Daily Life With A 3-Month-Old

Though I promised not to write solely about my day-to-day life and turn this blog into a diary, I have posted about what daily life is like with a 2-month-old, and intend to write a similar post each month as my boy ages.

So, here's what a standard day is like (for me) with a 3-month-old. It really isn't all that different from when he was 2-months-old... he's just awake a little bit more. We were on vacation for two weeks, which sort of threw of his schedule (not that he really had one). But, this is roughly what life was like with him for that month. These are all average times... perhaps in the future I will try and document one full day, if it's an interesting one.

Getting Baby to Love Water Part 2: BIG Baths

If you missed the first post of this series, look here before continuing.

Once you've given your baby lots of baths that have been successful (my definition of this word in this context merely means: "no screaming or fussing." I'm not saying he has to be smiling, laughing, and kicking every time!), you can move on to this next step!

Taking Baths with Your Baby

To help your little fish like the water, get in it with them! They already love and trust you, so just extend that to water situations. But don't immediately go hop in the pool with them. Take it slow.

This is a great way for dad and baby to bond too! Fill up the big tub (not the baby tub!) to about halfway - use your thermometer! (Baby can tolerate different temperatures than you can, so even if it feels warm to you, it could be too hot for him). It doesn't need to be completely full. Climb into the tub and have your partner hand you the baby. He can rest on your chest a little bit, but try to have him partially submerged in the water.

Taking baths this way also allows your baby to experience floating - it's a new and weird and wonderful sensation. Babies are pretty buoyant (all that adorable baby fat!), so cradle their head and neck and just let their bum and legs float in the water. Try to tell if your little one enjoys the sensation. Baby G looked so confused and shocked the first time, but then started to like floating. His dad would line his feet up against the side so he could push off a bit.

 

Again, keep baby's exposure to water short and sweet. Don't overdo it or try to stretch it too long - a 5-10 minute bath is sufficient.

Stay tuned for Part 3: Breastfeeding in the tub!

Does My Baby Miss Me? Separation Anxiety and Object Permanence

Does my baby miss me?
I was asking myself this question while I was at dinner with my husband for our first date night since our son was born. I told myself that he probably didn't realize I was gone - he was too young. But when I got home he was crying really hard and apparently had been for most of the time we were gone. As soon as I took him in my arms, he quieted, and just whimpered for a while before falling asleep minutes after the sitter left. I began wondering if he had missed me/us, or if it was something else. (Perhaps he was teething? I also mused.) So I decided to see if it was possible for him to realize we were gone and be sad from our absence at such a young age (3 months).

From what I found, it seems that most babies do not get separation anxiety until they are at least 6 months old. At around that age, babies develop what is called object permanence, which means that they can remember people and things that aren't visible or present. (Which is why 6-month-old babies get a kick out of "peek-a-boo" but younger babies do not). Before object permanence develops, when an item isn't visible, it just doesn't exist to them. They can't remember that they were playing with their toy giraffe only minutes before; if they aren't looking at it, they aren't thinking about it. For babies under 6 months of age, they literally practice "out of sight, out of mind."
 

Before object permanence develops, his toy giraffe only exists when it's visible to him.

How do I know when my baby has developed object permanence?
First signs of the development of object permanence can be seen when your baby looks around for an object that he dropped or that you took away.

How long does separation anxiety last?
During the second half of baby's first year (months 6-12) is the first peak of separation anxiety. There is another peak during the second half of the second year (months 18-24), though some babies experience them back-to-back for about an 8-month stretch of separation anxiety.

Not all babies will experience bad separation anxiety, though most babies will have at least one bout of it as part of a healthy development. Some babies and toddlers can experience debilitating separation anxiety and develop Separation Anxiety Disorder. But there are steps you can take to make separations less stressful for you and for your little one - but I won't go into those now.

As sweet as it was to think my boy missed me (even though it was heartbreaking hearing him cry like that), I don't think that's what it was. He's a pretty advanced little boy - rolled over for the first time before he was even 2 months old (though he didn't repeat it until he was 3 months), can hold his own weight on his legs (but can't balance enough to stand unsupported), and can almost sit up unsupported - but I think it's a bit early to assume he's developed any object permanence or is capable of experiencing separation anxiety. Although... I did just put a toy in his line of vision, got him smiling, then whipped it away too fast for his eyes to follow... and he seemed to look around a little for it.

If you look at forums, you will find lots of moms that swear their 3 or 4 month old baby missed them when they left, but there is yet to be any scientific research that indicates that an infant that young can experience separation anxiety. Just because your baby cries when you're gone doesn't necessarily
mean that they miss you (sorry!).  But if they have a toy in their hand, keep an eye out when they drop it. If they look around, wondering where it went, then object permanence has started developing, and it won't be long before they do start to miss you.

Heidi Murkoff: What to Expect the First Year
Dr. Greene: Separation Anxiety A-Z
Baby Center: Separation Anxiety

Daily Life With a 2-Month-Old

I promised when I began this blog, that I wouldn't solely write about "what I did all day." But, I thought one post about what a day is like for me with my now 3-month-old boy wouldn't be the worst thing. :P I wish I'd done one when he was 1-month-old so that I could compare and see what the difference is. Because it's hard to notice change when it happens gradually over the course of a month.

So, here's what a standard day is like for me. He only turned 3-months-old the other day, so I'm going to write about what life is like with a 2-month-old since that is what he was up until a couple days ago. haha.

