We decided this week it was time to move Sawyer into his own room, and into his crib. (It's so cute, why let it go to waste?). Once we decided, I knew I had to just do it or I might drag my heels for 4 more months...so I took apart the bassinet and restored my bedside to what it was about 6 or so months ago. The first night we decided to try it, I got kinda teary. I just couldn't imagine my little guy in another room, not right beside me where I could peer into his bassinet or grab him up easily to nurse him, or to cuddle in the wee hours. My heart sank thinking of him in a room all by himself. Also, it's just that I feel like I waited about my whole life to have my own baby, and then he was finally here, and right next to me...and all of a sudden...he's getting bigger and moving on (which is of course what we hope our children do...it just seems like it all happens a little bit too quickly at times). As Jacob consoled me he said "you can't mourn every time Sawyer makes a transition in life...otherwise you'll be crying when he goes off to school, finishes school, graduates from college, gets married..." And, through my tears, I said "Isn't that what mothers do?" True, I shouldn't let those feelings overwhelm me, and Jacob has got it right that we need to celebrate those transitions and let Sawyer know how proud of him we are. So, besides my being overly emotional the first few nights we put Sawyer to sleep in his own room, things are actually going quite well. We moved his mobile in with him and he has something familiar to look up at (in psychological terms that is a "transitional object"), as well as his night-time blanket. Last night, for example, he was in bed by 8:30pm. He wasn't asleep (I don't always nurse him down, sometimes he just needs to have quiet wind-down time). So, I peeked in every so often, and he was happily cooing up at his mobile. After about 20 minutes of that, he drifted peacefully off to the land of nod. Anyway, the brilliant reward, was that while Jacob was working on some freelance, I got to go curl up in our bed and read. Yes, not a parenting or baby book or my scriptures...but a book I've been interested in reading before it turns into a movie, purely for pleasure. (Have any of you read "Twilight"?) Yes, now that the bassinet isn't by my bedside, I can spend a cozy hour reading before bed, while Sawyer catches his zzzs in his crib. And if I feel so inclined I can get up at 2am and go sit in his rocking chair and watch him sleep peacefully (or cuddle up and nurse him, if he wants or needs to). I can also swiftly bring him into our bed in the wee hours of the morning if I feel like it. But guess what? He's been sleeping better and if he wants to sleep in until 8am, I'm fine with that! Congratulations, Sawyer!
You are such a good little sleeper, and we are so happy you like to sleep in your crib! We miss having you right next to us in our room, but we are only a few steps from your door if you need us. We love you bunches and loads and bushels and pecks!
PS- did any other mom or dads out there have a hard time with this transition? Or is it just me?
PS- did any other mom or dads out there have a hard time with this transition? Or is it just me?
9 comments:
Sorry this is a tough time for you, Tysha.
I have to say, I needed Hannah out at four months because I wasn't ever getting ANY sleep and I knew she knew I was right there waiting to pick her up at the slightest whimper. We all slept better after the transition and so we were all happier.
It sounds like you are cherishing every moment of life with your little guy so no need to worry about things changing and him moving on. It's just going to happen You are creating wonderful memories and you are also entering wonderful new stages of his life. Embrace the change, as cheesy as that sounds! Every time Hannah would change, we would say, "this is my favorite stage." It just gets better, even if some of the moments are bittersweet.
I can't say that I had a hard time moving Nathan out of our room. Having him right next to me always put me on edge and so I slept horribly. However, I TOTALLY hear you on the mourning of transitions. I was SO bummed when the first tooth came in, for example, and I was a wreck on his first birthday. I have been doing better lately, though, because as toddlerhood sets in, he just gets more and more fun every day and I like seeing what new thing he's going to attempt each day. I am constantly amazed that every day just gets better and better - still.
Good job taking the next big step. I think Alice would do ok in her crib now, but then I would have to get out of bed and get her to nurse, so I think I'll keep her close by for a little longer. Plus she doesn't really make any beeps at night. The problem we have is getting Lucy out of our bed! She always falls asleep with us and sometimes we transfer her to her bed, but many times she will call out for us really early in the morning and the easiest thing is to just let her come in our bed. I'm afriad we are in for some big yells when we make her sleep in her own bed.
We had a beautiful antique looking cradle for our kids - but they all hated it. We transitioned our little babes into cribs much sooner than others, but then we all slept so much better. My hardest transitions have been when I stop nursing. I am always very emotional when that time comes along. And yes, that is what mother's do, but I like Jacob's sense that these times should be celebrated rather than mourned.
Can you believe that Jonah is still in our room? I guess I'm just lazy and trying to hang on to his "babyness". Well, that and I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how to fit Hyrum's and Jonah's beds in the same room with all of the toys. The room is just way too small. I'm thinking he'll have to be in our room until we can put the boys in bunkbeds or until I have another baby that needs his crib. Which ever comes first. With Hyrum though he only slept in our room for 2 months and did much better in his own room. It's also harder with 2 since I don't want them to wake each other up and Jonah goes to bed earlier that Hyrum does. Plus Hyrum has a hard time settling down at night. If we had 3 bedrooms I'm sure Jonah would have been out long ago. Oh well, hopefully we'll have him out before he's 2! HA!
I must be a terrible mom because I started Collin in a crib from day one. People asked me about a bassinet, and I said, no, do I need one? Heaven forbid, so I missed having the bassinet experience, but apparently, I am glad I didn't have to go through that transition. I'm just getting very emotional about leaving Collin when/if/hopefully not have to go back to work on Halloween, since my hubby is getting laid off this week and hasn't found a new job yet.
Wow, you've made the huge transition to the crib! I think it's harder on the Mom's than on the little ones...
Sounds like Sawyer is really enjoying himself already in his new bed. Such a relaxed, easy going little guy!
I've been catching up on the entries now that I've had a little more time - love the four month photos! You're great with the camera Tysha!
I still haven't transitioned Lottie. I've tried a few times but I have to get up early for work and just don't want to wake up enough at night to go to the other room. Unfortunately she's starting to show signs of needing to sleep in her own room though, like not sleeping very well so I've been inspired by you and am going to try again this weekend while I'm off work.
We miss you bunches!!
I totally know what you mean about transitioning into another room and out of the bassinet. I was worried about this too. I was worried about not being able to respond to Inge if she needed me or not being able to hear her breathing. However, as in your case, it all worked fine and we're all a lot happier now that she has her own sleeping space and we have ours!
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