Thursday, February 02, 2006

Getting some zzzzzz

Like most soon-to-be parents, Kevin and I are thinking about how our sleep patterns will change once Isabella joins our family. According to reports from the foster family, Isabella is only getting up once during the night to get a bottle. Lucky for us, Diane, the foster mom, lived through the sleepless nights and midnight feedings.

Whomever came up with the phrase "sleeps like a baby" never had a baby. My brother-in-law has a nearly 15-month-old little girl who still doesn't sleep through the night. Yikes!
So taking the proactive approach, as usual, I've researched how to get a little one to stay down once in bed. You can expect a baby to wake up several times in the night during the first six months, and even once a night at a year old. (Their night wakings don't mean, however, that you have to wake up. In fact, you're better off not getting up and going to your baby as long as you know she's healthy, warm, and well-fed.) Night wakings will gradually decrease as your baby gives up night feedings and moves towards longer sleep cycles.

Thank goodness Isabella will sleep well through the night because Kevin and I have enough sleep problems between his apnea and my lack of deep sleep.

Sweet dreams to you all!

3 comments:

Laura said...

Isaac gave me 6 straight hours last night... Woo-hoo! :)

I'm Isabella will adjust fine and you guys will all be sleeping a lot better than we are over here.

Laura said...

that's supposed to say... I'm *sure* Isabella will adjust fine.

Anonymous said...

Kaylie had colic and didn't sleep through the night for months. Makenzie, thankfully, started sleeping all night long Thanksgiving night. Since then the little squirming around 5:30am, then falling back to sleep until @7 is great! Both girls are awake and ready to go by 7:15... I'm sure Isabella will be just fine... Maybe wanting to be awake with Mommy and Daddy to get to know you=)
Luv ya!
~Kristy