babyyogi

 Will is great at taking naps. He has been able to fall asleep on schedule since we started his nap routine. It was suggested by his pediatrician to get him on a nap schedule to help he sleep during the night.

At first I was skeptical, with the concept that sleep conjures up more sleep. What is this a schedule for naps and sleep? I thought that if I kept him awake during the day he would sleep better at night. In-addition I thought that if I kept him awake during the day until I wanted him to take a nap he would sleep as soon as I put him down for a nap. Both my thoughts were incorrect.

Before the sleep schedule was suggested by Will’s pediatrician I tried to keep him awake, tried to skip his 9am nap that he always tried to take on ihs own. I would take him on walks or do errands to the post office or grocery shopping to keep him awake at 9am. If anyone knows what it is like taking care of an overly tired baby then you know what I am talking about. Will’s crying spells at this time were out of control, he was crying as if in pain. I was in fact making him more grumpy and causing him to cry more often by keeping him awake not allowing him to sleep at 9am in the morning. This new sleep schedule actually allows him to get more sleep and is healthy for his brain development. On the new sleep schedule Will is always smiling and laughing and people are always commenting on how happy he is, smiling all the time.

Nap and Sleep Schedule:

Morning Nap 9-11 am

Afternoon Nap 1-3 pm

Quick nap 5-5:30 pm

Bed Time 7pm

After a little Baby Yoga in the morning from 8:30 to 9 he is ready for nursing and then a nap. This was when the Savasana Catnap Pose was established. Notice the content face, stretched out limbs and torso. Will totally relaxed and content after Yoga and ready to start his sleep schedule for the day. This nap will set his day starting him off on the right track.

Baby Breath: Baby Cobra Pose

With all the warning of Sudden Infant Death syndrome or SIDs I have been reluctant to have Will on his stomach unattended so I started his tummy time late in his development.  Perhaps I am over protective but this is my first baby and I am turning out to be a bear mother protecting her cub!  As it turned out Will disliked spending time on his tummy as well.  His dislike for the tummy time came across as crying and screaming as soon as I put him on his stomach.  It was not until Will was three months that I started spending time on the floor with him.  What I sight we must have been both of us on my Yoga mat or on my bed trying to get him interested in lifting his head and chest.  I used toys to get his attention and all the while speaking words of encouragement to get the little guy interested and not crying or yelling at me to pick him up.  Soon I started to raise my body up into Cobra Pose and Up Dog Pose to see if Will would mimic my behavior. 

The break thru occurred when I signed us up for Mommy Baby Yoga classes so that I could meet other Mothers and Will could meet other babies.  At this class there were two babies that were in the process of learning to crawl and Will was at once taken by them.  Will spent most of the class watching these two babies crawl around the room.  Will has always been drawn to action.  He loves to watch people, dogs, trees, anything that moves has his attention.  These babies were an inspiration to him. Tummy time is the gateway to baby Cobra Pose. 

Baby Cobra Pose - Arms are extended, hands secure on floor, tummy is off floor, hips are on floor or off (Baby Up Dog Pose).  Will has lifted his hips off the floor in the image below.