new mom

Bonnie - posted on 10/09/2011

I rocked both of mine to sleep most nights for the first year at least. Sometimes it is the easiest way to get them to sleep and stay asleep. Not to mention it is a great bonding time.

Katherine - posted on 10/09/2011

I've always rocked my kids......I don't see a problem with it.

Amanda - posted on 10/12/2011

congrats and welcome! my son is 8 months and the time sure does fly. take a ton of pictures and snuggle :)

Dawn - posted on 10/10/2011

You can't hold them too much when they're young. Love'm up; they're right, the times goes fast - enjoy your littles one!

Elizabeth - posted on 10/09/2011

Congratulations Christina and welcome. I just discovered this place a few months ago and it is wonderful. I have a 16 year old and an 8 month old.

My best advice comes in two parts. The first most important is get to know YOUR child. Every child has a different personality. Take time to get to know yours. My second bit of advice is to openly listen to advice from others, but rather than blindly taking advice, see if it fits with YOUR child.

Is your MIL (mother-in-law you'll find a lot of abbreviations her) is she concerned that you will spoil your LO (little one) by holding her so much? Multiple scientific observations have actually shown the opposite. The more attentive a caregiver is to a childs needs including holding/bonding as a newborn and infant, the more self-assured and independent they become when they get older. I had to rock, sing and pat my son to get him to sleep for the longest time. Sometimes he wouldn't fall asleep even then and he would have to be rocked. Eventually he learned to help soothe himself to sleep. Right now your little girl is too young to soothe herself, she needs her mommy to help. I suggest that you also occasionally rock her when she's not tired. My thought is that it will help her associate rocking with bonding and not just sleep.

Good luck and again, welcome.

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I have twin girls who will be 10 in December and a 3.5 year old boy.

I didn't do much rocking, but I did breastfeed the girls to sleep every nap and bedtime until we weaned at 15 months. Breastfed my son for every nap and at bedtime for 3.25 years.... No sleeping issues in our home except for the fact that I co-sleep w/ my son, but he also doesn't have his own room.

Amy - posted on 10/09/2011

Ahhh the evil mother in law, lol....I'm sure you'll find a few other moms on here who have one. There is no such thing as holding your baby too much, trust me it's not like when they get older it continues, the only chance I get to hold my 5 year old and 18 month old is of they're hurt or sick so enjoy it now. Welcome!

Christina - posted on 10/09/2011

ya! i'm not the only one!
i deal with a wicked mother in law, so far everything i do is wrong. espically how i like to bond with my daughter, she says i hold/ rock her too much. lol

Katherine - posted on 10/09/2011

Me too!

♏*PHOENIX*♏ - posted on 10/09/2011

I slept with my older son until he was 2, and I co-sleep with my younger and he is 18months. and I rocked both of them to sleep or just because...

Christina - posted on 10/09/2011

"I have 2 kids my oldest just turned 9 yesterday,and my yougest will be 5 next month. The first year does go by very fast. The advice I have to give is make sure they always sleep in a crib and do not rock them to sleep or lay down with them to go to sleep. And also try to get all the house work and other stuff you need to do done while they are sleeping or out with a friend or babysitter. And always bring a diaper bag with you even if you think you will not need it. "

why not rocking? its the only way i can get her to sleep for the moment.
do you have any ideas on how to break this habit?
i love it, but it sounds like you had trouble with it. which i really don't want, so how do i stop the habit then?

♏*PHOENIX*♏ - posted on 10/09/2011

I have two, 8years and 18months :-)

Katherine - posted on 10/09/2011

I have two, 2.5 and 6.

Emilie - posted on 10/09/2011

I have 2 kids my oldest just turned 9 yesterday,and my yougest will be 5 next month. The first year does go by very fast. The advice I have to give is make sure they always sleep in a crib and do not rock them to sleep or lay down with them to go to sleep. And also try to get all the house work and other stuff you need to do done while they are sleeping or out with a friend or babysitter. And always bring a diaper bag with you even if you think you will not need it.

JuLeah - posted on 10/09/2011

You are in the right place - welcome. My child will be ten in Nov.

Tinker1987 - posted on 10/09/2011

well im almost through the first year,my son will be 11 months on the 25th....all i can say is the first year goes by to fast!