Rock-a-bye Baby

Sam’s crib was all set up and ready to go when we brought him home from the hospital. I had no idea then that he would never sleep in it.

I had a very, very difficult time the first year of Sam’s life. Someday I may write about it in detail. The worst part was being terrified every time Sam slept. SIDS awareness is a wonderful thing but I think new moms are bombarded with too much information. I couldn’t get past the fear that I’d one day walk into Sam’s room and find him lying in his crib, not breathing. The fact that Sam had reflux and spit up constantly didn’t help. I was afraid he’d choke if he slept on his back – and he had to sleep on his back according to SIDS prevention guidelines!

So for about five months Sam slept in his carseat next to my bed. Once he was able to shoot himself out of his seat I let him sleep in bed with me. That is the one thing I swore I’d never do! We ended up sharing a bed until Sam was 14 months old. That’s when I turned his crib into a toddler bed and he started sleeping in there.

Needless to say, I did not sleep for a year. I was either watching him breathe, certain he’d stop the second I went to sleep, or getting woken up by a kick to the ribs. I didn’t want to repeat that experience with Matilda.

I knew I’d never be able to put her in her own room as a newborn so she was set up with a bassinet next to my bed. That is where she has slept since our first night home. It sounds like no big deal but I never would have been able to sleep if Sam had been lying on his back in a bassinet. This time around I know everything is fine.

For the last few weeks I’ve known our bassinet days were coming to an end. Matilda is no longer a newborn and was basically filling the entire bed. I knew she had to start sleeping in her crib.

So last night found Matilda and me in her room instead of mine. That’s where she had her last bottle and where I rocked her for a minute or two. I set her in the crib – she looked so small in there! – and walked out of the room.

And…success!! Matilda slept in her crib. The bassinet is being packed away. Matilda has moved on to the next phase of her life. I know some moms would be a little sad but this mom is just elated. Woo hoo…I feel like I’m doing something right!

Sweet dreams to us!