Philosophical Monday: Eye of the Betty
So as many of my Facebook friends already know, Betty was miserably sick from Tuesday to Thursday, then we took her to the doctor on Friday to find out that she had an ear infection and would need antibiotics. And now she’s on the happy mend.
What’s been kind of amazing about almost a whole week of sick baby is that she came back so big. First of all, she can sort of balance on all fours now. This is b/c during the few hours that she wasn’t miserable, she was practicing her pitching forward and general going-somewhere skills. Second of all, she is even more herself now. I missed my Betty. She was actually a lot easier to take care of while sick, b/c she slept more and she pretty much just wanted to veg out and cuddle. But it wasn’t the true version of her, and I discovered that I much rather have her hyper and healthy, than laidback and sick. So it felt like a big “welcome back, Betty!,” when the antibiotics kicked in and she was suddenly ready to play.
I was even happy yesterday when she resumed sticking her fingers in my mouth and up my nose while I was bottle-feeding her. It’s not the coolest thing to do while your mom is feeding you, but it is Betty’s regular MO. And I’m happy to have her back and in many ways better than ever. I can almost hear her humming “Eye of the Tiger” when she lines her little fingers up with my nostril.
Right now, we’re dealing with a couple of new developments though. Betty’s decided to roll over on her stomach in order to sleep, which freaks us out. We’ve tried putting her back on her back, but she just wakes up and does stuff like rolling into the bars and getting stuck, and then she gets upset with us when we come in and roll her back over, b/c she wants to sleep on her stomach. It’s both farcical and frustrating. If you have any advice about this, please let us know.
A happier development is that Betty’s hair is finally long enough to do something with — but it’s hard to get her to sit still long enough for me to put it into two tiny braid puffs. In fact, I think the only reason she let me do it the first time was b/c she was sick.
Why don’t they warn you beforehand that your precious bundle will one day stick her fingers up your nose, stubbornly roll over on her stomach whenever you put her on her back, and refuse to be groomed in the cutest way possible? Sigh.
Well, I still wouldn’t trade her.
Let's see if I can touch on all that's going on. Yes, it is just a little sad when an infant is sick. They can't tell you what hurts, but they just aren't themselves. I got the fingers up the nose thing, too. If folks told you your baby will put her fingers up your nose, you'd probably forget or think it wouldn't happen to you. Fingers up the nose is something you have to experience. As for rolling over, it's usually a good thing when they start to roll over onto the tummy. It usually leads to much more restful nights and deeper sleep. If she's getting stuck though, I would figure out why that's happening. That should not happen, in this one mother's humble opinion. Oh, and there's still plenty of time for cuteness and all of that. And then one day she will tell you how to do her hair and you will talk under your breath. enjoy.
We know why it's happening. We put her on her back. She rolls back over in her sleep and then she accidentally puts her arm through the bars. She can roll over both ways, but when she wakes up, she panics because her arm is sticking through the bar, and she hasn't put two-and-two together to pull it back to her side without bending it. So she cries for us. We've pretty much come to the conclusion that we need to just lay her down on her stomach in a safe position, so that she doesn't do this when trying to roll over on her own.
But I just know that when she's a pre-teen and trying to tell me that she's old enough to do this or that on her own, I'm going to remember her rolling over difficulties and find it hard to take her assertions seriously.
Let's see if I can touch on all that's going on. Yes, it is just a little sad when an infant is sick. They can't tell you what hurts, but they just aren't themselves. I got the fingers up the nose thing, too. If folks told you your baby will put her fingers up your nose, you'd probably forget or think it wouldn't happen to you. Fingers up the nose is something you have to experience. As for rolling over, it's usually a good thing when they start to roll over onto the tummy. It usually leads to much more restful nights and deeper sleep. If she's getting stuck though, I would figure out why that's happening. That should not happen, in this one mother's humble opinion. Oh, and there's still plenty of time for cuteness and all of that. And then one day she will tell you how to do her hair and you will talk under your breath. enjoy.
We know why it's happening. We put her on her back. She rolls back over in her sleep and then she accidentally puts her arm through the bars. She can roll over both ways, but when she wakes up, she panics because her arm is sticking through the bar, and she hasn't put two-and-two together to pull it back to her side without bending it. So she cries for us. We've pretty much come to the conclusion that we need to just lay her down on her stomach in a safe position, so that she doesn't do this when trying to roll over on her own.
