The Handley Family Sleep Manifesto:
The Greatest Sleep for the Greatest Number
Now generally we don't identify with communist ideals* at the Handley home, but when it comes to sleep, the idea works for us. Whatever gets the greatest sleep for the greatest number is the way we go. There are ten bazillion books written on getting children to sleep. There are countless articles on the undeniable benefits/undeniable dangers of just about every sleep option out there. Caring parents ONLY sleep with their kids. Caring parents ONLY put their kids in their cribs. Caring parents swaddle. Or feed to sleep. Or have siblings share rooms. Or do kangaroo care. Or bedshare. Or babywear. Or do bedtime in a swing. Use crib bumpers. Don't use crib bumpers. Or a carseat. Or drive their kids around at night. Or set the car seat on the dryer. Or give a bottle at night. Or a pacifier. Or use an apnea monitor. Or don't.
Baloney pants.
Caring parents figure out what works for them and go for it in a safe and flexible way. They realize that what works today won't necessarily work tomorrow. And they don't judge other parents for doing what works for them.
Some ways we have begged pleaded coerced bored swindled tricked soothed our children into sleep:
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| On Daddy |
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| On a park bench, homeless style |
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| In the stroller |
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| In the Ergo |
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| On the airplane |
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| Futon-a-thon |
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| Being carried through a cave |
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| Zipped into a plane bassinet |
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| On the floor |
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| On a walk dressed as a flower |
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| In a sling while big brother rides a horse |
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| Great Gramma's lap- highly recommended! |
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| In the baby swing |
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| In a toddler bed |
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| In the hospital |
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| On the kitchen table |
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| Camping, surrounded by stuff bags |
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| In a carseat |
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Okay- this one definitely does not work
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So in conclusion...do what works for you. Do it safely. And try to get some sleep. Good luck!
It *IS* a manifesto! This sage advice has allowed me to relax when the littlest one required daddy to rock with him in the recliner, or when he'd only sleep curled up in my arm, I wish I would have known this back when I stressed about my firstborn sleeping in the swing for 5 months!
ReplyDeleteYou're kiddies are so cute. Thank you for coming by and linking up to my blog hop.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Char
I love this post - thank you. Agree flexibility a key - family life can't completely revolve around a sleep schedule in which baby can only sleep for 2 hours in their cot in a darkened room.
ReplyDeleteSo cute! I love all the pictures! And I so agree!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more - Caring parents need to find what works so that everyone gets the most sleep. With my first I tried to follow a popular method that was totally wrong for our family. Just stressed me out and the baby didn't sleep. Now with #3, I've learned to read his signals and he sleeps extremely well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Tender Moments! Hope to see you again next week.
Becky Marie @ www.forthisseason.com
One hundred ten years ago in 1909, a large house was constructed in St Petersburg, Florida. But it was not a typical home that needed repairing. From the time it was built, the house never had repairs and nothing had to be replaced. waterfall sounds
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