Yummy, delicious sleep

When a baby enters the world, she has four basic needs:

1.) Food

2.) Sleep

3.) Cuddling
4.) Lots of cute outfits and soft toys

The baby will continue to need these things her entire life, although they will change in substance as she grows and matures. For instance, in the future, the only milk Elise drinks may be in her double mocha espresso, with extra whipped cream. One day, she may be shutting out her light for the night mere hours before nowadays she's waking up. The family dog will likely get more hugs from her than I will, and her closet may at some point contain no pink whatsoever. Only time will tell.

In fact, this weekend it became apparent that Elise was ready to make a few shifts in several of these areas. Or, at least, we were ready for her to.

To our dismay, Matt and I had noticed a strikingly downward trend in Elise's overnight sleep. Hunger called at every hour, it seemed, and we were both exhausted. Especially me, as feeding the baby in a cold recliner at all hours is much less cozy than just going back to sleep in a soft, warm bed. (Although I recognize that Daddy's several screamy pacifier attempts were no fun, either.)

Most professional sources will tell you that solid food has nothing to do with a baby's sleep patterns, but every time I face extra night feedings, I disagree, desperate for any kind of "fix." That, and some new findings suggesting that early exposure to foods may help ward off allergies convinced me that 5 months was a great time to start Elise on solids. (She also responded favorably when I let her lick a banana I was eating a few days ago.)

Accordingly, I set up Elise's high chair (which Kalina gleefully noted is right next to her booster seat), mashed up a banana and carefully mixed up some free-sample formula to swirl in with the banana. I also found a fresh, new bib (none of Kalina's crusty hand-me-downs for Elise's first meal!) and chose a cute purple spoon. All set.

I did not let Kalina feed Elise, despite the older girl's request. I wanted to make sure things would go smoothly first.

With Daddy snapping away on the camera, I pulled Elise's mouth away from the high chair strap she was gnawing and set a bite of mushy banana on her tongue.

And I have never seen anyone make such a sad look of disgust as my baby did at that moment.

Seriously, child? You don't like banana? That's as good as it's going to get for a while, I'm afraid. You can have cake on your first birthday.

I tried again with an even squishier bite. Maybe she just didn't like the texture. Nope--the same look. And again--sometimes you have to try a food 10 times before the baby knows whether or not she likes it. Same result.

And that was the end of Elise's first feeding. In her defense, she was rather tired at the time.

I did, of course, try again this morning. I skipped the formula (it didn't mix well anyway) and put a miniature bite of banana on Elise's tongue. Utter disgust.

But...by about the 6th bite of banana, the baby only seemed a bit confused on what to do with the stuff (am I supposed to hold it in my mouth, send it down, or push it out?). And after that, she seemed to begin catch on to the whole concept, almost eating about 3 more bites before losing interest.

I think I'm glad we're starting relatively early. At this rate, Elise may be ready for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich by the time she's packing a lunch for kindergarten.

Along with "big-girl food," as well told Kalina, it was time for Elise to embark on the first steps of "big-girl sleep." Essentially, sleep without the pacifier and swaddle (which she has been struggling out of some nights, anyway, raising plenty of worried eyebrows in our household). This would not be easy for any of us, I imagined.

The first night was rough for a while, and then Elise learned to suck her thumb and we've all had a lot more sleep since then. The end.

Epilogue:

Elise now talks to herself a bit and then just fusses just a bit each night before she falls asleep, thumb in mouth, I assume. She still wakes up once or twice to eat, plus once or twice to settle herself, which has never taken too long and is sometimes instantaneous and always gets some reassurance from Daddy if needed. Tiring? Not at all, compared to previous nights when she had to be settled 10+ times.

After a particularly disastrous nap, we've decided to allow Elise the swaddle and paci for naptimes and hope it doesn't confuse her. So far, it hasn't.

Mommy reports getting 7 hours of sleep total last night, and Daddy may have gotten a nice 5-hour stretch, and then some. Everyone slept until 7:00 this morning. And they lived happily ever after, or at least until the next sleep crisis.

Photos:

1. I just love baby profiles. Don't you? (And I'm letting Elise play with one of Kalina's toys during Kalina's one nap of the week--don't tell Kalina or she'll never nap again!)

2. The highchair strap tastes better than banana.

3. Giving it her best shot.

4. A mere shadow of Elise's look of disgust. Note that she prefers wearing the food on her chin to eating it.