[blparent] falling asleep?

Thu Feb 4 01:19:32 UTC 2010

There are so many interesting devices since my sons were babies. Thanks to 
all for sharing those as they may help with my Parenting students. I would 
hate to give outdated information if coule help it.
Sharon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Leanne Merren" <leemer02 at gmail.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 2:02 PM
Subject: Re: [blparent] falling asleep?


>I bought something for Kaelyn called a Snuggle Nest.  Babies R Us carries 
>it.  It's a little plastic bed for baby that can be placed right in the 
>middle of the bed.  It has plastic sides to keep any pillows and things 
>from entering baby's sleeping area, and to keep baby confined.  That is, 
>until they actually become mobile.  I would nurse her to sleep then slide 
>her into the Snuggle Nest.  I couldn't fit a cosleeper in my room, so this 
>was an inexpensive alternative.  It also has a firmer matress for baby to 
>lie on, which might make parents feel a little better than having baby on a 
>soft matress.
> Kaelyn wasn't a good cosleeper though, as she would wake up every time we 
> moved.  Sometimes, she slept well in her swing so I would bring that into 
> my room, but even that didn't last long.  It isn't easy to get sleep when 
> you have a young infant.  You'll become very creative though. :)  Just 
> don't ever leave them sleeping on a boppi pillow or anything like that 
> where they might slide down.
> Leanne
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jessica Lucken" <pete1744 at umn.edu>
> To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 12:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [blparent] falling asleep?
>
>
>>I agree with Tammy, I actually slep with Owen last night, because he is
>> going through a growth spurt and  was at the breast all day yesterday and 
>> I
>> needed sleep.  I have a co-sleeper which I really like too as it is at 
>> the
>> level of the bed mattress so I can roll him in/out and change him and
>> everything without getting out of my bed.  They are kind of pricy, but I
>> know they have cheaper ones on Craig's list, I just got mine before I
>> thought to check there.  They go up t olike 20 lbs so you can also use 
>> them
>> as a portable crib too, though, they aren't as versatile as a pack and 
>> play,
>> but they are skinnier so ift into more places.  I think mine is the
>> co-sleeper mini.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Tammy, Paul and Colyn
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 9:10 AM
>> To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [blparent] falling asleep?
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I don't agree with that either.  I think that what works for one parent
>> won't always work for another parant, and if you are careful and patient
>> you'll find what works for you.
>>
>> Tammy
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "DIANNA ALLEY" <dianna24 at earthlink.net>
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 1:30 AM
>> Subject: Re: [blparent] falling asleep?
>>
>>
>>> Well I don't know that the nurse is saying that.  a lot of doctors say
>>> that you should not sleep with your child on you now.  I don't agree.
>>> They also say you should keep your child on her or his back to sleep. 
>>> If
>>> I did that I would have been up all the time and never slept.  I just
>>> watch her really well.
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Tammy, Paul and Colyn" <tcl189 at rogers.com>
>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 8:00 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [blparent] falling asleep?
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> Totally agree with you here.  This issue may be a long-standing issue 
>>>> but
>>
>>>> being a new parent will make it worse, not better, and the 
>>>> insensativity
>>>> of some professionals due to their general lack of information or due 
>>>> to
>>>> their own inadequacies is very very annoying to say the least.  It 
>>>> sounds
>>
>>>> to me like the nurse you're dealing with is trying to find reasons why
>>>> you can't take care of your child and this is not what she should be
>>>> doing. She should be trying to help you, or if she can't help you she
>>>> should find somebody who can.  Remember that you're not supposed to 
>>>> know
>>>> all the answers right now, you're supposed to be the one asking 
>>>> questions
>>
>>>> and she's the one who should have all the answers.  If she doesn't, 
>>>> then
>>>> she's at fault, not you.
>>>>
>>>> hth
>>>>
>>>> Tammy
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>> From: "Dena Wainwright" <dena at envogueaccess.com>
>>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 6:17 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [blparent] falling asleep?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I get that. My only point is that if you are worried about falling
>>>>>asleep, there are precautions you can take to make the
>>>>>environment/situation safer so that when it happens, it isn't as
>>>>>dangerous for your baby. It makes me mad when nurses and other
>>>>>"professionals" try to terrify us into thinking we can't take care of 
>>>>>our
>>
>>>>>children. We have enough doubts about that as it is - both because of 
>>>>>our
>>
>>>>>blindness and our lack of experience as new parents. I'm not saying the
>>>>>nurse's concern isn't valid, but she could have offered solutions,
>>>>>instead of just saying that it should never happen. I mean, get real.
