Each month I will feature a mom whose story will relate to my blog post. This month is about how each child is very different. Many parents call me to tell me how one child was so perfect and now the next one is a lot to handle and therefore is not sleeping or eating on any sort of sane schedule! Parents often call me when they are sleep deprived and at their wit's end. The baby or child is not sleeping and waking up all night or taking 'cat-naps' all day long. They don't understand how this could be happening to them because their first or second or even third was never so difficult. The truth is...they are all diffierent. Some are angel babies ~ you can take them anywhere and do anything and they will cooperate ~ others are not. Parents often call me about the more 'spirited' child because they seem to complain all of the time (had one of those) and will not follow the handbook the parents know how to play by. But what I have found is the angel babies (had one of those too) are often the ones I worry about the most. They are easily taken advantage of and do not get their needs met. The 'complainer' demands it. And...none of that matters...believe it or not they both need the same thing whether they demand it or not. That is my job, to let you know what they need and therefore the easy baby will be even easier and the demanding one will become easy. Babies and children talk to us and if we are not playing by the rules, they let us know. Andrea found this out all to well. Her first daughter Maddie was very easy and slept well then a few years later came Baby Cate. As Andrea's story will tell you she was exhausted and after reading all the books, Cate was getting worse instead of better. I put Cate on the appropriate schedule that was about her needs as a 4 month old and helped Andrea and Beau understand how her little brain was working and growing. There is a lot of information out there. So, let me help you rise above the noise and get back to basics. Babies and children work in 3 day increments. That is why my program is called the 3 Day Sleep Solution. If you play by their rules, they will sleep and eat and enjoy their wonderful worlds. Here are some basic needs:
Sleep Needs. 6 weeks to 4 months: 16-18 hours per day.
4 months to 8 months: 15-17 hours per day.
8 months to 15 months: 14-16 hours per day.
Yep, they need it.
My next blog will be about what these little people are trying to tell you when they wake numerous times throughout the night and all about that dreadful 4 a.m. wake up.
Until next time....
Sleep Well, Eat Well, Be Well!
Davis.
RISING ABOVE THE NOISE!
Hi!
My name is Davis Ehrler and I am the creator of 3 Day Sleep Solution. I have 3 children of my own, I have been a postpartum doula and an infant/child sleep consultant for 8 years now. I have a DVD available and have worked with families all over the world creating healthy sleep, eating, and discipline habits with their children. I have created this blog for all of the tired parents and caretakers out there. Most have read all the books and have tried everything to no avail except frustration. It is never my intention to force an agenda onto you. We each have our own parenting styles as I have humbly dabbled in a few myself. What I have found is there is no arguing with the basic fundamental needs of each human being and sleep ~ particularly in infants and children ~ is the most important need as it feeds the brain. Sleep is the first stage of development that we often skip because it can be a noisy endeavor but it is in fact the ONLY thing a baby can do for itself. When we hand over age appropriate responsibility, we create confidence and begin to build self esteem.
If you have tried everything or simply want to learn how to create sleeping and eating habits in your infant, this blog will serve you well. I will be featuring a mom or dad who has been where you are and is now where you want to be and I will be giving tips as well having fun with this. I promise I will be rising above the noise and getting you back to happy basics.
I hope you enjoy following the 3 Day Sleep Solution blog and if you have any topic you want me to write about...just let me know.
My name is Davis Ehrler and I am the creator of 3 Day Sleep Solution. I have 3 children of my own, I have been a postpartum doula and an infant/child sleep consultant for 8 years now. I have a DVD available and have worked with families all over the world creating healthy sleep, eating, and discipline habits with their children. I have created this blog for all of the tired parents and caretakers out there. Most have read all the books and have tried everything to no avail except frustration. It is never my intention to force an agenda onto you. We each have our own parenting styles as I have humbly dabbled in a few myself. What I have found is there is no arguing with the basic fundamental needs of each human being and sleep ~ particularly in infants and children ~ is the most important need as it feeds the brain. Sleep is the first stage of development that we often skip because it can be a noisy endeavor but it is in fact the ONLY thing a baby can do for itself. When we hand over age appropriate responsibility, we create confidence and begin to build self esteem.
