White Noise

I just put our son JD down to bed, and turned on the stuffed lamb that makes various sounds - I chose the rain sound, that seems to soothe him the best. When he was younger (3 mos.) we always used some form of white noise to help him sleep - quite ironic as you would think that silence would be best.

Yet as many moms attest, some kind of constant background noise provides comfort, and in some ways simulate the sounds of the womb. We also use it because it buffers any other sudden noises around the house, e.g. clanging of dishes, door closing, and even typing in a room next door.

So what kind of white noise do you use for your baby?

Baby-Gate

Now that JD is crawling and climbing (EVERYWHERE), we knew it was time to get a gate so he doesn't accidently tumble down the stairs. My wife's sister had purchased a cheap wooden one to save on costs, but after looking at ours, they had serious gate-envy and post-purchase regret. We picked this one up at Babies 'R Us, for about $70 - The First Years Hands-Free Gate. Not the cheapest thing in the world, but it's worth the extra bucks.

We got this based on a recommendation from our friend - who love the hands-free capability (step on a pedal and push with your knew or hip to open), and has an extra extension in case your hallway is extra-wide. But the best thing about it is, there are NO screws - so your walls are hole-free, and the gate is still securely fastened.

Sleeping Thru the Night

It has been a couple months now, since JD has been able to sleep through the night without waking up. My, what a relief! Since he was about 7 or 8 months, he has been able to sleep from about 8pm to 6:30am. It is a huge milestone that we've hit, so that mom & dad can get some extended sleep as well. BUT, there are always things that come up, that throw him off schedule...things like, growth spurt, teething especially, stomach pains or constipation when transitioning foods, and more. So while we appreciate that he has progressed, I can't say it has been flawless. C'mon, their babies, not robots. That's a big lesson I learned - rarely do they follow by the book, each child is unique and special and have their own timeline. The challenge is to be patient while hopeful.

Need a Boost(er)!

Our son, now 10 months old, loves sitting in his booster seat. We have a high chair, but we don't even use it. This Fisher-Price booster is great because you can take it wherever you go. So when we go out for dinner (on that rare occasion), we take the booster along, place it on the table with our son! It's a great way to not only feed him, but also keep him in one place. It's the best $30 you can spend, and will allow you to enjoy your meal in relative peace.