Kelly's Korner: Mom Poll #436

Monday, July 06, 2009

Mom Poll #436

Today has been a pretty eventful day. First of all - I spoke to Vivian's mom, Somer, on the phone today. Thank you so much for praying - she is truly a miracle. Somer previously was a nurse at Arkansas Children's where Vivian is and I think that is a huge blessing. If Vivian's fracture to her skull would have been even a few milimeters larger - she could have had significant brain damage but thankfully she is doing great and has been up today eating and playing and will get to go home tomorrow!!!

Harper and I left after lunch today to come to my parent's house to visit for a few days. Harper was so good and slept for the entire 3 hour trip. But when I when to get her out of the car - I noticed she had dried blood covering her lips. Of course I started freaking out. So I brought her inside and mom and I had a flashlight looking in her mouth and all over her body. We could not figure it out. Probably 30 minutes later after I fed her - I noticed her mouth was bleeding. I think I've been reading WAY too many blogs lately and hearing so many bad things that immediately I thought "she is spitting up blood or having internal bleeding and she probably has a tumor". So mom and I took her to the hospital to the ER. Of course it was packed and it was going to be HOURS before they could see her and it was already 6 p.m. A really nice nurse looked her over and he works at Children's Hospital and he reassured me and told me if it was his baby - he would take her home. Most likely she has a small cut in her mouth. She also is teething a top tooth now. THREE TEETH ALREADY? That girl really wants to get into some real food. So we are watching her closely but I have to admit I started tearing up after the nurse made me feel better.

So now for a little poll. I have 3 questions for you today and I'd love to hear your answers:

1. At what age did your children start sleeping through the night on a consistent basis?

(Harper is still getting up every 2-3 hours and I'm about to lose my mind so I'm just looking for a little light at the end of my tunnel. And I have all the books (Baby Wise, Sleep Habits, etc.......just no time or energy to read them). She has actually become SO much easier during the day and has been taking great naps - I just love EVERY minute with her - but night time is almost getting worse.

2. At what age did your children start sitting up?

Harper has been ahead on all of her milestones but she is not sitting up yet and I know it's okay but I'm just curious what the average age is for all of you. We are practicing, practicing, practicing.

3. I'm re-doing our family room. Pictures to come soon. We got new furniture (well new to us - we bought it from a couple who sold it to get new furniture) and I've ordered a new rug and now I'm planning to get bar stools. These are the ones I think I want to get. What do you think (without knowing how the room looks) - cute, ugly, a great neutral? ......Give it to me.

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday so Harper and I hope to enjoy celebrating with her! My parents live in the country and we were just looking out the window watching six deer hang out by my car in front of their house. So fun!

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489 comments:

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The Semi-Domesticated Mama said...: Sleeping through the night? They're supposed to sleep through the night? Insert eyeroll here!

My first slept through the night at 6 weeks but that was due to severe neglect in his birth home. He didn't know how to cry. I would not recommend this method of training your child to sleep through the night.

The second one slept 23 hours a day for his first year of life because of his Prader Willi syndrome. Again, not recommended.

My first birthchild had colic, reflux, milk allergy, soy allergy.....she slept through the night for the very first time at age 19 months and didn't consistantly sleep through the night until she was almost 3 years old.

My youngest is 17 months and he still gets up 2-3 times a night to nurse. We're weaning right now....it's not going so well. I don't anticipate sleeping through the night again until somewhere around year 2013. I may be heavily medicated by that point.

All my kids, except the second one, sat up between 6-7 months.

I love the barstools!; 7/08/2009 7:43 AM
Mommyto3 said...: Glad to here Harper is ok.
1. My first baby didn't sleep through the night until he was 1year old. Second one was around 3months.
2. First baby sat up at 6-7months, second one 5mo.
3. Those barstools are AWESOME! You have great taste.
Hang in there with the no sleeping. Nothing lasts forever, it will get better.; 7/08/2009 7:44 AM
William, Megan and Avery said...: My little girl is 8 months old and she's still not sleeping through the night. She was doing a 5-hr stretch until she hit 4 months, then she went back to eating every 1-3 hours around the clock! Just the past few days she is only eating at 10:30, 1:30, and 5:00 during the night. I know it can be frustrating!!! We've tried all the books and Avery won't have anything to do with any of their suggestions and I just can't stand to let her cry it out!! Eventually they'll sleep through the night on their own time... I would suggest that you make sure she's hungry before you feed her. It's normal for them to wake up throughout the night, but they don't always need to eat :)

Avery started sitting up at 5 1/2 months, and I would consider her about a month ahead on her milestones (I'm an early intervention physical therapist... so I see it everyday!).

LOVE LOVE LOVE the barstools! I think they add a good textural element while still being neutral!; 7/08/2009 7:46 AM
John and Susan Combs said...: Hey Kelly,
I have two girls and they are like night and day, so for your questions, I'll give ya two answers (except #1).

1. They both started sleeping through the night at 8 weeks. Consistently @ 3 months. I did babywise from the day both of them came home. Our first child, we let her cry it out (3 horrible nights) but so worth it. The 2nd just slept through the night on her own.

2. My oldest was always ahead or at least on time when it came to milestones. She sat up at 6 months. Our 2nd is always a little behind on motor skills (but not speech, let me tell ya!). She started sitting up at 8 months.

3. I love the bar stool. You can always use it no matter how you change the room.

hope this helps!
Susan; 7/08/2009 7:46 AM
Casey said...: Avery started sleeping through the night at 12 weeks. We did Babywise starting at 6 weeks so I think that helped.

