Sleep problems... I'm getting paranoid!!

[Guest guest]

After reading through many of the posts here, I'm getting worked up about sleep

with the

DBB...

My son is still in his post-tenotomy cast, but once he's out and into

the DBB, I fear

we're in for trouble. He's currently 11+ weeks old and has all sorts of trouble

sleeping--

without a bar between his feet! I have to swaddle him at night and run a CD of

white noise

partly to mask his older siblings' noise, but also to calm him down enough to

fall asleep

initially at night. Throughout the night, after I've fed him, I still run the

white noise CD

because, quite honestly, I'm exhausted and can't bear the thought of him not

falling back

asleep!! It works and I'm afraid to chance that he won't be able to fall asleep

without it.

He's still getting up every 2 or so hours all night and I cannot seem to break

him of that.

During the day, he's napping in the (moving) swing, which we all know won't last

forever,

but isn't the precedent you want to set with any of your kids. One more thing

to overcome

while trying to teach him how to sleep on his own, ya know?!

So I'm worrying about how I'm going to swaddle him when I can't fit his little

feet into the

swaddling blanket?! I obviously am anticipating him still needing the swaddle

in about 3

weeks when the cast comes off, which may not happen, but I don't see a

semi-major

change like that happening without some assistance from me. Like I said, I'm

exhausted

and need whatever sleep I can get, but REALLY REALLY REALLY want to avoid

creating

more problems than we already are dealing with.

Is anyone in the same boat, or were you at one time?!? Any suggestions now to

help

prevent trouble in less than a month when we start with the DBB?!

Thanks!

Stacee & 9/24/05 rcf

[Guest guest]

Hi Stacee, just wanted to reply to your post. First off, having had a non-cf

little boy who was what I would consider high needs (wouldn't sleep unless held,

rocked, sung to, nursed or with a pacifier) we did much the same as far as

sleeping during the day in the swing. He really did naturally outgrow this and

quite honestly, if need be, he can sleep in your bedroom in the swing if you

need to. You could always try stopping the swing when he falls asleep and let

him rest still, but some babies just don't need the sleep you would expect them

to. (My son was my first and I though all babies were like this until I had my

daughters and found out they SLEEP and then I knew how challenging my son had

been.) Also, it will probably take your son a few days to adjust to the bar, it

does frustrate them, and understandably so. BUT, he will adjust. You just have

to hang in there those few days. My easy going daughter was very clingy the

first few days in the bar, but then adjusted back to her normal self. So it may

be trying, but it should only take a few days at most. You can still swaddle him

from the waist up, and if you put a blanket between his legs and then swaddle

them too it may give him the same feeling of snugness. You will figure out

things to do to help him settle. Also, showing him how to move his legs together

(rather than independently) can be helpful to them. Maybe see if you can arrange

someone to help out with him or your other little ones those first few days so

it's not all you. Though I know this is easier said than done. Good luck. You

will make it and so will he!

Marcia

Sleep problems... I'm getting paranoid!!

After reading through many of the posts here, I'm getting worked up about

sleep with the

DBB...

My son is still in his post-tenotomy cast, but once he's out and into

the DBB, I fear

we're in for trouble. He's currently 11+ weeks old and has all sorts of

trouble sleeping--

without a bar between his feet! I have to swaddle him at night and run a CD

of white noise

partly to mask his older siblings' noise, but also to calm him down enough to

fall asleep

initially at night. Throughout the night, after I've fed him, I still run the

white noise CD

because, quite honestly, I'm exhausted and can't bear the thought of him not

falling back

asleep!! It works and I'm afraid to chance that he won't be able to fall

asleep without it.

He's still getting up every 2 or so hours all night and I cannot seem to break

him of that.

During the day, he's napping in the (moving) swing, which we all know won't

last forever,

but isn't the precedent you want to set with any of your kids. One more thing

to overcome

while trying to teach him how to sleep on his own, ya know?!

So I'm worrying about how I'm going to swaddle him when I can't fit his little

feet into the

swaddling blanket?! I obviously am anticipating him still needing the swaddle

in about 3

weeks when the cast comes off, which may not happen, but I don't see a

semi-major

change like that happening without some assistance from me. Like I said, I'm

exhausted

and need whatever sleep I can get, but REALLY REALLY REALLY want to avoid

creating

more problems than we already are dealing with.

Is anyone in the same boat, or were you at one time?!? Any suggestions now to

help

prevent trouble in less than a month when we start with the DBB?!

Thanks!

Stacee & 9/24/05 rcf

[Guest guest]

Okay, take a big breath. Don't forget to let it out.

Try to relax a bit because you baby will sense your tenseness. I won't sugar

coat it. The brace can be tough at first. Just remember that there are a lot

of parents and babies that adjust to the brace quickly. Not everyone has

problems, we just read about the problems more frequently because parents are

looking for help.

Also, you are not a bad parent if the brace it tough. You aren't a bad parent

because your baby hasn't discovered sleep yet. You know your baby better than

anyone else, you do what works for him.

