Reminder charts for midnight madness?
 

As a new father of twin boys I often find myself at 3 AM, when I am
not thinking very clearly and do not have loads of patience,
confronted with one or more unhappy babies.

They've been home about 4 weeks and I am learning slowly what
possibilities exist for calming the boys. They include:

Feeding
Swaddling
Pacifier
Placing in vibro-massage seat
Cuddling
Singing (this has not worked yet)
Changing diaper
Placing in sling
Burping
Placing on tummy temporarily

Then you have the behaviors that lead you to choose one or the other.

OK this is where it gets tricky. I've learned that constant loud
crying/screaming is usually a sign of being hungry. Less intense
fussy/fidgety is often wet/poopy diaper. Digestion/peristalsys/gas is
usually loud groaning (I also don't know what to do about this except
let it happen). There is also bored/lonely which might be occasional
crying.

Along with the feeding schedule and diaper count we are tracking on
our white board, I'm thinking of coming up with a checklist of "what
finally worked" to settle one or the other kid down.

Just wondered if anyone had already done something like this. It's OK
to say I will learn it as I go along but I want my kids to get to that
"happy place" ASAP.

Reminder charts for midnight madness?
 

"Gary" wrote in message
om...
As a new father of twin boys I often find myself at 3 AM, when I am
not thinking very clearly and do not have loads of patience,
confronted with one or more unhappy babies.

They've been home about 4 weeks and I am learning slowly what
possibilities exist for calming the boys. They include:

Feeding
Swaddling
Pacifier
Placing in vibro-massage seat
Cuddling
Singing (this has not worked yet)
Changing diaper
Placing in sling
Burping
Placing on tummy temporarily

Then you have the behaviors that lead you to choose one or the other.

OK this is where it gets tricky. I've learned that constant loud
crying/screaming is usually a sign of being hungry. Less intense
fussy/fidgety is often wet/poopy diaper. Digestion/peristalsys/gas is
usually loud groaning (I also don't know what to do about this except
let it happen). There is also bored/lonely which might be occasional
crying.

Along with the feeding schedule and diaper count we are tracking on
our white board, I'm thinking of coming up with a checklist of "what
finally worked" to settle one or the other kid down.

Just wondered if anyone had already done something like this. It's OK
to say I will learn it as I go along but I want my kids to get to that
"happy place" ASAP.

You could also possibly be trying too many things and over-stimulating?
How about after double checking to see if they are hungry, dirty nappy or in
pain, presuming they are tired and not rocking or singing etc. I used to
find that sitting next to the baby in the crib with the light off, gently
holding their hand, having them swaddled and just saying 'shhhhhhhhhh' used
to settle them down eventually.
You will know if they are over-stimulated if they look as though they are
trying to get away from you, turning their head away and generally looking
cranky!!
HTH
Marie

Reminder charts for midnight madness?
 

The only chart I ever tried to do was one their wake up/feeding times
and who got what.....that quickly went out the door because that was 10
seconds of precious sleeping time! Plus with babes....what worked last night
wont nec. work tonight! With babes, its pretty much a basic
routine....change, feed, burp, and cuddle back to sleep....any way you
can-if necessary!!
I must say I am envious.....there's a LOT of dads on this newsgroup that
actually help!! Kudos!!

--
Gwen, Designer Wraps
SAHM to James (9-98) Austin and Amber (5-02)


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"Gary" wrote in message
om...
As a new father of twin boys I often find myself at 3 AM, when I am
not thinking very clearly and do not have loads of patience,
confronted with one or more unhappy babies.

They've been home about 4 weeks and I am learning slowly what
possibilities exist for calming the boys. They include:

Feeding
Swaddling
Pacifier
Placing in vibro-massage seat
Cuddling
Singing (this has not worked yet)
Changing diaper
Placing in sling
Burping
Placing on tummy temporarily

Then you have the behaviors that lead you to choose one or the other.

OK this is where it gets tricky. I've learned that constant loud
crying/screaming is usually a sign of being hungry. Less intense
fussy/fidgety is often wet/poopy diaper. Digestion/peristalsys/gas is
usually loud groaning (I also don't know what to do about this except
let it happen). There is also bored/lonely which might be occasional
crying.

Along with the feeding schedule and diaper count we are tracking on
our white board, I'm thinking of coming up with a checklist of "what
finally worked" to settle one or the other kid down.

Just wondered if anyone had already done something like this. It's OK
to say I will learn it as I go along but I want my kids to get to that
"happy place" ASAP.

Reminder charts for midnight madness?
 

G'day

Gary wrote:

As a new father of twin boys I often find myself at 3 AM, when I am
not thinking very clearly and do not have loads of patience,
confronted with one or more unhappy babies.

Great to see Dads helping out so much. Just wanted to give you a pat on
the back.

Digestion/peristalsys/gas is usually loud groaning (I also don't
know what to do about this except let it happen).

From another thread on mkb about gassy babies...

I also find that carrying baby around on their belly, along the
long part of your arm, helps.

I was just going to suggest this. My mum showed me this when DS
was born. It helps get gas out of both ends 8-) I always found
this a better way to burp DS. You put their head facing towards
your elbow, drape their body over your forearm and hold their
stomach in your hand of that same arm. You can stroke or pat
their back with the other hand. DS used to give out some jolly
good belches and then fall asleep like that.

Hope that helps

DrRuth
Mum to Joshua Eamon (Nov 15th, 2001)
http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~drruth/joshua/