Avery sat up at 5 months old and she perfected it over the next month or so.; 7/08/2009 7:47 AM
Laura said...: We have 2 girls...now 14 and 9!!!!! Neither one of them slept thru the night consistently until they were almost 3 or 4! Breastfeeding, teething...especially, then potty training...they would sleep thru here and there, but not every night. It does decrease as they get older...at first every 3 hours or so, then every 5 hours and then just once and then all night!! I am sure the teething is keeping Harper up....some motrin before bed might help...I am sure that teething really hurts!
2...Both sat up around 9 months and walked around 11 months....I realize this is later now, but at the time I wasn't concerned at all:) Of course they are brilliant geniuses now, so no worries there:)
Also, I really like the bar stools, but might they be scratchy or pull people's shirts?
SO glad Harper is okay...I think you and your Mom did the right thing to take her in, though. Enjoy the time with your parents!; 7/08/2009 7:47 AM
Katie said...: That is wonderful to hear about Vivian!! What a scary time for her mother, I'm sure! Amelia fractured her skull from a fall from rolling off the bed at 4 months...long story...my *nightmare* story...so I can imagine what went through your friend's mind. I'm so thankful to our Father for watching over that little girl and her injuries. :o) Truly...praise the Lord!

Amelia sat up around 6 months. It'll happen...sooner than your probably think!! One of the pediatrician's I liked said he didn't encourage night-weaning before 9 months. And I was fine with that. I did try to encourage her to "cluster feed" before bed to stock up. Some babies do that on their own before big long sleeps. So I would try to nurse her about every hour about three times before she would go to sleep (10 pm or so), and she would sleep for about 5 hours after that. And in mommy mode, 5 hours of sleep is GOLDEN! Haha! I was never comfortable with putting rice cereal in a bottle for her because of the negative things I'd read about it. I hope Harper's sleeping pattern gets better for you! I know how hard it is...but I promise you, this "phase" will be gone so quickly! Kelly, it really and truly will. You will look back in a couple months and remember it. But thankfully, like all mommy memories, you will barely remember how tiring and exhausting and hard it was, and instead you will remember the sweet aspect of it...getting to visit with Harper in the middle of the night every few hours. :o) I *assure* you, this part will be over before you think, and it will be just a memory. Hang in there! You are such a good momma to Harper!! I'll be saying some prayers for her sleeping ;o)

Oh! And Happy Birthday to your momma!! Y'all have fun celebrating!; 7/08/2009 7:48 AM
John and Susan Combs said...: One more thing, just b/c they're up at night doesn't always mean they're hungry. My 2nd always wakes up with teething. Isn't Harper getting lots of teeth now? Could be why the waking is getting worse. Just a thought....; 7/08/2009 7:49 AM
Collier Chronicles said...: My son is 13 months. He started sleeping through the night at 12.5 months. Seriously! I am not kidding.

It has been horrible working and not sleeping. He would sleep through the night for a day or two. Then back to waking at least once.; 7/08/2009 7:53 AM
Jen said...: 1. Sleeping through the night - both my kids were sleeping 5-hour stretches by 5 weeks old, and shortly after that, 8-hours. Now at 5 months old, Rebekah is sleeping from 10pm to 8am. Read Babywise. It's totally worth it. At this age, Harper does not need to be fed in the middle of the night - she's just gotten in a habit of waking up and being put back to sleep by breast feeding. You'll have to go through some nights of crying, but she'll learn to sleep the entire night. Anyway, she's healthy and happy, and will be just fine without eating during the night. Babies need their parents to guide them and teach them when to sleep and when not to sleep. But again, read Babywise - Eat, Play, Sleep has been a wonderful schedule for my kiddos!

2. My Rebekah is 5 months old, and she's working on sitting up, but not quite there yet. Don't worry about it - as long as you're letting her try it, she'll get it soon enough.

3. I love the chairs, and would totally buy them, but I wonder what young children would do the woven part of it?? I love the look of them though!; 7/08/2009 7:53 AM
Unknown said...: My daughter slept through the night really well from about 6 months to a year. Once she turned one it has been off and on for a almost a year now. She was a late teether, so a lot of it has to do with that. But she will have some really great nights, then the next night get up once, so it's off and on. Maybe try a bottle of formula before she goes to bed. Sometimes that worked for us, and other times I would just get up and nurse her!

Our daughter sat up at 5 months, but she also weighed 22 lbs at 5 months! She had a lot of weight in the front to help secure her!

LOVE the barstool! So cute and cushion looks comfy!; 7/08/2009 7:59 AM
Tara said...: Ann Marie started sleeping through the night at 10 weeks. I swear by wearing socks at night- first night she wore them she slept..didn't want to jinx it.
She started sitting up by herself at about 6 months.

Love the bar stools!!

Also I have noticed that every time my daughter is getting a tooth she is real quick to bleed- just the littlest bump will make her mouth bleed. It did freak me out the first time though. We have a nurse hotline at the local hospital- it is great....I call them lots for all my Mommy freak outs!

Tara; 7/08/2009 8:00 AM
Tara G. said...: 1. 7 weeks, 11 weeks, and 8 weeks (then we moved across the country and I had to re-train).

2. All 3 between 5-6 months. Our youngest is hitting milestones later- no doubt it's because of her many subjects at beck and call.

3. I think they're great! The only thought I have is would they hold the "style" long enough to be worth the purchase or would I be unhappy with them earlier than I would want to be. Grr- practical side coming out...

My mom's 60th is today and we have some fun plans for Baba!; 7/08/2009 8:00 AM
Unknown said...: Give Harper something substantial to eat at bedtime. If she goes to bed after nursing, try giving her a bottle of your breast milk mixed with a some rice cereal. The "bulk" might just help her sleep longer! It worked with my babies! :)

Rebecca; 7/08/2009 8:01 AM
Valerie said...: Hi Kelly.

It must be very overwhelming to have so many comments and so many different opinions.

So...here's mine...

Mary Catherines was breast-fed (until about 15-months) and started sleeping "through the night" around 8-weeks. According to my pediatrician, "sleeping through the night when breast-fed" is around 10 PM to 4 AM. That was right on with Mary.

Mary was my first-born, my in vitro miracle, and my petite little girl. She was barely 12lbs by 4 months old. So...she slept in the bassinette in our master for quite a while.

