4 month check up

Just took DS2 in for his four month check up. He
weighed 18lbs 15oz (and I actually hadn't fed him
for a couple of hours --- I'm pretty sure he would
have crossed 19lbs if I'd fed him first), and
was 26.5" long. That's 95th %ile for weight (down
from above the 97th) and 90th %ile for length (up
from 75th, I think).

Everything's just fine (motorskills wise --- he
can sit a while unsupported --- and otherwise).

I asked about the Vitamin D drops. The pediatrician
(head of pediatrics at the hospital) says it's really
conservative to give Vitamin D, as she's never heard
of any cases of D-deficiency rickets in our city even though
we're pretty far North. I asked how long he needs it,
and she said "until he's out playing in the sun".

The sheet they gave us said he should be having
Tri-Vi-Sol with iron, and I asked about that. She
said that as long we give iron fortified cereal
(and he actually eats it), starting at 6 months
he's okay. (She seemed to think we were combifeeding
because I checked both breast & bottle on the questionnaire,
even though I wrote "breastmilk" under formula brand.
I clarified that he was getting only BM, and she said
that iron fortified cereal at 6 months would be
sufficient.)

We also talked some about sleeping. She said we should
try to put him into his crib awake so he learns to
fall asleep on his own, and suggested that we could either
do it cold turkey (CIO, which she thought would work
in about 3-4 days) or gradually, which is all I'm
willing to try TYVM!

Emily
--
DS1 5/02
DS2 9/05

"Emily" skrev i en meddelelse
...

"..."

We also talked some about sleeping. She said we should
try to put him into his crib awake so he learns to
fall asleep on his own, and suggested that we could either
do it cold turkey (CIO, which she thought would work
in about 3-4 days) or gradually, which is all I'm
willing to try TYVM!

Emily
--
DS1 5/02
DS2 9/05

Hi,
Just wondered how you're going to get him adjusted to falling asleep on his
own? Our little son refuses too - he falls asleep either while I'm nursing
him or while being taking for a walk in his pram....these are the only two
ways and we desperately want him to be able to fall asleep on his own in his
bed too!
So - do you have any good ideas on how to do this. We don't want to use the
cold turkey method either...

/Susanne.

Susanne wrote:
"Emily" skrev i en meddelelse
...

"..."

We also talked some about sleeping. She said we should
try to put him into his crib awake so he learns to
fall asleep on his own, and suggested that we could either
do it cold turkey (CIO, which she thought would work
in about 3-4 days) or gradually, which is all I'm
willing to try TYVM!

Emily
--
DS1 5/02
DS2 9/05


Hi,
Just wondered how you're going to get him adjusted to falling asleep on his
own? Our little son refuses too - he falls asleep either while I'm nursing
him or while being taking for a walk in his pram....these are the only two
ways and we desperately want him to be able to fall asleep on his own in his
bed too!
So - do you have any good ideas on how to do this. We don't want to use the
cold turkey method either...

I think this is hugely YMMV, depending on the kid (and the parents :-).
DS1 didn't do it for us (at daycare is another matter) until he was
about 1.5yo, and even then I had to be sitting next to him playing him
music on my computer. DS2 is less attached in general. For the past
two nights, instead of nursing him to sleep, I've nursed him to
"sleepy" and then put him in his crib. Each time, I've meant to stay
there with him until he fell asleep, but I've needed to go help DS1
with something. DS2 doesn't immediately object (they way DS1 would
have). The first time he spent some time alone and happy, then started
fussing, so DH went to him. DH sang to him and just stayed there
next to his crib (cosleeper). There was some crying that night,
but not really CIO crying, since DH was there and we weren't going to
let it go on too long. The second night, I only heard fussing. We'll
see how it goes tonight!

A more gradual plan would be to unlatch when he's done eating, but just
comfort sucking, and then let him fall asleep in your arms as a first
step, if he'll put up with this. If he won't, you can a) decide it's not
all that important, b) try the persistant approach of letting him latch
on for a bit more and then trying again until it works, or c) wait a
week and try again. The ped. also talked about establishing a bedtime
routine, I think the idea here is that that way DS knows what is
expected of him (I've had my bath, and had my feeding, and heard that
song, now it's time to sleep).

Emily
--
DS1 5/02
DS2 9/05 -- Just stuck a bead up his nose to see if it would fit.
He and DH are off to the hospital to get it back out...

My daughter was the same way. So, as soon as she'd start to fall
asleep I'd put her in her crib. Just walking to her room or talking a
little to her, seemed to rouse her just enough. She would usually look
around then fall back asleep.
Of course this didn't always work well. Sometimes she would wake up
and cry a bit. But I would comfort her in the crib, not picking her
up, and she would fall back asleep.
Then I started putting her in her crib while I cleaned up her room,
folded laundry, or just played with her. Now, she rarely has a problem
with falling asleep in the crib. Also, when she wakes up she can
sometimes sit there for half an hour, babbling away or playing with a
toy.
(She was 6 months yesterday. Wow, time flies!)
Good luck!
- Laura