17 week old with sleep issues

Thanks for your question!
This is a complicated series of questions, so I’ll try to cover several things in this post. For those of you that didn't catch the question, check out the comments on my first post.
You asked if you should be concerned about your baby’s day schedule since he’s getting “a solid 11 or so hours at night”. Well, the thing is, he isn’t getting 11 hours of sleep as he still wakes to eat twice at night. In my opinion, he’s definitely old enough and big enough to go 12 hours at night without a feeding.

So, when it comes to the Gibson method of sleep training, there are 3 critical ingredients; predictable routine, an environment that’s conducive to sleep and consistency.
The routine for a 17 week old should include feedings every 4 hours during the day. For babies that start on a routine from the beginning, it’s very easy for them to transition from a 3 hour to a four hour routine. Your little guy may need to ease into a four hour routine. You would do this by implementing a firm 3 hour routine then stretching it to 3 ½ hours and on to 4 hours. Be sure to offer full feedings in less than 30 minutes. No grazing! I suggest you start your day at the same time every day, like 7 am.
Then you feed at 7 am, 11 am, 3 pm and 7 pm. Until he has been trained to sleep through the night, you may also need to offer a “dream feed” at 11 pm.
It’s important to remember to follow feedings with activity/awake time and then keep an eye out for sleepy cues. A 4 month old should only be awake 1 ½ to 2 hours at a stretch (including feeding). Most critical is to NOT nurse or rock your baby to sleep.
Following his awake time, he should nap for 1 ½ to 2 hours. On a 4 hour schedule, he’ll likely be up for 2 hours and down for 2 hours, giving him two 2 hour naps plus a 45 minute cat nap before dinner.
To ensure that his environment is right for sleep, keep his nursery dark during sleep times. Also check the temperature. I recommend 68-72 degrees. A good white noise machine is also imperative. Until his naps are under control, I would also swaddle using a large square blanket or a miracle blanket to avoid startling himself. Consider using a security blanket or snuggle buddy for transitioning. Visit www.gibsonnewbornservices.com for many of the products I recommend.
So, give these suggestions a try and let me know how it goes! If you would like more specific information and a detailed plan of action, please call or email and we can set up a consultation for you. Best of luck with your little guy!
Cortney

Update on the sextuplets

Hello friends,

Things are definitely busy here. I'm with the Masche sextuplets and loving every minute! The babies are gaining weight and sleeping better every night. Today is their "birth-day"...actually their due date. During the day, there are volunteers (friends and family) that stop by and help with feedings and chores. The nights are usually covered by just 2 of us, although I have done a couple of nights by myself. The babies are generally easy to feed, so I often feed 2-4 at a time when I'm alone. They are all sweet and love to cuddle!
Thanks to all my friends, family and clients that have donated to the Masche family and to my "travel" fund. You've made it possible for me to work with this incredible bunch of babies and to truly make a difference in this family's life!
Check back for new pictures of the babies!
Cortney

Working with sextuplets!

I'm very excited to share some special news today! I will be working with the Masche Miracles next week! The Masche babies are a set of sextuplets that were born mid-June in Phoenix, AZ.

After meeting with the family, Tonya Sakowicz (a colleague and friend) sent out the call for volunteers in late June. Soon after, there were 4 ladies from our circle of professionals that were on board. Lisa Stipe and Clelie Bourne joined Tonya and I... and the Baby Dream Team was created! For more info, please visit www.babydreamteam.com.

The four of us are truly honored to be working with these special babies over the next few months. To give you an idea of what we'll be doing (and what we have already completed!), here's a little recap:

We arrived in Phoenix on July 20th to prepare for the babies to come home. Since then Lisa and Clelie have been getting everyone settled into their new routine and Tonya has done some night shifts too. I'll be arriving next week, after Lisa heads off to another assignment.

Tonya keeps things organized and is our main communication liaison. Lisa, with the help of local volunteer Heather, created color coded log books for keeping track of feedings and the like. I, with the input of the other three ladies, created the Plan of Action binder to keep important info and instructions close at hand. We've also been able to get our favorite companies to donate baby products to the Masche babies. Many of our own clients have donated products, airfare, gift certificates and more! Many thanks to all of you!

Caring for 6 tiny babies is certainly a challenge for anyone, which is why we felt so driven to volunteer. We know we can make a difference for this family and every family we work with. Using our time-tested methods, these babies will be well-fed, well-rested, happy and easier to manage! Organization and planning are the keys to success with multiples...along with a few of our signature tricks. Check back for updates and a few of those signature tricks too!

Best wishes for a good night's sleep,

Cortney

Welcome!

At the insistence of one of my favorite clients, I have finally started this baby care blog!

I hope to post a few times a week about my work with newborns, current trends/recommendations and stories from my travels.

I will also be answering your questions about newborn care and special concerns like; sleep (or lack thereof), reflux and colic.

When posting questions, please list your baby's age, weight and how much he/she eats. A summary of an average day will help too!

I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Best wishes for a good night's sleep,

Cortney