Now, my 2nd child, Benjamin (bonus baby) ;) began to sleep through the night sooner then Mary and this concerned me b/c he was breastfed as well, BUT...he was such a light sleeper (still is at age 2) that whenever my husband and I turned in bed, he woke up and heard us. We were starting to be up all night (every couple of hours) and for my sanity, I needed to move him to his own crib much sooner (around 6 weeks). What a huge difference that made! He still needed night-time feedings, but he was only eating once at night instead of multiple times.

Every baby is different...if you do have a 2nd you will find that out for sure!

I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but I would be hesitant to put cereal in a bottle (don't you breastfeed?) or give Harper any foods not okayed by her pediatrician. Due to her severe food allergies you need to be leary about what/gluten etc. Also, perhaps her waking is tummy issues from what you've eaten during the day...I think I remember you trying to keep your diet bland.

In the end though...it's probably her personality and wanting Mommy and in the end she will grow out of this...and then you'll be posting how much you miss these years! :) Ha!!!

Blessings to you from Kansas City,
Valerie; 7/08/2009 8:03 AM
Chari said...: Ethan has been slower on his milestones. I'd say it was about 9.5 months before he was sitting up really good. I don't push things, he'll eventually do them as he gets stronger and is ready. Don't worry about being "on time".

As for sleeping through the night...he still wakes up every 3 to 4 hours and he's breastfed. It is tiring, but I plan to BF him til at least 2 years old I know it's the best thing for him. In the meantime, I suffer on ;-) I've heard from multiple people that their babies don't sleep through the night until they are weaned. However, I know people who also have 3 and 4 year olds who are up multiple times a night consistantly. Good grief, that better not be my kids!!; 7/08/2009 8:04 AM
G.B. said...: As hard as it is...you are going to have to let her cry...I did babywise and the baby whisperer and I like the Baby Whisperer better because it teaches you how to deal with baby's that have different temperments. Mine all slept through the night at 8 weeks and 9 weeks...two were completely nursed...no formula. By her age she is getting enough nutrition during the day...the nighttime wakes are out of habit. Give her a paci or blankie and just keep reassuring her that you are there...I even slept next to their cribs and slept with my hand on their backs:) if you have 20 minutes sit down and read the chapter in babywise on sleep training and in the baby whisperer too...don't read all of it because I know you don't have time:)...just read the part about night time sleep. Good luck!; 7/08/2009 8:05 AM
Brandy said...: My 14 month old is just now sleeping thought the night (last night was the 6th night, so I do mean JUST NOW!) The only way we could do it was by getting my husband to go in there during the night, otherwise she wanted to nurse and I was ready to not nurse a one year old two or three times a night! But we did not get our son, who is three and a half now sleeping through the night until he was 18 months. I too had all of the books, but nursing babies (who are not yet on food) usually need to be nursed. If she is nursing and then going right back to sleep I say keep nursing her, she probably needs it (my ped. says all 12 lb babies should be able to sleep through the night, I disagree). But if she is nursing and playing/fussing it may be more "behavioral" and you may want to try and let her "cry it out" some, or try a cup or pasi (can't remember if she takes one?). Anyhow, just my thoughts, I am no expert! Just know there will be a day when she sleeps through the night! And by then you won't care anymore!; 7/08/2009 8:05 AM
Amberdawn said...: My son starting sleeping throughout the night at a little less than 3 months old. I think it was because we put him in his crib at that age and he was away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the house. It has been so nice since!! :)
He was pretty much on track with sitting up-started at around 6 months. He didn't really care for it though, he went basically to crawling.
Barstools=LOVE!!!; 7/08/2009 8:09 AM
Michelle Cearley said...: I like the way the bar stools look, but from experience with kids who actually sit on them and eat on them regularly, they don't look like they will be easy to clean. I can't tell what the seat is made of, but if it is a woven jute-like material it will catch crumbs and absorb spills. If you plan to keep them after Harper is 3 or 4, you might want to get solid surface seats since bar stools are magnets to kids who will want to climb in them all the time! Just a thought! I got smooth leather ones, and they just wipe off.; 7/08/2009 8:11 AM
Bethany said...: I loved the Babywise books and there is also a blog out there with questions and comments and that blog has a great index to jump to YOUR topic.

Some babies just don't sleep well, unfortunately... but the only thing I can think to try is letting her self soothe. You may wait as long as you can to go check on her, but if you don't and you jump up as soon as you hear her then maybe try to let her wrestle herself back to sleep for about 10 minutes. (Unless she is screaming uncontrollably) See if she will soothe herself back to sleep.

With Harper still being in your room, I know that is probably not what the hubby would choose to do ;) But I truly believe that they get accustomed to you being there. I go through it every time my little on e gets sick. It's like clock work every night, but as soon as I know she is well enough to make it through the night I just let her settle herself.

Good Luck! And I hope it is just her teeth and gums that are bleeding...; 7/08/2009 8:12 AM
Anonymous said...: 1. Well, don't hate me but mine started sleeping through the night at 5-6 weeks. And definitely by 8 weeks old she was consistently sleeping about 8 hours through the night. I can't remember at what point she started sleeping 12 hours a night. That seems really crazy to me that Harper still wakes up so often. Honestly, if I were you when she turns 6 months I would try not nursing her back to sleep. You could wait longer if you feel you have to nurse her, but I think often times when babies get older they wake up and want to be nursed more out of habit than actual need. But of course you should talk to your pediatrician!

2. As for sitting up, she didn't sit up very well until at least 6 months. And honestly, don't worry about Harper being behind. My daughter is 13 months old and she still isn't walking and it's totally normal. It sounds like she's perfectly healthy and developing normally so she'll sit up when she's ready.

