The Boppy is My New Best Friend

Getting Andrew to sleep has been a challenge ever since he was born.  During his first week home, we slept with him on our chests because he refused to sleep in his own crib.  We tried everything else - the swing, the bouncer, white noise machine, loud music, swaddling (with different types of swaddling blankets), extra nursing sessions, but nothing seemed to work. We were told repeatedly by the nurses at Sibley that we should NOT sleep with the babies in our beds because of SIDS (and the possibility that we might roll over them accidentally).   After hours of screaming that first night home, we realized that the chances of us defenestrating the baby was much higher than SIDS.  To keep sane (and not go to jail), we resigned to enter the Hall of Parenting Shame and sleep with Andrew in our bed.

Luckily for us, Jim's cousins (Michelle and Lou) showed us their great swaddling technique the following weekend.  Michelle and Lou's special technique called for a touch of love and a whole lot of brute force to keep the baby wrapped as tightly as possible. Armed with the new knowledge (and a few extra large swaddling blankets borrowed from baby Anna), we went home eager to try out the new technique.  The tip worked and we remain indebted to Michelle and Lou for giving us the gift of sleep (at least in two/three hour increments).

While we were able to get Andrew to sleep on his own at night, we were still having trouble getting him to sleep unassisted during the day.  We didn't swaddle him during the day because we were afraid he would sleep too much and not sleep at night.  Without a swaddle, Andrew would only nap while being held or in a moving stroller or car.  Holding Andrew constantly during the day or taking him out for walks left very little time for me to run any errands, eat, or use the bathroom.  Now that Andrew is getting heavier (fat), Jim and I decided to try something new and put him in the Boppy (the thing I use to nurse) and wrap the Boppy's arms around Andrew.  Miraculously, Andrew fell asleep in the Boppy because he thought he was being held. The Boppy technique only works half the time, but at least I can now get an occasional free hour or two in the day to clean, relax, take a long shower, or update this blog for all my friends and family!  I've included a photo of Andrew swaddled in Anna's blanket and in his Boppy.  The attached video is a clip of him soothing himself to sleep.  He seems frustrated in the video, but he actually fell asleep on his own!