Bedtime

Lately, I've been the parent responsible for feeding our son just before bedtime. While my wife ties up a few loose odds and ends before bed, I'll take command.

In an ideal world, he'd take a bottle, burp, and fall asleep for 5 hours.

Sadly, you and I both know there is no such thing as an ideal world.


Here's the usual routine: Diaper, feed 2+oz.; burp; he closes eyes for 5 minutes; I stand up, thinking he's asleep; he opens eyes, remembers that he's still hungry; feed 2+oz.; burp; falls asleep.

At this point, I take him upstairs and put him in the cradle next to our bed. You might ask, "Why is he sleeping in your room? Put him in the nursery." I might answer, "Good point. But shut up....I'm tired and I don't need to argue this with you."

My son, though, might be the next Amazing Kreskin. Within 10 seconds of my head hitting the pillow, he starts to fuss. Kreskin knows that it'll only take approximately 15 seconds for me to fall asleep. Thus, as a courtesy compromise, he fusses after I've laid down, but before I fall asleep.

So, after fussing for a few minutes, he breaks into a cry. Not a Cry-cry....but a cry. Usually it'll take a few more ounces of milk to get things back to normal. Sometimes he can pacify himself by latching on to my pinkie.

In the near future, Young Kreskin will be moved to the nursery. This will provide me with more chances to trip over things before getting to him when he cries. (Note: by "me", I mean "my wife")