3. Those chairs are cute! Can't wait to see pictures.

Glad Harper is okay. That would have scared me too. You are a great mom! Harper is lucky to have you. :); 7/08/2009 8:13 AM
Adrienne said...: Two words- BABY WHISPERER!! My first slept through at 3 months,my second at 8 weeks and now my third at 2 weeks! Granted Bennett (my third) has Down syndrome as well as a heart defect that will need to be repaired so maybe he sleeps more because of that but he's very alert through out the day. He's on a great schedule which baby whisperer is all about. She runs a tight ship but so do I so I love it. It's worth looking in to for your little Harper. I also used the ferberizing method where you put them down, they cry you go in after 5 min. and pat them but don't pick them up or talk- just let them know you're there and then increase the time to 10 and then 20 and eventually they fall asleep. Don't let them cry for more than 40 min though. I'm telling you it worked for my kiddos and they are all in bed by 7:30pm even little Bennett who is 6 weeks old and they wake up between 7-8 am. You may have to use a little tough love- don't worry she won't hate you for it but babies know how to work their mamas and wrap them around their little fingers so as long as you keep coming in to hold her or feed her she will continue cry. Good luck!; 7/08/2009 8:14 AM
Unknown said...: I don't have good input for you on the sleeping through the night as my son was about 4 or 5 before he really started regularly sleeping all ngiht long, however, try taking away one of her naps - preferably the latest one in the day...maybe that will at least buy you a couple of hours. As for the sitting up - in order for her brain to make all the connections it needs to make to be wired properly, precious Harper needs lots of floor time...on her belly and back would be the best. She can play and explore and will likely then try to sit herself up a bit. She needs to be able to roll around and crawl and wiggle. I am learning that my son didn't have enough time on the floor and he has some gaps in his learning we have to work on now. It is tough...; 7/08/2009 8:14 AM
Megan said...: Braelyn started sleeping through the night 7:30-6 at 6 months. Before that she always woke up to eat every 3-4 hours to eat but always went right back to sleep.

She also didn't sit up until she was 6 months old. She has always had her "milestones" right after her well checkups...so rolling consistently over at 4months and sitting up at 6months.

And Brae has JUST cut her 1st tooth at 8months. So I believe that every baby has their own normal. No worries, Your little Harper is doing GREAT!; 7/08/2009 8:14 AM
BeckyMuller said...: I'm so glad she's okay! Those things will scare you to death! Both of my kids slept better in their own rooms than they did in my room so Caden moved at one week and Addison moved at about 2 weeks. I think I woke them up when I heard them stir by me sitting up. They both started sleeping completely through the night at like 7 weeks. I didn't let them cry it out but I would let them fuss for a few minutes. once it got to full crying I'd send my husband in to console them because if they saw me they'd want to nurse for sure. If they didn't calm down for him he'd bring them to be and I'd nurse them!

Caden sat at 6 months and Addison was at about 7 months. Addison's 10 months now and still doesn't crawl! (Is it awful that I praise God for that everyday! She's a curious girl and I KNOW once she starts to crawl I'll REALLY have my hands full! ha!)

WTG Harper with all those teeth! Addison still has none!!!; 7/08/2009 8:14 AM
Rae said...: My nine month old has yet to cut teeth but was sitting up on his own at 6 months. He would teeter a bit but for the most part was sitting up well. He slept through the night at 10 weeks. Harper should be old enough to sleep through the night without waking. I'd encourage you to break that habit now b/c when she turns 6 months it will be much harder. Have you tried letting her just cry it out a little. SO very difficult to do, but may be worth a try. . .

Happy Birthday to your mom. I'm a July baby too! :); 7/08/2009 8:16 AM
The Tylers said...: 1 - My Bailey is 6 months old, just a few weeks older than Harper. She is not sleeping through the night yet either, but a few weeks ago, she just all of a sudden started going to just up one time a night (most of the time). She still has a "bad" night here and there, but I have been enjoying it so much! Is Harper sleeping too much during the day maybe? Bailey is not a huge napper, ususally she takes 3 naps, hardly ever more than an hour each. Usually it's closer to 30 minutes.

2 - Bailey really started sitting up good on her own when she was 5 1/2 months. She was working on it before then, but was wobbly. But now I feel confident leaving her to sit on the floor by herself, while I am sitting on the couch or running to another room for a second.

3 - I like the bar stools, they look like they fit your style!; 7/08/2009 8:17 AM
Amber said...: I have 3 little ones and they were all so different! My oldest really didn't start sleeping through the night consistently until right before the next one was born (she was just over 2 years), but that was our fault, because we let her cosleep with us for a long time, then SLOWLY moved her to a bed in our room, then a bed across our room, then finally in her own bed. We just never started good sleep habits with her. My next 2 both started sleeping through the night at around 6 months. They both coslept with us for a the first few months, but once they started sleeping that first good stretch (at about 4ish months), I'd put them to bed in their crib and only bring them to bed with me when they woke up. Eventually they just quit waking up til morning. For sitting up, my first sat up at 6 mos, my second at 5 1/2 mos, and my third at almost 7 mos. As for the barstools, I think they look cute, but not very comfortable. The back looks like it would be scratchy. But I do like the way they look!; 7/08/2009 8:19 AM
Rachel said...: My daughter slept thru the night at 3 months and 3 days. I'll always remember it, the night of New Years Eve !! And from that point on if she woke up at night I just let her fuss herself back to sleep because she had proven to me that she didn't NEED to eat at night anymore. Since then she has sleep 11-12 hours every night and she is now 21 months old.

As for sitting up....that average that I see, and I am a nurse in a pediatric office is anywhere between 6 and 7 months. Harper will do what she wants to do when she wants to do it and nobody can change that!! But definatley practice will help by holding her hands while she sits, letting her try to sit up inbetween your legs, and LOTS of tummy time. That will help with almost everything, sitting up, head control, crawling, walking......

The bar stools. They are cute, not me, but one thing to think of is when Harper starts to pull herself up on things are they sturdy enought NOT to tip over ?? We had to put our bar stools in the basement temporarily around 10 months of age because Ava would pull on them and they would start to lean.