Keep in mind, babies don't have set schedules and aren't exactly predictable. So these are just average times and estimates. Babies this age can start to develop patterns, but it's not set in stone.

Fodada Commitment and Free Dad's Shirt

Fodada is "a celebration of what a great dad can mean to a child... and hence what that relationship could mean to a dad." It is a company that sells tshirts and also works with many great causes and organizations like the American Heart Association, Autism Speaks, and more. They also have their own programs which raise money for worthy causes - one of which helps provide books for a library at a small school in the country Suriname, which previously had none. (Close to my heart - I am big on literacy and reading. Especially since my mother is a school librarian and reading specialist).

Well one of their other programs, the Dad and Me campaign, is "a crusade to bring fathers and their children closer together," having them commit to spending time together. By making this commitment, dads can get a free t-shirt. 

To get this free t-shirt, all you have to do is have your kid sign the commitment form, then have dad sign it. They are committing to spend 3-hours together every month: 1 hour doing something outdoors, 1-hour doing something educational (like going to a museum or library), and 1-hour doing something silly and fun. 

I printed the form off and stamped baby G's handprint on it (his signature!) and then had my husband sign it before I sent it off.

His shirt just came in the other day - and I think it's pretty awesome. :)

Although the free shirt is pretty cool, the commitment is even cooler. I love that this company (founded by a dad!) is always working for a cause - and getting dads and kids to commit to spending time together - especially committing to doing something outside and doing something educational! - is awesome!

And this makes a great Father's Day gift - a Super Dad t-shirt and a promise to spend time with the kids! :)

Let me note though, that my husband didn't need to sign a piece of paper to commit to spending time with his boy. He already spends every moment of his free time with G. :)

Two thumbs up to Fodada!

Photo Contest - Please Vote!

I entered a Dad and baby "first" photo contest through Hotslings. The contest is about a "first" that Daddy and his baby shared. I chose the first time that they met, when my husband came home from his 7-month deployment. We soared into the lead at the start, but are now in second place and trailing by about 10 votes. You can vote once a day, and winners are announced June 16.

Here's the photo:

Please vote for us! I think it's gotta be one of the best "firsts" ever! Plus, one of the prizes is a sling, and I'm obsessed with baby carrying but have kind of maxed out my lifetime budget on baby carriers...  :P
I appreciate all the help I can get!
 

Unique Father's Day Ideas

Unique Father’s Day Ideas

My husband is celebrating his first Father’s Day this year, and I want to make it special and memorable for him. If you are at all like me, then you are having trouble coming up with something different and unique, and not the standard breakfast in bed or round of golf (though those are perfectly acceptable gift ideas!)

While looking for some unique Father’s Day gift and activity ideas, I stumbled upon some great ones that I hadn’t thought of. Some of these would be better for older children, but even if you have a little one like me (3 months old!), you can still strap on a carrier and head to a car show or the zoo for a few hours!

·      Baseball. The LA Dodgers are having a postgame Father’s Day catch and giving out Father’s Day Sports Bags. The Baltimore Orioles are giving out Father’s Day Fedoras and the Houston Astros are giving away Father’s Day Grill Sets. Check your local teams to see if they too are playing a game that day and doing anything special for dads.

·      Races. For a unique activity, look for local Father’s Day 5ks and races. Road Race Runner has a nice search feature to help you find races, from Kid’s Runs, to Fun Runs, to full on Marathons. There are at least five different race events within an hour’s drive from me on Father’s Day.

·      Zoos and Aquariums. Your area zoo or aquarium may have special events or deals for Father’s Day. For example: the San Diego Safari Park is having a Father’s Day Buffet (where dads will receive one complimentary alcoholic beverage) and the Milwaukee County Zoo admits all fathers for free on June 15. The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach has their annual Father’s Day picnic, and dads get in free the whole weekend at The Florida Aquarium in Tampa.

·      Cars. Head to an auto show. They are happening in abundance on Father’s Day across the country: Road Relics in Austin, LA Roadsters in Pomona… Monroe Washington, Fauquier Virginia, at the Transportation Museum in St. Louis. Usually free, and always fun! When I was a kid, I loved going to car shows because our family tradition was to eat chocolate dipped ice cream cones while we walked around the show.

·      Planes. Check out a local aviation event. Some smaller, local airports like Beach City Airport in Ohio and Columbia Airport in California have Father’s Day “Fly-Ins.” West End Wings in Pennsylvania and the Olympic Flight Museum in Washington are holding Father’s Day Air Shows.

·      Churches. Many churches also have Father’s Day events. Some churches may recognize the fathers during the service and some hold BBQs or Potlucks on Father’s Day. At the Trinity Episcopal Church in Washington Virginia, normally the men cook breakfast on Mother’s Day and the women cook breakfast on Father’s Day!

·      Camping. Kids camp for free at participating Kampgrounds of America (KOA) locations on Father’s Day weekend. At Jellystone Parks, dads get a free souvenir cup and some locations have Father’s Day crafts, activities, and events too! Plus, what dad wouldn’t enjoy a weekend of camping, fishing, swimming, hiking, golfing, and more?!

Hopefully this has helped give you some unique ideas for Father’s Day this year. So what are you waiting for? Get searching!

Note Feb 04 2016: This post was originally published online at Mommy Hot Spot, but it seems to no longer be active. I previously had only a snippet here on my blog, but because the link to the full article was defunct, you can now read the whole thing right here at Prego to Legos!

And although these events were for 2014, many of them are general, recurring events that are good any year, and not just for Father's Day!