But I just know that when she's a pre-teen and trying to tell me that she's old enough to do this or that on her own, I'm going to remember her rolling over difficulties and find it hard to take her assertions seriously.
The hairdo is adorable!!! Baby Bjork!
And I'm certainly no baby product expert, but I think there are those pads you can put around the inside of the crib that are like a buffer between the bars & the sleep area so she has less ability to roll around. A friend had something like that a few years ago…
I'm going to start calling her Betty Bjork. I love that!
The hairdo is adorable!!! Baby Bjork!
And I'm certainly no baby product expert, but I think there are those pads you can put around the inside of the crib that are like a buffer between the bars & the sleep area so she has less ability to roll around. A friend had something like that a few years ago…
I'm going to start calling her Betty Bjork. I love that!
Glad Betty is feeling better!!
ugh, Liam is sleeping on his face, as you saw on my Facebook. We put in a breathable bumper, so that he doesn't get cause in the rungs, but he can still smash his face against the side of the crib to his heart's content and be able to breathe. My Pediatrician and EVERYONE tells me it is fine that he is sleeping on his tummy now that he can roll, but he can't roll back to his back yet. When we put him down for the night he immediately rolls to his tummy and gets mad if we roll him back.
I am SO close to buying an angelcare monitor, so I will know if he stops breathing, but I am trying not to be overly paranoid. I guess I'll just have to deal with some more sleepless nights.
Glad Betty is feeling better!!
ugh, Liam is sleeping on his face, as you saw on my Facebook. We put in a breathable bumper, so that he doesn't get cause in the rungs, but he can still smash his face against the side of the crib to his heart's content and be able to breathe. My Pediatrician and EVERYONE tells me it is fine that he is sleeping on his tummy now that he can roll, but he can't roll back to his back yet. When we put him down for the night he immediately rolls to his tummy and gets mad if we roll him back.
I am SO close to buying an angelcare monitor, so I will know if he stops breathing, but I am trying not to be overly paranoid. I guess I'll just have to deal with some more sleepless nights.
Actually, you can start to breathe easier, mama By the time babies have figured out how to roll over, it's generally safe to let them stay sleeping in that position. It's great that she likes being on her tummy. Giving her lots of tummy time during the day will help her gross motor development. It's still best to keep her sleeping area relatively free of blankets, bumpers, and stuffed animals, keep her environment free of smoke, and maintain a cool nighttime temperature to avoid overheating. I'm not the expert mama that you are, but I've studied the pediatric epidemiology literature and worked in child development for years. Now's actually a good time to make sure your home is thoroughly baby proofed so she can be free to explore as she grows. (watch out for cords, blinds, and windows within arms reach of the crib in particular). On another note while I'm thinking of it, say no to the baby walker at all cost! Stationary seats are fine, but the baby walkers on wheels do more harm than good to hip development and are a major safety risk.
Actually, you can start to breathe easier, mama By the time babies have figured out how to roll over, it's generally safe to let them stay sleeping in that position. It's great that she likes being on her tummy. Giving her lots of tummy time during the day will help her gross motor development. It's still best to keep her sleeping area relatively free of blankets, bumpers, and stuffed animals, keep her environment free of smoke, and maintain a cool nighttime temperature to avoid overheating. I'm not the expert mama that you are, but I've studied the pediatric epidemiology literature and worked in child development for years. Now's actually a good time to make sure your home is thoroughly baby proofed so she can be free to explore as she grows. (watch out for cords, blinds, and windows within arms reach of the crib in particular). On another note while I'm thinking of it, say no to the baby walker at all cost! Stationary seats are fine, but the baby walkers on wheels do more harm than good to hip development and are a major safety risk.
Thanks for all the advice! We cleared out the crib, but that's why she keeps accidentally putting her arm through the bars when she rolls over and then gets upset when she can't get it out! But now we've given up on trying to keep her on her back, and we're just positioning her on her tummy, so that she won't roll over and get stuck.
Thanks for all the advice! We cleared out the crib, but that's why she keeps accidentally putting her arm through the bars when she rolls over and then gets upset when she can't get it out! But now we've given up on trying to keep her on her back, and we're just positioning her on her tummy, so that she won't roll over and get stuck.