Good luck.....and try not to panic about things. Unfortunately you will see lots of things you'd prefer not to see as Harper gets older and braver. And from what I hear that continues on for life !!! Part of being a mom I guess.....; 7/08/2009 8:21 AM
Ashlee said...: Poor baby -- she's probably nicked herself with all those teeth! Blair is 9 months and doesn't have a ONE! I'm glad you didn't have to stay in the ER though. That would have been miserable!

1. Blair was sleeping through the night at four months. I can't imagine having to get up every 2 - 3 hours for as long as you have. I would be one crabby individual after doing it for that long. You're a champ!

2. At seven months, Blair was sitting up pretty well. She started around six but was very wobbly and fell over a lot! She's been on time with milestones, but since she was so sick for so long I have to remind myself not to compare. Every baby is different anyway!

3. I love the bar stools; I think they'll go with any style. I will tell you though that I have a friend with barstools with the seagrass-type seat, and she hates them. She said that everything the kids have gets stuck in the cracks (crumbs, crayon pieces, moon sand, etc.). These may work better since they have a pad though -- her's don't. It's just something to think about!

Cute pic of Harper showing off her teeth!

ashlee
acrossthebranch.blogspot.com; 7/08/2009 8:24 AM
Anonymous said...: 1. My oldest slept through the night at 12 weeks, my second at 11 months. I started to take away some night feedings when he was eating food... he didn't really need to nurse so much through the night, it had just become a habit.
2. Both of my boys sat at 6 months.
3. Love the chairs!

Good luck to you!! :); 7/08/2009 8:24 AM
Sara said...: My daughter started sleeping 10+ hours straight around 11 weeks old. Before that, she literally did not close her eyes between 10pm and 6am, so needless to say, I was a walking zombie! The only "downside" to her sleeping through the night was that she would not go to sleep before 10:30-11pm. But I didn't mind at all because at least she was sleeping :) Around 5 months old, she started waking up at 2am and then again at 5am and then would go back to sleep until about 7am. This lasted for a good 2 months. Now, she is 8.5 month and has been going to sleep around 8:30-9pm and wakes up at 8-8:30am. She will sometimes wake up around 6am to nurse, but it's not an every day thing. I should also mention that she is still in our bedroom. I just haven't had the courage to put her in her own room yet. We'll be working on that soon... maybe :)

My daughter has also been sitting up completely unassisted since 4.5 months. I know that is so not the "norm", but for some reason, she just did. At her 6 month appoitment, even her pediatrician was surprised when she sat up for her on the exam table. She made a little comment to her saying "this is an 8 month milestone", so Harper is right on track :) I have noticed such a wide range of what babies do at different ages. My daughter didn't roll over until almost 5 months, where I see many babies doing it much earlier.

LOVE the bar stool by the way!; 7/08/2009 8:27 AM
Sonya said...: I am so glad that Harper is ok. I was scared there for a moment too!

1. Lauren didn't start sleeping throught the night on a regular basis until a couple of months ago. She will be 18 months on the 25th. She still occasionally gets up in the middle of the night but not to eat. I weaned her off her middle of the night bottle when she was about 9 or 10 months old. I really don't remember.

2. Lauren started sitting up when she was about 4 months old.

3. I am not a fan of those chairs, BUT wicker is not my style. :); 7/08/2009 8:28 AM
Brittany said...: I know this might sound wierd....but my son didn't start sleeping all the way through the night until he was almost a year old. I breastfed, and he was nibbler. He wouldn't get up for long, but for a little "snack" and go right back to sleep. So it wasn't that bad. Once he was weaned around 13 months, he slept like a charm. I guess he knew there was no more "snack". HA! I had good intentions of doing Baby Wise - but when I saw his little face, I couldn't be that mean. Oh, well....he sleeps 10 -12 hours now, so every baby just needs their own time.

Layton started sitting up around 5 months, but not until 6 months was he steady. And then i was still scared and always had a pillow behind him....just in case.

Love the bar stools!; 7/08/2009 8:28 AM
Brad and Debi Rucker said...: Hi Kelly! My son (14 months) did the same thing with the bleeding...it was the teeth breaking through the gums. I would find blood on the rail protector of his crib from where he had teethed on it. Don't be too concerned unless it is a lot of blood.

Will began sleeping through the night at 10 weeks old. I know you are nursing, and I did as well, but I also supplemented with formula. I would nurse him and then give him a few ounces of formula. My baby was full and slept great. He would also take two long naps a day...still does. I also began giving him cereal at 3 months and then fruit a week later. By his 4 month check up he had already had all the fruits and veggies. A big thing that helps with the sleeping is the schedule of feeding...and once he was eating the food, I made it like real meal times...he got cereal/fruit with nursing for breakfast, fruit/veggie and nursing for lunch and then for dinner. He also got a snack of fruit or something like that with some juice after his nap. Then bedtime nursing and bottle. That made all the difference.

As far as sitting up, Will has always been really advanced when it comes to physical things...I think he was sitting up along before 5 months...but crawling and standing at 5 months...running at 9. LOL...that's when it gets REALLY tiring! :)

I like the chair...and I love your blog. Enjoy every minute with Harper...what a doll!; 7/08/2009 8:30 AM
Sara said...: 1. A was 3 when he started sleeping through the night routinely. Yes 3 years, but yes he had problems that involved severe sleep issues. D was 8 months old, but at about 6 months he was only getting up once at night, which was doable.

2. I don't remember with A, with D about 8-9 months. He's my lazy child, choosing to not walk till he was 15 months old, even though he could have done it at 11 months.

3. Eh, I don't like the white seat. Makes it too crisp for my liking. Uninviting even. Sorry you asked for the truth LOL.; 7/08/2009 8:30 AM
the osbornes said...: Babies are all SOOOO different, just keep that in mind!

My little boy started sleeping 10 hrs. through the night at 9 weeks. He started sitting up unassisted at 4 1/2 months. But he has also started all of his gross motor skills early (walked at 9 1/2 months!)