>>>>>Anyone who has a newborn knows that you are like the walking dead. I
>>>>>think we'd wonder about someone who didn't fall asleep at the drop of a
>>>>>hat :). I know the issue is a long term one in this case, but I'm sure
>>>>>it's compounded by new motherhood and the body trying to make 
>>>>>breastmilk.
>>
>>>>>I was hoping to put some of her fears at ease by giving her some things
>>>>>she could try for when it does happen.
>>>>>
>>>>> Dena
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>> From: "sharon howerton" <shrnhow at att.net>
>>>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 3:51 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [blparent] falling asleep?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Dena, I think your points are well taken and great; however, it 
>>>>>> sounds
>>>>>> to me, and I don't know this for sure, like Leslie has had a problem
>>>>>> with this sort of thing long before she had Michael. I don't know if
>>>>>> it's a blind thing, but it's happened to me, kids or no, and I know
>>>>>> it's definitely happened with my significant other who was sighted
>>>>>> until about 14 years ago. He can knock off at the drop of a hat and
>>>>>> attributes it to getting up early (4 AM routinely) and having worked
>>>>>> early mornings for many years requiring that he get up at 2:30 AM, 
>>>>>> but
>>>>>> he hasn't done that in many years. I have been better with this in
>>>>>> recent years but will admit that I have had this sort of problem even
>>>>>> at work; it was just something I could not control and needless to 
>>>>>> say,
>>
>>>>>> it was embarrassing.
>>>>>> Sharon
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>>> From: "Dena Wainwright" <dena at envogueaccess.com>
>>>>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 2:42 PM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [blparent] falling asleep?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> OK...First, falling asleep while holding your baby isn't necessarily 
>>>>>>> a
>>
>>>>>>> bad thing if you prepare for that possibility. Yes, you absolutely
>>>>>>> must be more careful initially, both because he is extra tiny, and
>>>>>>> because he lacks head control. Yes, you could smother him - if you
>>>>>>> fell asleep with blankets over you both, tons of fluffy pillows all
>>>>>>> around you, with his face smushed into your body or clothing so he
>>>>>>> couldn't breathe, etc., but falling asleep with your baby in your 
>>>>>>> arms
>>
>>>>>>> does not automatically equate to a suffocation hazard.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> For the first several months of Elise's life, the only way she would
>>>>>>> sleep is literally on my body. Maybe there are those who would
>>>>>>> disagree with this strategy, but if you've never had a child who
>>>>>>> absolutely would not sleep without physical contact (I mean for more
>>>>>>> than 10 minutes at a time...ever) then I'm not really interested in
>>>>>>> hearing how horrible you think it is. I thought (before I had this
>>>>>>> kind of baby) that cosleeping was stupid. I couldn't understand why
>>>>>>> anyone in their right mind would want to do it, especially when 
>>>>>>> their
>>>>>>> child had a perfectly good crib or bassinette... Then I found myself
>>>>>>> in the situation where I probably wouldn't have gotten more than 2
>>>>>>> hours of sleep a day if I wasn't holding my baby, and suddenly it
>>>>>>> didn't seem so dumb.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Here are a couple of things you can do.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If you do want to sleep with him:
>>>>>>> First, you can lay in the middle of your bed (with every blanket but
>>>>>>> the fitted sheet taken off of it). You can place a very firm pillow
>>>>>>> under your head (no other pillows of any kind should be on the bed).
