Alan's 4 month

[lesliepear]

He's doing well.
14.2 lbs and 24 1/4 inches.
50 percentile for weight, 25 percentile for height, and 50 percentile for head (didn't get the measurement).
Doctor seemed pleased with him - he didn't like the shots as he had to wait a long time for the doctor and shots (the office was very busy and he had a lot of sick patients (which we tried to keep Alan away from)).
He wants to start cereal between 5 and 5 1/2 months - mostly to get Alan used to being fed, but not feeding until after 6 months. I'm ok with this. Plain rice cereal is fine according to the doctor.
The doctor said if he cries after midnight wait 10 minutes before feeding him. I guess this is a form of CIO, and I can deal with it (CIO - cry it out). I couldn't let him cry for hours, but short crying before he falls alseep is ok by me.

Comments

[goodjoan]

I think your dr has forgotten what life is like with a baby! 4 months is way to early to start sleep training, even Ferber wants you to wait until after 6 months! At 4 months a baby is not trying to manipulate you, if he wakes up crying it's because he needs something, maybe a bottle, maybe just a cuddle. Ignoring him only teaches him that his needs don't get met and will likely cause him to be clingy during the day and not want to go to bed because once you leave, he can't trust that you will come back.

Do what feels right to you, not just what the Dr says. The dr doesn't live in your house!

[lesliepear.livejournal.com]

I think the doctor's intent is that I don't pick him up *immediately* if he cries...because he can cry in his sleep. I don't know if it will work as I keep winding up waking up in the middle of the night with him next to me and no idea how it happens (DH is in another room - so I must fetch him when I'm 1/2 asleep.)

Re:

[goodjoan]

well, granted, it's silly to rouse a baby that's just fussing in his sleep but once he is awake and crying he needs your attention. It sounds like you already have it under control, you wake up just enough to tend to him, but not so much you have to try to get back to sleep! Obviously, you are doing the right stuff if you are both sleeping!!

[keri80.livejournal.com]

I would give my kiddos a paci when they woke up. I tried after 12 weeks and at 14 weeks they started sleeping through the night. Believe me if he wants to eat he will let you know. I remember my son hollering for his food the first night we tried.

My pedi said the same thing at four months because he thinks that at some point they stop waking up because they are hungry and instead wake up out of habit. Shrug....my son still wakes up to be comforted every single night. I have no idea why and I can't do CIO since he would keep everyone in the house up. If it is still going on in a couple of months I guess we will be forced to try the CIO...but I hope he learns on his own.

[lesliepear.livejournal.com]

I wish I could use a pacifier. Alan won't take it. He only will suck on me,his hands or when taking a bottle. He doesn't really even put toys in his mouth yet.

Re:

[keri80.livejournal.com]

My son wouldn't either but we sorta coaxed him into it. It didn't really help at all at first and then he got interested. I guess I just made another bad habit but you do what you gotta do to make things work.

It will get better just hang in there. I am loving life right now and just a couple of months ago I would not have said that!

CIO and cereal

[yeoww.livejournal.com]

Kids are all different. Aaron slept through the night at 2 months but Hannah didn't sleep more than 2 hour stretches until she was 9 months old, and we couldn't let her cry it out because she woke up everyone in the house and also because it upset me so much. So I took her into bed with me, which became a habit that we just recently had to help her break, and she's 5. You do what you have to do!

Aaron ate cereal at 4 months but Hannah didn't tolerate it until 7 months or so. She hated the texture; she'd pucker up her little rosebud mouth and phhffft! back it came.

Like others have said, the doctor doesn't live with you. You'll do what works best for you and your baby.