Daily life at 8 weeks

The days have become a bit easier for me now. I’m sure it’s partially due to the fact that I’m more used to her, and more used to understanding what she needs. I can distinguish cries more easily, the hungry cry is different from the wet cry or the bored cry. We know what works, and what doesn’t.

We don’t go through as many “major” tantrums in a day any longer. I think that partially has to do with her being on medicine for acid reflux. She had a hoarse cry for a week or so, and the pediatrician suggested we try out the meds to see if it helped. In all honesty, I was hoping it would be a cure-all. I thought maybe she was just in pain from the reflux all the time, and maybe that’s why she had been so difficult. It’s helped with the all out screaming (for the most part), but she still is who she is. We have good days and bad days.

I know in the mornings that the bouncy chair works. She likes to play in the afternoon – now that she can see further, she loves her Lamaze play gym (which is awesome by the way, check it out) and sometimes she just wants to be alone, she loves to lay on the couch or in her crib and look around. Lately in the evenings, the swing works (which she hated in the beginning).

My best advice – try everything, multiple times. If it doesn’t work one day it will work the next. And when all else fails, leave them alone to take in the world.

Stuff…and more stuff…

People kept telling us we had too much stuff. I was having way too much fun baby gear shopping to stop though. Everyone said, “there’s no way she’ll use all of that”.

By the time she was born, we had a bouncer, cradle swing, pack & play, tummy time pad, and a floor gym. On top of the toys and other fun things. I too started to think that we had too much, but I wanted to be prepared.

And boy am I glad I was prepared. We use all of our stuff, I wish we had more stuff – I wish we could live in Buy Buy Baby!

A high needs baby needs lots of things to keep their attention and to help calm them down. We usually will get anywhere from 10-30 minutes of calm time with any item. And then we have to find the next thing that will work.

Here are some of the things we have found work best for Madison:

• The vacuum has become our best friend. My advice – buy a cheap shop vac. They’re meant to run for longer periods (and you won’t ruin yours). White noise helps her immensely.
• Bouncy chair on vibrate on the dryer (with the dryer on).
• Pacing back and forth while patting her on the back. She’ll wake up immediately though if we stop patting.
• Nursing – which now I don’t mind, but in the beginning was more painful than birth – seriously.

If you have a high needs baby, let me know what’s worked for you!