>>>>>>> You can wear warm (but non-bulky) clothing to keep yourself from
>>>>>>> getting cold. If you really want to, you can put a bed rail on the
>>>>>>> bed, but I found that given that I was a good couple of feet from 
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> edges, I didn't really need to. However, if you don't have the 
>>>>>>> luxury
>>>>>>> of your own bed (we have a guest room, which made shift-taking 
>>>>>>> easier
>>>>>>> in the beginning), you might want a rail on your side. Then you can
>>>>>>> place your baby on your stomach. He will be laying tummy to tummy 
>>>>>>> with
>>
>>>>>>> you, with his head between your breasts. This is very soothing for 
>>>>>>> mom
>>
>>>>>>> and baby, and can increase milk production if done skin to skin. You
>>>>>>> won't need to put a lot of clothing on him if you're doing this, as
>>>>>>> your combined body heat will keep him very warm, and it is actually
>>>>>>> better to keep babies on the cooler side as opposed to the warmer
>>>>>>> side.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Another thing you can do is wear him in a pouch on your front. This
>>>>>>> would allow you to sit up with him, but still be able to hold him
>>>>>>> securely. I will preface the pouch suggestion by saying that you
>>>>>>> should *never* *never* put a newborn baby with no head control into 
>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>> sling of any kind in the cradle position. The cradle position is 
>>>>>>> where
>>
>>>>>>> he is laying on his back across the front of your body (like he 
>>>>>>> would
>>>>>>> be if you had one of your arms behind his head, and one under his 
>>>>>>> bum
>>>>>>> and knees. This is an extremely dangerous position for such a young
>>>>>>> baby, because their chin can be pushed forward into their chest -
>>>>>>> cutting off their air supply. Because they are not able to move 
>>>>>>> their
>>>>>>> head to accommodate this decreased air supply, they can literally
>>>>>>> suffocate to death in your arms. If you think I'm being
>>>>>>> overly-dramatic, my friend saw a 2 week old baby die in front of her
>>>>>>> because of this exact thing. If you want to use a pouch, the safest
>>>>>>> way to wear your baby is to put him in so that his body is parallel 
>>>>>>> to
>>
>>>>>>> yours. His stomach will be against your chest, his head will be 
>>>>>>> under
>>>>>>> your chin, and his legs will be folded froggy-style (with his heels
>>>>>>> resting against his bum and his knees bowed outward). Even very tiny
>>>>>>> babies have the ability to minimally shift their head from side to
>>>>>>> side, even if they can't lift it up on their own. This position 
>>>>>>> makes
>>>>>>> it less likely that his chin will be pushed down into his chest, and
>>>>>>> it will also make it easier for you to hear him breathing, because 
>>>>>>> his
>>
>>>>>>> face will be about 8 inches away from your own. Again, he won't need
>>>>>>> more than a onesie if he's in a pouch, as they are very warm. I got
>>>>>>> mine from
>>>>>>> www.kangarookorner.com
>>>>>>> Their staff is very helpful at describing their products, and
>>>>>>> assisting you with placing your order. They actually apologized to 
>>>>>>> me
>>>>>>> that their site wasn't easier for me to use.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hope some of this helps.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Dena
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>>>> From: "Leslie Hamric" <lhamric930 at comcast.net>
>>>>>>> To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 8:54 AM
>>>>>>> Subject: [blparent] falling asleep?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hi All.  I was wondering if you could give me any ideas, as I'm
>>>>>>>> running into
>>>>>>>> a problem that could be potentially serious.  Its happened a few
>>>>>>>> times where
>>>>>>>> I've fallen asleep with my baby in my arms.  The first time it
>>>>>>>> happened, one
>>>>>>>> of the nurses saw it and she informed me that I could potentially
>>>>>>>> suffocate
>>>>>>>> my baby by doing this. The problem is that I don't always know I'm
>>>>>>>> getting
>>>>>>>> sleepy unless someone tells me I am or until I start nodding off. 
>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>> had a
>>>>>>>> sleep study done in 2004 and the specialist said I have a non 24 
>>>>>>>> hour
>>
>>>>>>>> sleep
>>>>>>>> cycle and the only way to remedy that is to get a full 8 hours of
>>>>>>>> sleep at
>>>>>>>> the same time every night.  Well, we both know that's virtually
>>>>>>>> impossible
>>>>>>>> now that I'm a new mom.  Have you ever had this problem and if so,
>>>>>>>> what
>>>>>>>> kinds of things did you do to stay awake while holding your baby?
>>>>>>>> One thing
>>>>>>>> I've tried was having the radio on and that doesn't seem to help.
>>>>>>>> Andy's
>>>>>>>> really worried about me too. He doesn't want me to fall asleep and
>>>>>>>> accidentally smother the baby.  I don't want that either.  I'm just
>>>>>>>> at a
>>>>>>>> loss of how to solve this issue.  I've heard other blind people
>>>>>>>> having the
>>>>>>>> same problem since they don't get the light stimulation.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Leslie
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> blparent mailing list
>>>>>>>> blparent at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>>>>>>> for
>>
>>>>>>>> blparent:
>>>>>>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/dena%40envogueacce
>> ss.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> blparent mailing list
>>>>>>> blparent at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>> blparent:
>>>>>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/shrnhow%40att.net
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> blparent mailing list
>>>>>> blparent at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>>> blparent:
>>>>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/dena%40envogueacce
>> ss.com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> blparent mailing list
>>>>> blparent at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>> blparent:
>>>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/tcl189%40rogers.co
>> m
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> blparent mailing list
>>>> blparent at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> blparent:
>>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/dianna24%40earthli
>> nk.net
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blparent mailing list
>>> blparent at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> blparent:
>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/tcl189%40rogers.co
>> m
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blparent mailing list
>> blparent at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> blparent:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/pete1744%40umn.edu
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blparent mailing list
>> blparent at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> blparent:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/leemer02%40gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> blparent mailing list
> blparent at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blparent:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/shrnhow%40att.net