Let sleeping babies lie???????

In the quest to teach my dear baby how to sleep on his own I have a bit of a conundrum.

I began lying Harper on his back while sleeping per the AAP recommendation. However, he would never fall asleep, he would simply toss and turn. That brings us to the conundrum.

Since the back didn't work, I began lying him on his side. Although I lay him on his side, he inevitably ends up on his tummy 8 out of 10 times, and he sleeps like.... Well, like a baby.

So the main reason for back sleeping is SIDS. I know SIDS is a real concern for every parent, which is why I need mommy advice.

What would you do? Do you let the baby sleep on his tummy? Do you fight the baby and make him sleep on his back? Do you start him on his side/tummy and then flip him once he's asleep?

All advice is welcome.

Summer break

Summertime and the livin is easy.

The Beauty of the Age Gap

I used to think that when I had children I didn't want them to be more than 3 years apart in age. I have one sibling, a brother. We are almost 6 years apart in age. This age gap was, in my humble opinion, a great impact on our relationship growing up.

My brother had almost 6 whole years where he was the sole child in our family. That's a long time in kid years. So naturally he got used to the idea of never having to share anything. So when I came a long, naturally, he was not my biggest fan. Thus began our relationship. I, being the younger sibling, saw my big brother as one to look up to, and always, even into my teens, only wanted to be friends with him. I longed to go to movies, and stay up late talking to him. However, we did not have that kind of relationship until much later in life. And I mean think about it... what does a 12 year old want to talk to a 6 year old about? Or even more so, a 16 year old to a 10 year old.

Now, I'm not saying there aren't other factors into why we didn't get a long, because there were. We saw, and see differently on almost everything. But only recently have I grown to understand my brother, and how he showed/shows his love for me. And so I know we share a bond that can never be broken. We understand each other in a way no one else can.

Gideon and Harper are about 4 years apart. 3 years 11 months. At first I was worried about if this age gap was too much. But the more I see my boys interact, the more confident I am that they are the perfect age difference.

Gideon was able to understand what was going on. He understands that the baby is fragile. He understands that the baby needs "Mommy milk". He loves his baby brother. And I mean LOVES him. He is first to greet him in the morning. He talks to him, plays with him, reassures him when he is crying. I mean the kid even wants to change his diapers!

Not only is he helpful with the baby, but he is independent. He can dress himself, brush his own teeth, use the potty, feed himself. These are all things that a younger child has not yet mastered. If our children were closer in age, I would be dealing with all of that, on top of caring for a new born.

That is why I now see the beauty of the age gap.

Baby love

Sometimes all I can do is listen to him babble.
Now you have to too!