Janice, we just turned back on the angelcare monitor. I'm A-OK w/ being paranoid, to the point where I don't think of it as paranoia, but complete logic.
Janice, we just turned back on the angelcare monitor. I'm A-OK w/ being paranoid, to the point where I don't think of it as paranoia, but complete logic.
does it work? I was thinking of getting one before Liam was born, but Wendy had a different brand that never worked. I have read good things about the Angelcare. I need sleep!
does it work? I was thinking of getting one before Liam was born, but Wendy had a different brand that never worked. I have read good things about the Angelcare. I need sleep!
We recently got a video camera, for fun, to watch Dylan, even though he is now 9 months old. Ad you would not believe how much he rolls around. He always has and we've known it to a degree, but we can see it now. Even if you position Betty one way, chances are she is going to be moving throughout the night. That's normal for babies, as they do go through shorter sleep cycles than we do. And yup, as with your other friends, I agree–once a baby starts rolling over to their tummies, peds say there is nothing you can do about preventing them from sleeping on their stomachs. I wouldn't worry about that at all. When Dylan was 4 months old, he would do this too–we'd put him on his back and he'd instantly roll to his stomach, then sort of seem unhappy that he was there. Even though he'd been rolling stomach to back from 4 weeks, for some reason, he wouldn't do it anymore and just whine and cry on his stomach–but yet, he still kept rolling to this stomach immediately. Over time, esp once he started crawling and rocking and sitting, he didn't seem to mind it anymore, and I now think, maybe he wasn't crying because of that, even though it seemed he was.
That is tough about the hands through the slats…Dylan used to put his feet through the slats and putting him in a sleep sack helped that, as it was harder to get them through. But that wouldn't help with the arms…we recently started using bumpers, and I know peds will say don't use them EVER and I was nervous abotu doing it. But Dylan was always getting red spots from whamming into it, and he loves to sleep right up against the rails. So my husband finally convinced me to let him try it, and he's been fine. He pulls at them and plays with them sometimes (not that he can get them off, but he likes the patterns), but he's never come close to suffocating from them. Still, I might wait a bit to put them in. Although I know several parents who did bumpers from infancy and their babies were fine. There are a lot of factors to SIDS. Breathable ones might be an option, but if you are a worrying paranoid mom, it probably is not worth the stress…
Cute hair though! It's adorable she has so much! I love it! And so glad she's feeling better.
We recently got a video camera, for fun, to watch Dylan, even though he is now 9 months old. Ad you would not believe how much he rolls around. He always has and we've known it to a degree, but we can see it now. Even if you position Betty one way, chances are she is going to be moving throughout the night. That's normal for babies, as they do go through shorter sleep cycles than we do. And yup, as with your other friends, I agree–once a baby starts rolling over to their tummies, peds say there is nothing you can do about preventing them from sleeping on their stomachs. I wouldn't worry about that at all. When Dylan was 4 months old, he would do this too–we'd put him on his back and he'd instantly roll to his stomach, then sort of seem unhappy that he was there. Even though he'd been rolling stomach to back from 4 weeks, for some reason, he wouldn't do it anymore and just whine and cry on his stomach–but yet, he still kept rolling to this stomach immediately. Over time, esp once he started crawling and rocking and sitting, he didn't seem to mind it anymore, and I now think, maybe he wasn't crying because of that, even though it seemed he was.
That is tough about the hands through the slats…Dylan used to put his feet through the slats and putting him in a sleep sack helped that, as it was harder to get them through. But that wouldn't help with the arms…we recently started using bumpers, and I know peds will say don't use them EVER and I was nervous abotu doing it. But Dylan was always getting red spots from whamming into it, and he loves to sleep right up against the rails. So my husband finally convinced me to let him try it, and he's been fine. He pulls at them and plays with them sometimes (not that he can get them off, but he likes the patterns), but he's never come close to suffocating from them. Still, I might wait a bit to put them in. Although I know several parents who did bumpers from infancy and their babies were fine. There are a lot of factors to SIDS. Breathable ones might be an option, but if you are a worrying paranoid mom, it probably is not worth the stress…
Cute hair though! It's adorable she has so much! I love it! And so glad she's feeling better.