You are doing what you can at this point in preparing for the brace. (since you

are reading all these messages) When you get the brace... Make sure the fit is

good, the bar is the right length, the rolled blanket under the legs (or our

favorite--sleep in the car seat) Sleep sacks are good for keeping the brace

contained and not twisted in blankets. As long as the shoes fit and your son

isn't hurting, he will adjust. Eventually. Some kids are just more stubborn

than others. And some babies have other issues that complicate things a bit.

Try not to stress too much. It might be easier than you think. Even it if is

tough... that is okay. There are many parents here who have been there and can

help trouble shoot problems. That doesn't always make things better in the

middle of the night, but it does help.

My cf babe wouldn't have been a good sleeper with perfect feet. He was tiny,

had to eat every 1 1/2 hours day and night for months. His belly had problems

because he was so tiny. Then add the feet and all. We had long months of bad

casting before we found a good doc. It wasn't fun. There were many on this

list that helped. It was still hard. There is one thing I learned....

It is okay to struggle. It is hard, and that is okay. It doesn't make the

issues go away. You are still there you don't have any choice, you have to deal

with it. You can't wallow in self pity. But... It is hard and even if you

struggle, you are still a good person. As long as you don't give up you are

winning. Take it a minute at a time if you have too. It is okay to cry and cry

and cry (it better be cause if it ain't I'm messed up for sure). It is okay to

struggle as long as don't give up. And when it gets really tough-you can come a

whine on this list and we understand. The adjustment doesn't last forever, no

matter what is seems like.

One day you will wake up (that means you will actually get to sleep some day)

and realize that the brace and cf isn't so bad anymore. You can handle it.

Your son will be running and climbing and dancing on his feet. They will be

beautiful feet. It does happen.

Who knows, maybe your babe will adjust quickly and discover sleep.

Just keep on keepin' on.

Sleep problems... I'm getting paranoid!!

After reading through many of the posts here, I'm getting worked up about

sleep with the

DBB...

My son is still in his post-tenotomy cast, but once he's out and into

the DBB, I fear

we're in for trouble. He's currently 11+ weeks old and has all sorts of

trouble sleeping--

without a bar between his feet! I have to swaddle him at night and run a CD

of white noise

partly to mask his older siblings' noise, but also to calm him down enough to

fall asleep

initially at night. Throughout the night, after I've fed him, I still run the

white noise CD

because, quite honestly, I'm exhausted and can't bear the thought of him not

falling back

asleep!! It works and I'm afraid to chance that he won't be able to fall

asleep without it.

He's still getting up every 2 or so hours all night and I cannot seem to break

him of that.

During the day, he's napping in the (moving) swing, which we all know won't

last forever,

but isn't the precedent you want to set with any of your kids. One more thing

to overcome

while trying to teach him how to sleep on his own, ya know?!

So I'm worrying about how I'm going to swaddle him when I can't fit his little

feet into the

swaddling blanket?! I obviously am anticipating him still needing the swaddle

in about 3

weeks when the cast comes off, which may not happen, but I don't see a

semi-major

change like that happening without some assistance from me. Like I said, I'm

exhausted

and need whatever sleep I can get, but REALLY REALLY REALLY want to avoid

creating

more problems than we already are dealing with.

Is anyone in the same boat, or were you at one time?!? Any suggestions now to

help

prevent trouble in less than a month when we start with the DBB?!

Thanks!

Stacee & 9/24/05 rcf

[Guest guest]

I couldn't agree with you more. Just do what works best for you and your

baby!!!!

Sleep problems... I'm getting

paranoid!!

>

>

> After reading through many of the posts here, I'm getting worked

up about sleep with the

> DBB...

>

> My son is still in his post-tenotomy cast, but once he's

out and into the DBB, I fear

> we're in for trouble. He's currently 11+ weeks old and has all

sorts of trouble sleeping--

> without a bar between his feet! I have to swaddle him at night

and run a CD of white noise

> partly to mask his older siblings' noise, but also to calm him

down enough to fall asleep

> initially at night. Throughout the night, after I've fed him, I

still run the white noise CD

> because, quite honestly, I'm exhausted and can't bear the thought

of him not falling back

> asleep!! It works and I'm afraid to chance that he won't be able

to fall asleep without it.

> He's still getting up every 2 or so hours all night and I cannot

seem to break him of that.

> During the day, he's napping in the (moving) swing, which we all

know won't last forever,

> but isn't the precedent you want to set with any of your kids.

One more thing to overcome

> while trying to teach him how to sleep on his own, ya know?!

>

> So I'm worrying about how I'm going to swaddle him when I can't

fit his little feet into the

> swaddling blanket?! I obviously am anticipating him still

needing the swaddle in about 3

> weeks when the cast comes off, which may not happen, but I don't

see a semi-major

> change like that happening without some assistance from me. Like

I said, I'm exhausted

> and need whatever sleep I can get, but REALLY REALLY REALLY want

to avoid creating

> more problems than we already are dealing with.

>

> Is anyone in the same boat, or were you at one time?!? Any

suggestions now to help

> prevent trouble in less than a month when we start with the DBB?!

>

> Thanks!

>

> Stacee & 9/24/05 rcf

>

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