!
Taya sucked on a empty sippy cup until she was 3. It just gave her the comfort she needed. Rachel remember YOU and Tom are the parents and everyone else can just butt out! Do what is right for you and your adorable family ;) And I do mean adorable.
Ahh, the joys of the binky struggle!! I personally love the pacifier and have been so grateful that both of my kids have taken one. We were able to wean Abby off at about 20 months, but she was ready and didn't fight it at all. I think each child is so different, and good for you for doing what you felt was best. At times all the "parenting advice" just gets old and you do what feels right. I have been going through something similar with potty-training. So many people have advice and some "couldn't believe" that Abby wasn't trained by 2!! Seriously people, get a grip and let me do things my own way...yeah for you for doing the same. (The story about her bawling on the glider chair was soooo sad and I'm so glad she is happy again!!)
What would we do without our moms!?!?! Seriously!! My mom was the one who told me to quit trying to break Clayton of sucking his thumb too - and we were SOO much happier once I listened. They are so wise. The boppy box is a great idea. She'll give it up when she's ready. I don't think she's too old for a boppy at all!
You are so funny! I think you are completely right. You are the only one who knows exactly what's right for your child. On every issue I think the child being emotionally well off and comforted right now will make a more confident happy person later. Of course that is purely opinion and not from experience at how my child will grow up to be.
I love the binky box by the way. Very smart!
Go mom go...you know what's best for your kids. :) My little boy sucks on his thumb to help him fall asleep...he never really wanted a binki and hasn't had one since he was two months old. I get soooooo many comments about it if people ever see him when he's tired (that's the only time he sucks on it). But he's happy and it works for him. And I just took him to the dentist, and his teeth were perfect. I figure I don't need to make a big deal about it and he'll stop when he's ready. Sometimes making a huge deal about it compounds the issue I think. Kids usually are pretty good at figuring things out, with a little guidance from us parents.
You tooooootally did the right thing giving it back. This was a sweet story and I almost cried over her crying in her chair. I am so not against kids having their binkies until they are big! As long as it is only in bed then that is all that matters. I let my 2 youngest kids keep them until they are 3 and didn't have too many problems taking it away. But I was like you with my oldest and rushed it and it was hard. I'm so glad you guys worked out a good fix. The box is darling!
Isn't being a parent trickier than tricky sometimes!?! I'm glad you got things figured out. Now any help on getting my kids to eat any vegetable whatsoever? I swear they go to bed hungry 3-4 nights a week because they turned their noses up at dinner. I'm not THAT bad of a cook!!
Your little girls are so stinking cute!
Is that a swaddle blanket? I need one of those. And I think it's great you gave it back to her. Rebecca still puts herself to sleep by sucking her thumb, and she will be five this year. At least you can take the boppy away when she and you are ready - I can't take away Rebecca's thumb.
Oh and thank you for the sweet birthday card. I loved it!
Hey Rachel it was good seeing you and Tom this weekend. I wish we could see eachother more often cause i love just sitting around and hanging out with the family and talking about the stupidest things. Cant wait to hangout in Maui with you guys!!
I say "bop till you drop"
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