We went to my parents' for a couple of days before Christmas. My grandparents were there. To say that Dainyah got spoiled is an understatement. How do you all "reprogram" the kids after a visit to grandma's?

In our case, she was held constantly (except that night when we went to bed). Even during naps by either my mom, grandma or someone else. My grandma would rock her to sleep and then sit there and hold her because she was scared that Dainyah would wake up if she put her down. So, we get back home at four in the morning on Saturday and Dainyah will not sleep in her crib. She would go to sleep if being held, but if you put her down, she would wake up and commence screaming. I called my mom at nine that morning crying (at that point I had been up for 24 hours). She just said that was a part of life and she had to deal with it after taking us kids to grandma's when we were younger. Dainyah finally went to sleep at two Saturday afternoon (at that point I had been up for about 29 hours or so) after screaming hysterically since four that morning anytime she was put down (she threw such a tantrum that she really scratched up the side of her nose. Just in time for her Christmas pictures too.).

I could hardly stand the letting her cry it out thing in her crib (was at a loss as to what else to do as holding her that entire time was not an option). I made sure she was fed and had clean diapers during that time, so she wasn't being neglected, she was just throwing a fit. What would you have done? Any reprogramming tips to share? Next time we go, I have definate rules for holding her. I don't think we can go through this again and keep my sanity.

We willbe doing this when we return home on the 2nd. We have been here since the 22nd. My son is 2 1/2 though and it may be tough.

It is very hard to go somewhere and even though you have rules established, it is difficult to keep routines set and the rules followed.

I think you handled things well...it is terrible to listen to the heartwrenching cries when they are crying it out...but holder her to console her would ahve just compounded the proiblem in my opinion. The sooner yuou can get back to your established routines and practices, the better it will be for her.

If my daughter is crying and I know that she's not hungry, wet, or in pain, but just tired and fighting sleep, one thing that I've done is laying down next to her and patting her tummy and talking to her, while she fusses. Eventually she'll quiet down and nurse off to sleep. Of course, we don't have to move her into a crib, since she sleeps in our bed, so it's a little bit of a different situation.

Do you have a sling Crystal? I couldn't make it without mine. Hannah sleeps in there and rides around in there a lot. It makes life a whole lot easier for me and then she gets the holding that she needs.

Hope that life starts to resemble some semblance of sanity.

Oh, one other thing, if you're desperate for sleep and have been up for two many hours, maybe try lying down on your bed and nurse Dainyah to sleep on it. You will fall asleep in the process and you both will get a restful nap. Baby puts mommy to sleep and mommy puts baby to sleep. Works like a charm. :) :)

Oh, another resource that I recommend is the Baby Sleep Book by Dr. Sears. Very helpful!

From four thirty that morning until about eleven, Peter was in bed with us, and since we can't let her sleep up there with his machine, and the fact that when he is out and rolls over, he'll bulldoze you (he's rolled on top of me once or twice and I am not that little and it was a pain to get him off) I couldn't have her in there with me. I did put her in when he got up to go to work though and she took a three hour nap finally starting at two and lasted until just before five.

I have yet to find a sling that will work. Tried a snuggli, and my torso is too short, I kept hitting her in the head with my chin, so it went back to the store. And I haven't had the money to order a moby (what I really want), and I know I can't make one right now. Oh well, in time. Other bills come first. I wasn't up doing things at that time anyway, I was lying in bed praying for her to settle down. I had been up since before nine the morning before....

Oh well, guess reprogramming is a part of life when you go and visit grandma's. We are going to the other grandma's the end of January for a few days. She's just as bad if not worse....

The Peanut shell. I loved mine. I don't know how old your baby is but if they are young enough they actually can lay in it as you walk around. Sleep is un-avoidable for the baby. Although in your case, the baby would think they were being held again, so I guess this would not solve your problem. Maybe next time you go, you could find a gentle way of taking the baby from the grandmas and laying her down. I know with my mom, I had to tell her gently of course that some of the things she was doing was going to make my life harder and asked her if she would work with me to raise my son. Now visits to grandmas are really enjoyable. She sometimes tries to feed him things I don't want him to have, but I think that is just the generation she came from. YOu love people with food!!! Hope this is good advice, if not just ignore it. :wink:

Ooh I remember that - ds was like that alll the time, grandparents or not, so we co-slept at nite and I'd wear him during the day. Dh was worried about squishing him, so he slept on the sofa bed if the baby wasn't sleeping directly on top of me (which ds often did - i spent alot of nights propped up on pillows).
I went to peppermint.com and the customer service dept there was really great at helping me find a sling that matched my build, my concerns (back pain) and how long I planned on wearing it each day (pretty much all the time). Even if you don't buy anything from them, they might help you pic a style (to buy or make at home) that would be best for you and dd.