I LOVE the barstool!! I am looking for some too, will you share where you found that one?; 7/08/2009 8:30 AM
Clancy said...: My daughter Maggie has never really slept through the night on a consistent basis. She was a breastfed baby and it was easier for me to put her in bed with me a feed her (that started after she turned 1). Now that we have gone to just a bottle she still wakes up 1 time in the early morning and asks for a bottle. I don't know how to break that habit. I have tried to cry it out method and it was painful!!!

She was about 5 months when she sat up by herself.

I love the barstool.; 7/08/2009 8:31 AM
Rachel said...: My two and a half year old STILL doesn't sleep through the night consistantly. BUT, around 6-8 months I stopped going nursing her so much at night. IT WAS HARD. I also caught a LOT of flack about it. Claire is still waking up about every two hours at night and it is killing me, so you are not alone. Also, she is just now starting to sit up and she is only a week older than Harper. I, too, thought that my baby was behind on that milestone.

Lastly, the chair is pretty cute!; 7/08/2009 8:35 AM
The Haymans said...: My baby sat up and slept through the night at about 6 months. He had a serious case of reflux until then and always woke up starving!; 7/08/2009 8:36 AM
Kiki said...: It looks like you've gotten a lot of comments already but here's my two cents. I haven't commented here before.

I have 3 kids, the youngest being 8 months and I would say they truly started sleeping through the night around 1. The 8 month old still gets up 1 or 2 times a night.

Sitting up, my 8 month old is a solid sitter now and started around 6 months.

I truly love the barstools, a great neutral. BUT! Are you planning on having Harper ever sit there to eat? At any age? Kids are messy. I see crumbs sticking in it and a stained cushion. Just my mommy perspective of a 5, 3 and 8 month old boys!

I enjoy reading your blog and about your family. Harper is so sweet and cute. And the bows! I live through her since I have all boys. Sigh. She is really adorable.

Happy Birthday to you mom!; 7/08/2009 8:39 AM
Elizabeth Hubbard said...: Hey Kelly! I am freak out Mom too, so I know exactly how you feel!

Luke (who is 4 now) started sleeping all night when he was 5 weeks and sitting up on his own when he was 4 months.

Zach (who is 3 months) started sleeping all night when he was 4 weeks and is showing SOME interest in sitting up on his own, but hasn't done it yet.

And I LOVE LOVE LOVE the barstools!; 7/08/2009 8:39 AM
Abby said...: Hi Kelly! I am a friend of Leigh Ann's and wanted to tell you how lovely Harper is!

Both of my babies at up around the 6 month mark. My daughter started sleeping through the night at 7 weeks...my son at 10 months! Every baby is different!

About the barstools...they are really goodlooking, but I would cover those cushions in something less stark, know what I mean? The white cushions kindof take away from the cuteness of the stools. Just my opinion!; 7/08/2009 8:39 AM
Shelly said...: Leah was between 5 and 6 months when she started sitting up by herself. She started sleeping through the night early, but she still has moments when she wakes up for a few minutes. It will come I promise :)

And those stools are awesome!; 7/08/2009 8:40 AM
Mary said...: 1. At what age did your children start sleeping through the night on a consistent basis?

my son was 10 months old before he slept through the night..but we had him co-sleeping with us & i finally moved him to his crib at 10 months..harper does not need breastmilk in the middle of the night anymore, she is almost 6 months, right?

2. At what age did your children start sitting up?

my son was about 5 and a half months when he started sitting up; 7/08/2009 8:40 AM
Chesnye said...: The sleep issue is a hard one. My doctor once told me that some children are just bed sleepers (he has 5 children). Our first slept through the night around 12 months but co-slept with us until 20 months, the second one slept through the night at 14 months, when I weaned her... she is still a great sleeper, the third was at 18 months, after he was weaned. I have not been successful at getting a breastfed baby to sleep through the night early. Sorry.
They all set up between 5-6 months. My daughter was the smallest and was the quickest to set up. My oldest was actually 6 1/2 months.
I LOVE the chairs!!!!
Hugs,
Chesnye; 7/08/2009 8:41 AM
Anonymous said...: Kel,

My Libby is six months and has only sat a few times by herself. I bet Miss H is so on the go like Libs that she doesn't sit because she'd rathering be moving. :o)

Grace, my three year old (on next Wed, so fast, sob!) sat at around 7 months. Harper is doing GREAT! What a little peach!

Kelly (another one!)
www.thebarefootmama.com; 7/08/2009 8:41 AM
debr said...: Kellly--I think that lack of sleep is the number one most stressful thing about new mommyhood. Having said that, my daughter did not sleep longer than 2 hours until she was 2. I struggled to know what to do about it but she was breastfed exclusively so the cereal in a bottle thing was out. Also, I knew that she was not just in the habit of waking up. She wanted to eat because she was hungry. So we coslept and I nursed her every two hours at night for 2 years. I took naps during the day and refused to feel guilty about it. I ignored the Baby-wisers and cry-it-out sleep schedulers advice because I knew my child. So my advice to you is to follow your god-given instincts. Your mommy-gut will tell you what is right. Harperr is clearly in need of nursing at night, whether for comfort or nutrition. She will catch on to sleeping longer soon enough. Good luck--she is adorable!; 7/08/2009 8:42 AM
Laura said...: First time commenting! :)

My oldest didn't sleep through the night for over a year, but my second child began at around 8 months.