If you have tried everything or simply want to learn how to create sleeping and eating habits in your infant, this blog will serve you well. I will be featuring a mom or dad who has been where you are and is now where you want to be and I will be giving tips as well having fun with this. I promise I will be rising above the noise and getting you back to happy basics.
I hope you enjoy following the 3 Day Sleep Solution blog and if you have any topic you want me to write about...just let me know.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
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Andrea, Maddie,and Cate
Well-Rested Babies and Momma
Featured Mom
Andrea
When my youngest daughter, Cate, was 4 months old I was on the edge of insanity! She had yet to sleep through one night and it was only getting worse instead of better as she aged. To put her down for a nap or bedtime was entire ordeal in itself. Walking, rocking, shooshing, put the paci in, more walking, more rocking, more shooshing, stick the paci in again. Finally, after about 30 mins (on a good day) I would put her down in her crib and she would nap for 30-45 min or sleep for two to three hours at night. She also snacked throughout the day and never ate a full meal. She was tired, cranky, and miserable. I was exhausted, depressed, frustrated, and even angry. I couldn't understand what was going on. My first daughter, Madison, started sleeping through the night on her own at 3 months old! We never had any sleep issues with her. My husband and I knew we needed help. A friend suggested calling Davis. We called her the next day and she appeared in our living room three days later ready to change our lives! During our consultation Davis taught us all about the science of sleep, the needs of our baby, how the brain works and learns, and what we needed to do to honor our baby's need to sleep. That first night Cate slept for 13 hours (with minimal wake-ups). The next night she slept 12 hours straight through and has every night since then. She takes solid and restful naps throughout the day and when I go to put her in her crib she giggles and smiles and goes to sleep on her own within 5-10 min. She is a much happier, more flexible, more easygoing baby since we used The 3 Day Sleep Solution. And I am a happier mommy who actually enjoys her baby now! Due to our success with the program, I knew I needed to become more involved and I now work on Davis's team as a 3 Day Sleep Solution consultant myself. I still find it amazing how by following a few simple rules of biology, families can literally change the way they are living and become well-rested and happy people again! I will be forever grateful to Davis for helping us and our sweet Baby Cate!
When my youngest daughter, Cate, was 4 months old I was on the edge of insanity! She had yet to sleep through one night and it was only getting worse instead of better as she aged. To put her down for a nap or bedtime was entire ordeal in itself. Walking, rocking, shooshing, put the paci in, more walking, more rocking, more shooshing, stick the paci in again. Finally, after about 30 mins (on a good day) I would put her down in her crib and she would nap for 30-45 min or sleep for two to three hours at night. She also snacked throughout the day and never ate a full meal. She was tired, cranky, and miserable. I was exhausted, depressed, frustrated, and even angry. I couldn't understand what was going on. My first daughter, Madison, started sleeping through the night on her own at 3 months old! We never had any sleep issues with her. My husband and I knew we needed help. A friend suggested calling Davis. We called her the next day and she appeared in our living room three days later ready to change our lives! During our consultation Davis taught us all about the science of sleep, the needs of our baby, how the brain works and learns, and what we needed to do to honor our baby's need to sleep. That first night Cate slept for 13 hours (with minimal wake-ups). The next night she slept 12 hours straight through and has every night since then. She takes solid and restful naps throughout the day and when I go to put her in her crib she giggles and smiles and goes to sleep on her own within 5-10 min. She is a much happier, more flexible, more easygoing baby since we used The 3 Day Sleep Solution. And I am a happier mommy who actually enjoys her baby now! Due to our success with the program, I knew I needed to become more involved and I now work on Davis's team as a 3 Day Sleep Solution consultant myself. I still find it amazing how by following a few simple rules of biology, families can literally change the way they are living and become well-rested and happy people again! I will be forever grateful to Davis for helping us and our sweet Baby Cate!
