We sold our cot

We purchased a cot 3 1/2 years ago. I was pregnant and like most of us being bombard by this notion that I need this and that for our baby. High on the list was a cot. So we brought the cot home place it in the "babies room" and started to create the nursary! I am so relieved now that I found information about the natural rythums and rightfull sleep place of babies when I was 7 months pregnant. I remember reading that children who sleep in close proximity to their parents have their temperature regulated, can feed when their bodies tell them it is time too and do not fall into deep sleep which can increase the risk of COT death. On the negative side there is the risk of rolling onto you baby and apparently people feel you will "spoil" your child. Armed with this new founded information I talked about sharing our bed with Michael. Michael is truely a natural parent at heart. While I battle with my upbringing, "what other people think and not wanting to be different, Michael naturally knows what is best for his children.

Upon bring Felix home I place him in the cot the first night we arrived home. I lay in bed- It felt all wrong. I had spent 5 days in hospital with him in my bed the entire time. I had had him inside my body for 10 months and now I was going to put him a bed that looks more like a cage. 10 mins later he was in our bed and has slept there ever since. So now I have 2 children and a cot which has been used for 10 minutes. I finally listed it on ebay last week and the cot has been sold. Perhaps our cot will again stand unused in it's new home. What I hope most of all that the cot never hears the sad cries of a child abandonded by its mindless parents in the hope it will learn to sleep (that is a whole other issue!).

So as you can guess I am pro co-sleeping but most of all I am choice and for parents to understand why their children need them at night. I get really cross when parents suggesting that their baby is manipulating them!

A story by Felix and I: Gussy and the bird

Felix and I were sewing a new skirt .. BANG went a bird into the back window. We jumped up and went into the laundry to discover 2 (although Felix counts to 3) birds! They had come inside through the open back door to have a look around. They are call Indian Miners. Felix and I tried to open a window to let them out. But Gussy had another idea. He jumped up and grabbed the bird and broke it's neck. The bird lay on the ground and called "birrrrr birrrrr birrr" then died. Gus felt assamed and would not look at the other bird. I open the window to release the second bird. Gus lay on his bed sad. Felix and I picked up the dead bird- it was warm, lifeless and floppy. Felix and I decided to put it in the bin. Here are a few statements from Felix about the event.

"Gussa get the bird.. now picked the bird he jumped up and put in in the ground and it screamed bird bird bird don't put me on the ground and broke my neck- oh (smiles) Tilda woke up (and runs into the sleep room to greet her with a smile)"

THE END

Felix's Poster

I have long resisted a strict routine with my children as I believe that following babies lead is important to build trust, a good breastfeeding outcome and to learn to understand your baby. We have followed Felix's lead for the last 3 years with much success. So when Felix started to really have "issues" over the last month- I listened, I reasoned but to no avail. Felix issue= one or more of the following: waking up sad, negative, difficulties moving from one activity to the next, being frustrated and not giving things a go and extreme emotional outbursts. Michael and I started to ask ourselves- why is our wonderful boy so frustrated? Upon chatting with a really special friend this week, I described Felix's attitudes, emotional outbursts and issues. It is wonderful to talk to other parent's with children older than yours. My friend smiled and said "I have the female version of Felix, and she is 3 years older!".

So armed with some fantastic suggestions, Felix and I spent Wednesday afternoon creating his poster! We created a pictorial morning and evening flow. The basic things we generally get done every morning and evening such as brush our teeth, have a feed and get dressed. He loves it! Whenever he starts to get frustrated I remind him to check his poster to see what is next! He is playing well, communicating well, loves going to bed and wakes up with a smile on his face. Now I just need to work out how to stop him sitting on his sister like a horse ..