We have been slowly working with Eryn on PECS and the big mack switch to get her to request her wants. Very slow going!! Then out of the blue yesterday she just started asking for more and doing the sign!!! I am so excited!!

She has been having trouble getting to sleep at nap and nightime. Any ideas on how to make it easier for her to fall asleep??

Katie

Katie

"

congratulations!!! That is awesome!

When my kids were giving me a hard time with going to sleep recently I started playing christmas music. They love it. I haven't done it in a while but today the girls were playing and singing "Jingle Bells" together--It was cute! Also for my one dd I use a heavy throw as her blanket. The weight seems to help her.

Good luck--And I am so happy for you!


Kristin
gbg born at 31.2 weeks 7/29/04

Awsome news Katie!

Way to go baby girl!!!

Two of my girls, the 2 with SID, have always had difficulty sleeping. It gets better in some phases and worse at other times.

A heavier blanket works well with one girl. Sometimes music just stimulates them instead of helping them relax. We did allow the girls to take a book to bed. Even though they only have a nightlight in there, they seem to like being able to feel and flip the pages until they are tired. I think it helps them keep their hands busy so they aren't so anxious and able to fight sleep.

For both, at different times, I've had to just let them learn to self soothe. Sometimes it's a little like CIO when they were babies. They each have a favorite blanket or toy, and we make sure they go get those to take to bed with them. Occasionally, I'll have to remove one of them from the room to let them lie in bed with me and then take them to their room. However, my OT says that is counter-productive to teaching them to self soothe (even though she understands why sometimes mom needs a break from all the crying...)

Sometimes brushing just before nap soothes them. Emily has a vibrating puppy that she can squeeze for input and that seems to really help her. Most of this has been just a product of trial and error with each girl to find what works for her.

HTH a little,

Melissa

Wife to my best friend
Mom to GGG
05-04

yay katie!! that is so exciting!! of course, with a big step forward it seems they tend to take a step back in another area which can be frustrating to its GREAT to party when something so great happens!! hopefully she'll do it again!

as for sleeping, i don't know, thats a tough one!! is there anything that soothes her, sensory wise? charles LOVES LOVES LOVES his chew T (from the OT at school) and he gnaws at that thing like there is NO tomorrow! we give it to him at night and it relaxes him and occupies him so instead of stimming and bouncing off the bed and walls (literally! ) he lays there chewing his T to death. it has helped soothe him at night. we also removed our other son from the room which has helped a lot too, MUCH less distraction for charles.

anyway, good luck. oh, and sorry i didn't reply to your email yet! life has been crazy lately. please stay in touch and email me ANY time! have you found any of the pecs stuff to be useful?

Meg

That is sooooo coool! I remember when Malena started signing. I would get her WHATEVER she wanted! LOL.

As for the night time, I have always played a relaxation CD for the kids, though it works less and less. For Malena, I have been singing her a night time song, while I rock her. This can be anywhere from 1 -10 minutes, depending on how I feel and how much time I have, but as soon as I start singing the song (always the same song), she lays her head down on my shoulder and pretends to snore! Too cute.

Good luck!

Maryann
Mommy to
Malena, Joshua, and Jacob
born 12/20/03 @ 34w5d

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