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DR. TAHIR’S MIND BODY AND SPIRIT NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 2015
“HOW I TRAINED MY PARENTS TO
FEED ME AT 2AM”
Yes, I only know how to say “Dada” and soon I
will learn to say “Mama” too. Even though on
the outside I can’t say much, on the inside
I’m constantly thinking of ways to get
what I want, and when I want it.
!
I don’t even care what time of the day or night
it is. I’ve even taught my mom and dad to
take care of my every need already! I’m
Releigh,
such a queen of my house! Well the kind determined
that wears diapers, but that’s beside the to teach her
point. They feed me, bathe me, change
parents!
my diaper when I’m wet, rock me, hold
me, give me cuddles, and smile at my every
coo.
I got ‘em wrapped around my little baby finger! I have to be honest with you though, I
whole heartedly LOVE the hugs they give me.
I LOVE being lulled to sleep. I’m so thankful to
have my mommy and daddy love me so much. I
wouldn’t be a queen without them.
“Coo! Coo! Dada, Mama!” No response!
Hmm... I let out a cry, and then a louder one.
I’m pretty good at that by now. It’s all in the
tone of my voice and cry.
I woke up last week in the middle of the night
and scanned the room, although I was in my
familiar surroundings with my mobile hanging
overhead, I wanted my mother to be there by
me and feed me.
I let out a cry so loud that I swear I made the
windows shake. Mom finally opened the door
to check. As I smiled on the inside, I cried out
louder and louder, “Mama, feed me, feed
me!” I could totally try out for an acting career.
Okay, yes, I know I’m already 9 months old and
don’t really need to eat at night. Fooey to
that. I wanna be fed, I just gotta work
on my mom and dad. Give me little
time, don’t worry, just watch me!
Although she couldn’t understand me, I could
tell she was trying hard to decipher my cries.
Thankfully my mom is very smart. After checking my diaper, holding and rocking me, she figured out that giving me a bottle might soothe
me.
Family Pediatrics | 3601 30th Ave, Suite 101 Kenosha, WI 53144 | 262-564-0611 | www.KenoshaKidsDoctor.com
DR. TAHIR’S MIND BODY AND SPIRIT NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2015
Awesome! Just like I planned.
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Horrified, frustrated, angry, and ever so sleepy,
mom ran to make me a bottle to drink.
It was delightful, oh, how much I love that milk.
I made my mom rock me to sleep and then drift- Ahh delicious milk. Yesssss!
ed off to thrilling dreams of baby bottles, birds, It took a little longer than I expected for me
and butterflies.
to teach my parents to give me my milk every
The next night, we’re all asleep and I wake up
night around 2am when I wake up. I usually
again. I can’t go to sleep. I need my milk, and I don’t even have to spend all that time crying,
need to be rocked. Time for action!
pulling my hair or gagging myself. They know
what to do right away.
I cried and cried, louder and louder until my
mom and dad came, opened the door and
said, “Oh my Gosh, it’s 2AM! What’s going on
honey?” I explained to them very clearly what
I wanted them to do, but they were acting like
they did not understand my wailing.
I love it. I could do this forever. What? You say
that my parents are thoroughly exhausted and
loosing energy and vital sleep they need for
their wellbeing? Yeah, whatever, like I said before, baby life is hard. This is just how I roll.
Don’t worry, I got much more up my little baby
sleeves.
Thank You For Reading My Story,
Belting my cries ever louder, I reached up with
both my hands and pulled my hair with all my
might. I could see the fear in mommy’s and daddy’s eyes. Yes, it’s working! It’s such a delicious
warm bottle of milk and so much fun making my
dad rock me back to sleep.
Yep, I know it’s a bad habit I’m developing. But,
hey, what can I say, a baby’s queenship isn’t
easy.
Next night when I woke up to make my parents
feed and rock me, it took a little more.
But because I can see my efforts pay
off, I won’t give up.
The hair pulling did not work did not work this
time though.
Love,
Releigh
Hey!... Psst...do
me a favor and
Don’t Read
The Next Page!
Even angrier and more determined than ever,
I took my left hand, put my fingers inside my
mouth, with tears welling up and dripping over
my cheeks, I gagged myself. Yes! that’s right,
gagged myself until I threw up with all my might
that evening’s meal of carrots, rice, and chicken.
Family Pediatrics | 3601 30th Ave, Suite 101 Kenosha, WI 53144 | 262-564-0611 | www.KenoshaKidsDoctor.com
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DR. TAHIR’S MIND BODY AND SPIRIT NEWSLETTER
Ask Dr. Tahir
OCTOBER 2015
How To Break
Your Child’s
Night time Feeding Habit
Reileigh is one smart child. Your child may also have trained you without you even realizing it. Most babies wake up several times a night but
can fall back asleep again by themselves.
When your child gets used to you being there to help them fall back
asleep they can develop a bad habit of needing you everytime!
Restful sleep is just as vital for you as it is for your baby, so I encourage parents to try to break
their baby’s bad night time habits.
Healthy children over 4 month old typically do not need a night feeding.
You can work over 2-3 days to break your child’s habits. Here are some times that may help you:
Do not feeding your child at night. Simply stay by her or hold her to comfort her until
she is calm and place her back to bed before she falls asleep in your arms.
1
Next time you may stand a little further. Keep doing less and less intervention until your
child does not need you to be there to fall back asleep. Eventually you may just need to
look inside your child’s room so she knows you’re there. After that, you she can learn to fall back
asleep without you even making a presense.
Don’t rock your baby back to sleep. Your child needs to learn how to fall asleep on her
own. It’s okay to rock your baby to comfort her and help her feel sleepy, but put her to
bed before she actually falls asleep. Let her lull herself to sleep. If your baby does fall
asleep while you are rocking her, wake her up, and then put her down to bed.
2
This is an important step to breaking poor sleeping habits in general.
Avoid playing at night. At times when you do have to tend to your baby at night, make your interaction very boring. Avoid the temptation to start playing, smiling or making extended
eye contact (yes! I know it’s so hard not to). Basically teach your child that night time is
for sleeping, and day time is for playing.
3
Doing so will help your baby regulate herself better and condition herself for sleeping
during the night hours.
Family Pediatrics | 3601 30th Ave, Suite 101 Kenosha, WI 53144 | 262-564-0611 | www.KenoshaKidsDoctor.com