Months before Caleb’s birth, I had this Jedi feeling: That for our little angel of a child in Caitlin, we are bound to have a “side effect” of a boy.
I hate to say I was kinda right.
Similarities with Caitlin:
- Their poo stinks! I had no problem, even looked forward to being there during their births, but the stench of baby poo actually still gets me dry-retching!
- Both fall asleep during milk-feeds. Thus both require waking-up to continue. With me, I tickle them to wake them. During the first experience with Caitlin, there was a time when I looked under her pj’s and found that I had created red-marks on both ribs. Note to self: Stop tickling so hard!
Differences with Caitlin:
- Being a boy, we are sometimes greeted with a fountain!
- I can’t remember when, but Caitlin started sleeping right through the night at quite an early age (3-4 months?). This little fella (still) wakes a few times at night for feeds.
- Braving the obvious, we’ve started letting Caleb sleep on his front in foetal-position. I have now personally witnessed him turning his head to alternate the side to sleep on, so at least it looks like he can “manage” himself in this regard.
- Crying for no apparent reason.
This last one takes the cake. Our little man does not seem to sleep longer than 30-60 min each “session”, before waking and, yup- crying.
Over the weekend we gave in and invested in a baby bouncer thingy. I was never against this but for some reason Mummee and her family seemed resistant to getting one. But due to overwhelming lack of sleep and resulting frustration, we made this purchase.
Thus far it seemed to be working in soothing Caleb (back) to sleep. I hope at least some sanity will be restored with this contraption…..
I know I shouldn’t be comparing kids. They are, after all, supposed to be individuals. But we can’t help it. For me, infants are infants. They are little people (supposedly) without “individualisms”, yet.
Of course, in time, I would hope that the first list will continue growing longer, with the second one being as limited as possible, for the sake of everyone’s sanity and household harmony!
Caitlin however, has taken to her brother very well. Whenever there is a chance she would like to touch or hug her little brother. Whenever the chance she would attempt to sneak into the room to get a peek of the little brother sleeping, only to be told off for risking accidentally waking him…
5 responses so far ↓
1 Ann // Feb 19, 2008 at 7:34 AM
Someone told me that the second will always be like that…irregardless of sex! Must get Mommykin to comment on the truth of that!
Bouncer thing as in the sarong with the electrical spring??
Anyway…whatever works…unless he is going to a babysitter/nanny that doesn’t have that…then she will have trouble getting him to sleep!
Older folks always tell us not to rock the baby to sleep less he gets too used to it!
Glad that Caitlin is taking well to him though. And I know ALL TOO WELL the risk of waking a baby!
Ann’s last blog post..Final destination for the CNY
2 Daddee // Feb 19, 2008 at 5:17 PM
Moomykin’s kids’ ages are quite close together. Mine are 3 years apart, which in the early years, will mean quite big differences in mostly everything. It is when they are older and mature that hopefully they will have more in common and be real companion and friends.
But yeah, would be great to hear from Moomykin too.
We got a manual bouncy thingy. We didn’t know how effective this contraption would be, so didn’t wanna invest too much in an expensive one from the outset.
Mummee is starting to think the same: Not to use the bouncy thingie too often lest he does get used to it and refuses to sleep unless being bounced. I heard her saying to limit its use to only during the day…
3 Moomykin // Feb 20, 2008 at 1:40 AM
Bouncy thingi: I had my reservations about that too, when Micah was a wee baby and my mum-in-law got it. My family never had that so I was of course not all game for it. But since Micah, we now actually have 2 non-electric ones and we find it’s really helpful. The boys sleep fine on the bed at night and will nap in the “swing” as we call it. So don’t fret too much. It’s really ok.
Second babies tend to be more independent as they grow. Maybe because of the less attention they get compared to the first “only” baby. But the not wanting to sleep is really the case of individual baby. Micah slept less than Max as an infant and it also shows now in His hyper-activeness. Max is more “steady” as many commented. Just personality difference.
Yes, as they grow it is very important to bear in mind that every child is different, and especially their learning process. This is so that we don’t begin labeling them as lazy, has short attention span, poor memory etc.
Micah has always been quick in speech and has very good memory when it’s something he picked up auditory wise. Max is actually very observant and analytical.
Both are sociable in their own sense. Micah loves making new friends and having fun with anyone who is open to him. Max is one for deeper friendships. When he knows he can trust you, or if you’ve won him over, he will remember you and asks of you (even in your absence) and want to be close to you.
Congratulations! Have fun, Daddee. Enjoy your discovery of each child.
Moomykin’s last blog post..A Potty Post
4 toddlerdaddy // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:42 AM
We must have had difficult babies because they both had sleep problems and neither of them would drift off in the baby hammock (bouncy thingie) that we got for them. Fortunately apart from the odd toddler nightmare they seem pretty good now.
Now I hope Caitlin remains enamoured of the little one because we are beginning to see the first signs of jealousy in our eldest now that the baby is more independent. I think she loved her while the baby lied there most of the time like a doll, now that the baby is mobile and demanding more and more attention, the jealousy is kicking in.
It is mixed with a strange almost overpowering love as well – not sure whether she will push the baby over in a fit of jealous rage or smother her to death with hugs first, but there sure is a storm brewing.
toddlerdaddy’s last blog post..Can a baby be evil?……
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