Allie's lungs are clear!!! Take that RSV! Her ears too. We are really excited. We were waiting for an all clear from the doctor so we can take our trip. She's cleared to fly!! (Did I mention I'm thrilled???) Here is our Allie girl, eating blueberries for breakfast.
She hasn't returned to a normal sleep schedule yet. The pediatrician told me to "Ferberize" her. For those that don't know, the Ferber method is a parenting technique wherein you basically ignore your child and let them work things out on their own. Supporters of the method I'm sure, would describe it much nicer but that's how I see it. The doc told me that when Allie wakes up at night, I should go in, pat her back, tell her its ok, and leave the room for the rest of the night while she screams it out. HELLO???? It's a scary world and she has only had 7 months to get used to it. She didn't ask to be born and I feel if my sleep gets interrupted (or cancelled altogether) it's just part of being a Mom. It's a choice you make when you decide to bring a child into this world. Ok, so being a proactive parent is something I tend to get on my soapbox about. Yes, my girls are cuddled, snuggled and coddled. Victoria seems to be growing up just fine. She doesn't cling to my leg and sob when I leave her at preschool, she embraces her children's church time on Sundays, she offers her hand and introduces herself to people at the Y. She has a self confidence about her and she knows that when she is ready for me that I am there. What sort of message does Ferber send? Oh yeah, you're on your own kid, I'm not here for you.
ok, one more example and I promise I'll stop ranting. When Vix was wee, maybe 7 or 8 months old she got all twisted around in her crib. She ended up sticking her leg out through the bars and somehow rolling over getting her little chubber good and stuck. She screamed. I was downstairs doing chores at the time and it took me a minute to hear her. I ran upstairs to check on her and her little leg was stuck so tight that it was purple. Supposed she was a "Ferber" baby and I hadn't checked, would would the fate of that leg have been?
ok, done with my rant! I know a couple of you are Ferber moms, but I refuse to apologize!
4 comments:
wow...that was quite the episode. :D
Not that I disagree with you, because you know I don't. Was I there every time my babies cried? Youbetcha! Are my children funcional and independent? Youbetcha!
The question for me is, are Ferber babies really CONNECTED to Ferber moms? As the babies get bigger, what are their relationships like?
I think your doc is a dope. :D
Allie looks beautiful by the way, and she has Vix's eyebrows.
Ok you've convinced me, I won't be a ferber mom!
LOL, the docs always counseled my to do the Ferber thing too, but I never could, it's just not in my genetic makeup! Marlee was the worst, I never got any sleep, but somehow we survived! My SIL, however, is a Ferber mom and starts them very early, like only a few months and it works for them, all their kids have slept through the night by like 4 months or younger. Allie is so cute!!!
I actually tried that method once, after the first night of crying all night I said never again. Now I totally agree with you. MOM C
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