My biggest encouragement to you would simply be to cover the sleep situation in prayer and seek God's guidance for the best route to take for your family. I am personally opposed to BabyWise and other CIO methods for a myriad of reasons, and highly recommend Elizabeth Pantley's book, The No-Cry Sleep Solution, which worked wonderfully for us. If you feel led to go the BabyWise route, though, I'd fully respect that decision, as I do the decisions of the other moms who have commented here! :)

The only thing I want to gently challenge, though, is the idea that sleep training is something that you *have* to do. If you feel as though you need to do something because you're at the end of your rope, then definitely seek God for which route to take. But if your heart is telling you to get up with Harper at night, then that's ok. I spent too much time starting out in parenting making decisions out of fear, worrying that if I didn't start training or scheduled feedings, etc. at a certain point, I'd be doing something *wrong*. Not true. She WILL sleep through the night eventually. I promise. You WILL feel well-rested again. I promise. And you will neither spoil her nor teach her that she's the center of the universe by getting up with her at night if you feel like you should. I promise. I remember those tiring nights and days very well. But I also know that my dependence on God grew by leaps and bounds during that time, and that I have no regrets about the time I spent sitting with my kids in the night, now that I'm getting full nights of sleep again.; 7/08/2009 8:43 AM
trekmom said...: I love the barstools! They are really cute, the only drawback I would see is keeping them clean when Harper is big enough to sit on them, and keeping food from getting stuck in them. (I have 4 kids, all older than Harper. Maybe that wouldn't be a problem for you, just trying to think ahead!). My kids were all different and sat up at different ages, the first was the "slowest", but they are all doing well now. As far as sleeping through the night - good luck with that! My youngest, and the only one I really breast fed did not sleep on a regular basis until I was done nursing her at 18 months. Hang in there, it will definately get easier, or maybe you get more used to getting up. With 4 I am usually up at least twice with someone and they are 12, 8, 4 and 2!!; 7/08/2009 8:44 AM
jablott said...: I know you are tired, but Babywise will seriously help if you can muster up the energy to read it. My son, Owen, is almost 6 months and has been sleeping 8-10 hour stretches since 2 weeks old. If you can schedule her feedings during the day to be at least 3 hours apart it will help....if you feed too often she may only be getting foremilk and no hindmilk, which is what makes them feel full and content and has more calories....so, if you can get her to go longer stretches during the day she may still wake up, but you can be confident that she is getting enough to eat during the day. Seriously, it is hard to listen to them cry it out (as I had to do with my 3 year-old when he was 8 weeks) but it only lasts for 1 or 2 nights and it is worth it! Owen still isn't sitting up either, just rolling like a maniac all over the floor. Hope you can find a way to get some good sleep....it makes all the difference in the world!; 7/08/2009 8:45 AM
Rory said...: Hi Kelly,

My 3 year old still wakes up and wants a drink at least once in the night. My six month old started sleeping for a long stretch at night when I started waking her and changing her diaper and feeding her around midnight. She will sleep from 8-9pm until 7am or so if I do that.

My six month old is no closer to sitting up than she was at 5 months...so I'm thinking it may be a while.

I love the chairs!; 7/08/2009 8:46 AM
Shannon said...: HI Kelly,
Glad Harper is ok. Is I remember right I think Abbey had the blood in her mouth. It was teething.

Q1: My babies started sleeping through the night at about 1 1/2. My babies were premmies and I didn't do the let 'em cry it out thing. It was too hard on me. Since I stayed at home and have an awesome hands-on husband, we got up with them. It was usually not for very long. Porter mostly wanted a sip of milk and Abbey just wanted to be cuddled. No problem. Yes I was tired. I was beat. But it doesn't last forever. I'm sort of a fan of Attachment Parenting. I had the book Baby Wise....couldn't bring myself to follow those rules. I know it's tough (i have 2 remember) but I was even having a hard time trying to tell you at what age they started sleeping through the night because it was fleeting and it was so long ago (my babies are 3)

Q2: My babies started sitting up at about 8-9 months. Boy was it cute. All rollie pollie falling over and lots of smiles.

Q3: Love the barstools. They look great and neutral and a bit dressy compared to others.

-Shannon in Austin; 7/08/2009 8:46 AM
Mary said...: & also..you might be putting her to bed to early..i read that she got up for the first time at 9:30 pm?? i honestly think a baby her age should go to bed about 9 pm (when its good a dark) & you may see a big difference..but remember, every child is different, don't try to compare her to everyone else.; 7/08/2009 8:46 AM
Angela said...: I'm so glad everything is ok with Harper. I'm sure she just got a little cut in her mouth from something she put in it. I know when my son is teething he puts everything in his mouth. Dalton started sitting up right around 5 months but he would fall over after a little while he started sitting up for long periods of time about 5 1/2 months. Just keep practicing and when you sit her up try to distract her from falling I would dance and sing and Dalton would focus on me looking silly rather than falling down. Sleeping through the night Dalton was between four and five months. We started putting cereal in his last bottle before bed to thicken it up and keep his belly fuller throughout the night and we also moved his bed time back by an hour. If she's waking up to eat I would try the cereal in the bottle or feed her actual cereal right before her bath and see if that helps. If it's just that she wants to play then I would try keeping her up a little later. My son had both of these issues ha. It will be over soon I promise just hang in there. Those bar stools are absolutley beautiful I love them. Where did you get them from?; 7/08/2009 8:49 AM
Anonymous said...: I'm glad Harper is doing well. As far as sleeping, I did Baby Wise with my first and she slept for 5-6 hours at 8 weeks. My 2nd I didn't do BW so well and he didn't sleep through the night until about 6 months when I had to switch to formula b/c I was pregnant (and he started food). I'd say try to structure her meals a bit during the day and tank her up with food at night and see if that helps...but you may just have to keep trying different things. Once she starts eating more, you'll probably see her sleeping longer stretches!!; 7/08/2009 8:53 AM
Gram said...: I am glad everything is okay with Harper.

1. I was a very lucky mommy because my son slept through the night when he was 2 weeks old - about 8 hours. I was told to wake him up because he needed to nurse, but he had no interest. I thought, if he is hungry he will wake up.

