![\"solly](\"http:\/\/www.michellebeachy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/solly-baby-wrap-1-of-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIf I could only tell a new mom one thing I think this would be it. \u00a0Do what works for you. \u00a0Follow your mom intuition. \u00a0You may not have a big sense of it yet; but you do have one. \u00a0The more you exercise it, the more you will hear it. \u00a0Listen to it. It doesn’t mean you are always right; but often you are. \u00a0The right decision is the one that works for you<\/em>. Not the one that works for your sister in law or your friend or the other mom at church who makes parenting look like a piece of cake.<\/p>\n I learned this quickly. \u00a0Adam was a few months old when I tried making him go to sleep in his crib. \u00a0Why? Because that’s how most of the moms at church did it. \u00a0 It’s what the pediatric magazines all said. \u00a0It’s what his doctor recommended.<\/p>\n He cried for what felt like an eternity while I bent over his crib and patted his back. \u00a0I hated every minute of it and I totally refused to do it again until he was almost two. \u00a0I love, love, love rocking my babies. It’s one of my favorite things to do. \u00a0They love it, too. \u00a0So I don’t care how many hours of research are behind those magazine articles, I will rock them until they or I am ready to transition. \u00a0Same thing with so many other things. \u00a0Figure out what you believe when it comes to all those hot button mom topics and follow your heart. \u00a0You will be a far more consistent and less frustrated mama if you believe in the way you are parenting.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n So I offer this, not as a do it this way solution; but simply as one of those hanging out in the nursery at church chats. \u00a0It’s what worked for us and some of it has been handed down from my mama because it worked for her. \u00a0She was told by her mom and it worked for her. \u00a0Who knows. \u00a0Maybe some of it’s genetic. \u00a0Maybe it’s just the way we’re wired to parent. \u00a0But I’ve been sharing this with friends for awhile and sometimes it has helped.<\/p>\n I’d reeeaaally like to avoid creating a hot button post so please can I say one more time, this isn’t the only right way. \u00a0I have no judgement for anyone who likes to sleep train or who enjoys getting up with their baby at night and doesn’t want it to change. \u00a0I’ll celebrate whichever way you want it. \u00a0But just in case you wish your baby would sleep through the night and want to try something that might help, I’ll share the love that was shared with me.<\/p>\n My babies have all slept for long chunks of time at night from early on. \u00a0One of them waited until just shy of four weeks to pull a five hour stretch but I think they all did eight by two months. \u00a0The last three slept four to five hours by the time they were a week old. Bella might throw me on the eight hour stretches by two months though. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n We don’t do any sleep training. \u00a0I’m a bit more of a gentle, middle of the roader when it comes to that one. \u00a0But I do like to encourage it. \u00a0Here’s what we’ve learned.<\/p>\n Advice from my mom and from her mom.<\/p>\n Keep it quiet at night. \u00a0Believe it or not, in those first few days it is possible to be so euphoric about your darling baby that when she wakes at 2 AM you want to talk to her. Try not to. \u00a0Don’t make eye contact either because eye contact is super stimulating to a tiny baby. \u00a0Use the lowest light possible for those diaper changes and feedings. \u00a0We put a 15 watt bulb in a lamp and keep it away from the changing table \/ feeding area.<\/p>\n Keep your baby warm. \u00a0All the experts say to dress your baby like you dress or maybe one more layer. \u00a0Really? They just exited a cozy apartment where they were snuggled tight and the temperature always stayed just shy of 99 degrees. \u00a0And now we’re supposed to lay them flat on their backs in a 70 something house with only the amount of clothes we wear and expect them to sleep. \u00a0It’s kind of laughable, really.<\/p>\n Lots of babies like to be swaddled and it’s safer to swaddle them than to put a loose blanket on top of them. \u00a0So swaddle them up. \u00a0Bella loves a cotton swaddle and a heavier blanket wrapped around her and tucked in. \u00a0Your baby shouldn’t sweat, but if she’s waking up with cool hands and feet, she’s probably cold. (Yes, I know they all say babies have poor circulation. \u00a0Their hands and feet might be cold. \u00a0I’m just saying what works for us.) \u00a0Think about how hard she sleeps when she’s lying on your chest. \u00a0She gets all warm and relaxed from your body heat. \u00a0Her circulation might not be great; but she doesn’t like being cold. \u00a0I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a tiny baby with mottled arms and legs in a cold restaurant and had to almost physically restrain myself from walking up with a blanket. \ud83d\ude09 \u00a0Babies love to be warm.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n