My child has been alert and active since the day he was born. Seriously, he came out with wide eyes and he stayed awake for more than two hours. He was really active in the womb as well, so we weren't particularly surprised when all that energy transferred to life on the outside. Having an alert baby has been an absolute pleasure–we got smiles and coos earlier than most, he began to recognize us within the first few weeks and now at five months old he belly laughs, scoots around, almost never gives us trouble in social situations and can play independently for decent stretches of time. But it's also come with one major issue: sleep–or, actually, the lack thereof. I've learned a lot about both the joys and the challenges of having an active infant over the past several months–including the value of caffeine–and here are my five lessons for parents of lively babies:
Babywearing works! We put my son in his Baby Bjorn from the day he reached the eight-pound weight requirement, and have not looked back since. Early on–and even occasionally now–we used it as a tool to put him down for naps. These days, we almost always bring it with us to run errands and when we're traveling. Just keep in mind that active babies like to know what's going on, so you'll want to purchase a carrier in which your little one can face outward.
I've gotten used to functioning without much sleep. This is the case for most new parents, but even more so when you've been blessed with a busybody baby. I've spent countless hours entertaining your baby and putting your baby to sleep–a task that can take significantly longer and require the maximum amount of effort when you have a child that thrives on sensory input. Make sure your kitchen is fully stocked with coffee, tea or the caffeine source of your choosing–nursing or not.
I feel incredibly rewarded. Despite the sleep-deprivation, I fell head-over-heels in love with your new additon. My little guy was throwing around social smiles when he was as young as three weeks, and yes, I'm sure it wasn't gas. Every time I get one of those big, toothless grins nothing else matters. Interacting with a baby who seems to somewhat understand what's going on around him is fascinating and watching him learn from the world he lives in, is well worth the sleeplessness.
Swing, sway and shush. When all else fails a combination of these sleep-inducing techniques will likely get the job done. I'm not saying it won't take awhile–but I am saying it will work…eventually. I've spent many hours perfecting these methods and managed to get my son to sleep through the night for about six weeks–enough time to recharge for awhile. He no longer sleeps through, but I usually don't have to spend more than a few minutes putting him back to sleep, so don't be afraid that they'll end up being a crutch.
A change of scenery may be in order. If your baby is getting fussy, a simple change of locale might be exactly what you need to calm him down. Active babies have a tendency to get bored and while a more reserved child might shy away from new places, an outgoing child will likely be overjoyed given the opportunity to explore a foreign setting. Go for a walk around the block, head to the mall or to the library and let your baby soak up the world around him.
White noise works wonders. Invest in a white noise machine. It's a great tool to use as a sleep cue. Be consistent and use it for every nap and at bedtime and your baby will come to associate it with sleepytime. Plus, it will drown out any distracting sounds that could rouse your baby from the early, lighter stages of sleep. Some people prefer machines that can run all night, but ours has a 45-minute timer and has worked well for us over the months.
Image via Lυвαιв/flickr
