The sleeping issues: Tina's started to protest her naps, especially with the nanny, and Ava has started using bed-time as a 3rd nap, awaking an hour later and shrieking to get out. Twice, we've relented and she's stayed up an additional 4 hours until she gets tired again. Is teething pain causing this?
The food issues: They will usually eat whatever's on their plate, but take excessive joy in fruits and zucchini. For some reason - heat or overstimulation - they are not as accepting. Nearly half of their food ends up being chucked unappreciatively to the ground (which reminds me, we need to either move their highchairs so they are directly above a composting pile, or start allowing our dog into the kitchen! I'm even getting tired of cleaning the splat mats I bought just for this "issue"). Especially soft, squishy things are flung first, so, again, I think... perhaps they're teething?
This is the kicker (no pun intended): They have both started pushing the other if they get "too close" to Mommy. This leads the pushed one to shriek. When I pick up the one in tears, the other one bursts into tears as well, melting into the floor like the Wicked Witch of the West. So, now I have them both on my lap, both in tears, and both continue to try to push the other off so they can get "the Mommy." I've spent 30 minutes trying to resolve their issues, proving that Mommy loves them both. However, I've found that the only solution is to leave them both in their huddled melt-down and get the stroller ready amid their screams. Getting out of the house and distracted by a play ground or a busy street is my best fix so far.
Lo and behold: the SFMOM's next group meeting (last night) is focused on sleep issues with the Bay Area's reknown expert, Noelle Cochran, presenting. Another great time for review and ask her opinion about these changes (nothing like free advice, right?). Just to share, here are some notes I took from the presentation:
- at 3-4 months kids can self-soothe - start "teaching them to sleep" and establish good sleeping patterns
- the body produces melotonin (muscle relaxer) during sleep and cortisol, a stress hormone, when they need sleep. Cortisol makes people wired, giddy and clumsy - need to put babies down before the cortisol hits their bodies or it's a struggle
- Babies should have a consistent bedtime (within a 1/2 hour everyday) between 6-8pm.
- 7-11pm non-REM sleep then they transition into REM, which is necessary for life
- kids 0-6mo should sleep every 2 hours after their last waking (not according to a clock, but their last waking)
- kids 6mo or older should sleep on a schedule according to clock
- first 2 years, babies need at least 11 hours at night (not including naps)
- 12-18 mos. Separation anxiety changes their sleep habits
- play hide-and-seek to help/practice with separation anxiety
- it takes 1-2 weeks for a sleep issues to become a bad/good habit
- The need to suck (non-nutritional like with a pacifier) ends at 6mo. You should take away pacifiers by then or it can become a sleep issue
- Night terrors - babies still asleep even if standing up with eyes open - don't interfere or wake them
Of course, there is so much more than this, but, this is my 3rd time seeing her speak and some of it I don't need to take down anymore. It seems that Noelle thinks that separation anxiety is playing into this and she's not convinced that Ava is actually awake at her 10-11pm protest. It may be night terrors - I'll have to be a better observer to confirm. It is something I never considered before!
