Saturday, August 7, 2010

Sweet Dreaming

Kole is now 2 weeks and 5 days old. 10 out of 10 times when someone comes to see him or calls in to check on us (still in the wallows of agony...PS.) the first question they ask after commenting on his size and asking if he really is only over 2 weeks old is: Is he a “Good Sleeper?” In other words, “Welcome to the world of competitive parenting.” This is the question all parents use to gage themselves against other parents. Because, as every overachieving parent knows, it’s all about the sleep: how soon your child does it through the night, how long, and how deeply. It’s the single biggest mark of success or failure in the first three months of parenthood. For a 2 week old baby I think the question is slightly premature and frankly none of any one’s GD business. But, since the question comes up… yeah… every day I have learned that this harmless question is actually a minefield. Seemingly harmless, but what the person really wants to know is, “Are you a lazy slacker?” Or, if they’re newish parents, “Are you worse at this than I am?” My follow up question is “What constitutes a Good Sleeper?” Kole can close his eyes and breathe at the same time. So, yeah, by that regard Kole is a good sleeper. The little duckling goes down at 11 pm. The little duckling gets up at 3:30, almost on the dot. We have a night cap. For roughly 30 or 45minutes. A bit of rocking and the little duckling is out. Until 8 or 9. A couple times as early as 7:30. To me… that’s a Good Sleeper.

Your judgments?

6 comments:

Cinderella, the A-Train and Our Little Caboose said...

I hated that question and I agree, 2 weeks is premature. When Noah was born the DR told me I needed to wake him up every two hours to feed him...so being naive, thats what I did. Of course that meant that he eventually started waking up every two hours on his own. He had absolultly no schedule until I 'forced' him into one around 4-5 months. And even then he still wouldn't sleep through the night. He would take great naps and put himself to sleep but that was it. Needless to say, it wasn't until he turned one that he really started doing well at night. Now, at 1 1/2 he sleeps like a champ.

Glad to hear the little guy is doing well, and I love his name...especially with the 'K'

Julia Marcum said...

He seems like a better sleeper than me. So I say that makes him a good sleeper....or does that make ME a bad mom? Hmmm

Anonymous said...

Holy cow, he's definitely a good sleeper!! Experts say that formula fed babies should sleep longer than breastfed ones. I think my baby is confused about that because he's a bottle babe and he can barely sleep 3 hours at a time at night!! Count your lucky stars that Kole sleeps 4 hours!! I'm jealous! 2 weeks is premature to be asking if he sleeps good, but it seems like he does anyway:)

Kar said...

Hmmm. I've never thought of it as a competitive question. More of a, "Oh, I hope he's making your life okay at night. I really do." Just like I always ask if they're nursing alright. Like, "Oh, I hope he's not ripping you apart. That would really suck." And wow, he is doing AMAZING. Seriously.

Poulsen Family said...

Sounds like a good sleeper to me! Not to scare you, but Max slept like that until about 3 weeks then the colic hit and his good nights rest went out the window.
We are FINALLY getting back to decent nights.

weloveadoption said...

I would have to say you have a "good sleeper." If you are already on that great of a schedule you beat me at that part of parenting. He is such a cutie!