2. I believe he was slow sitting up on his own - about 7 months.

3. I love the bar stool - it would be perfect in my house - where did you find it?; 7/08/2009 8:57 AM
Unknown said...: 1. My son was sleeping through the night at about 3 months. He was formula fed though. He was still waking up once a night at about 2am (but not crying) and I would just go in and give him a bottle to get him back to sleep thinking he was hungry. His pediatrician told us that he was getting enough food during the day and didn't need the late night bottle and to try not going in there or just patting him back to sleep. We just stopped giving that bottle and he quickly realized that he could just go back to sleep on his own. It made a huge difference.

2. My son was sitting up (unassisted) at about 6 months.

3. VERY cute furniture!

Love your blog :)
Molly; 7/08/2009 8:57 AM
BrookesMommy said...: Hi Kelly!

1. My daughter, Brooke, is a terrible sleeper! I'm right there with you - wondering just when she'll learn to comfort herself and sleep all night! She'll be 10 months old on Friday, and she's only slept through night about a dozen times! Ugh... I'm tired!

2. Brooke sat up independently very early! Around 5 months, she could sit and play alone! I would surround her with pillows, but as long as she had a toy to focus on, she was a great sitter-upper! Use that bumbo and boppy pillow to help Harper, then get rid of them and see how she does!

3. LOVE LOVE LOVE the bar stools!
Go for it! You have super style!; 7/08/2009 8:57 AM
Trica (Tree' - ka) said...: 1. My first two didn't sleep all night until they were a year old. My second two were two months old. I must have figured something out!
2. Anywhere from 5 to 7 months.
3. Love the stools!! Now I'm thinking I want to replace mine!; 7/08/2009 8:58 AM
Val, Brax and Harper said...: please please take one evening and read healthy sleep habits, happy child. just read the section for harper's age group. when brax was 5 months old and still waking thru the nite, i couldn't take it anymore. we did a few nites of "baby boot camp" and he has slept thru the nite ever since. i promise you kelly, it is good for the baby. they need the sleep as much as you do. sleeping is a learned habit, and you are the one who has to teach her, as hard as it is. the most important thing is once you start "boot camp" you must follow thru (don't cave and go in when she's crying!) or you will just prolong the process. it will be the hardest thing to listen to her cry, you will probably cry too. but like i said, you won't regret it once it's done. you need to sleep, as does harper.
brax sat up around 6 months, which i think is "normal" but didn't roll over till 9 months! he was LAZY.; 7/08/2009 8:59 AM
Stephanie said...: I might not be a light at the end of the tunnel because Allie is 13 months and still isn't sleeping through the night. It comes and goes and some nights are better than others..right now we're in a bad period. It'll happen though!; 7/08/2009 9:01 AM
Kristin said...: Kelly
Our newest addition is only 7 weeks and he is up every 2-3 hrs too. We have 2 other boys who were not ever good sleepers until they were 2-3 yrs old. I have been blessed with poor sleepers! :)
I know how stressful it is to get up every night so often..I am worried how I will do itin 4 weeks when I have to go back to work full time!
But I try and use that time to pray for people that God bring to my mind. That way I am doing something useful with my awake time.
It sounds like Harper has some colic too if she is screaming during the evenings. We are dealing with the same thing and it is so hard to see my baby hurting like that and not being able to be consoled...but I have found recently that when I put him in my sling/carrier he tends to calm down a little easier.
Thanks for allof your sharing and have a blessed day!
Kristin; 7/08/2009 9:02 AM
Our Family said...: Love the chair! Don't have kids yet...so no info on that end, but chairs are awesome! :); 7/08/2009 9:04 AM
Triple J's Girl said...: With my first kid, she slept through the night from 3 months on! Lucky I know, so our second one started sleeping through the night (for the most part) around 6 or 7 months. She will be 1 tomorrow (EEKK!) and still wakes up sometimes, I just dont feed her in the middle of the night anymore. As far as sitting up, Kennedy (#1) was about 5 months old, and Marlie (#2) was about 4 months old. Don't worry about it, all babies are different. I never used a bumbo and I know it helps them, but could that be the reason she WON'T do it on her own? Just curious. Oh and I LOVE the barstools no matter what the room looks like! HA! Have a good time with your mom.; 7/08/2009 9:08 AM
Kate and Kendall said...: my daughter started sleeping through the night at about 5 weeks. she didn't sit up on her own until about 7 months though! good luck - those 5 weeks of not sleeping wore me out!!!! But Harper is a doll!; 7/08/2009 9:08 AM
Anonymous said...: Hi, Kelly! I love your blog.

I just wanted to chime in about the mouth bleeding. My daughter cut a tooth right through a blood vessel in her gums (that sounds awful, but it's totally normal--just a coincidence). The gum was really dark where the tooth was pushing through because it was pushing the blood vessel up near the surface, and she did end up with a mouthful of blood twice. It totally freaked me out at the time, but that's what it was. Maybe her new tooth caused some slight bleeding?

-Vanessa; 7/08/2009 9:09 AM
QB said...: My son (now 14 years old) was 3 years old before he ever slept for more than 2 hours at night. He did take good naps but I felt like he needed it, and so did I:-)
I was a very tired mommy and I was very happy that I didn't have to work because I think I would have been fired for being grouchy and tired.

Good luck and I love, love , love the the barstools can't wait to see your room when it's done.; 7/08/2009 9:12 AM
Mama's the Boss said...: I am so glad Harper is ok. Maybe she just had a little cut from one of her teeth.

My little girl turns 3 months next week. She had begun to sleep 6-7 hours, but now it's back to about 4 in a row at night. Last night she woke at 12:30, 1:30 and 3. Each time, my husband gave her a pacifier while he went to get a bottle and each time she was asleep when he got back. She woke up for a bottle at 4:45, but was back asleep by 5:30 and stayed that way until a little after 8A.; 7/08/2009 9:14 AM
The Dean Family said...: My first child didn't stop waking up until I stopped nursing, put her in her own room, and let her cry it out. My doctor suggested this and she did not cry for long like I expected. (I could still go in to comfort her and pat her but not pick her up) I was strongly opposed to this but, I had to make a compromise with my husband that I would do it at 6 mths. It worked and she started sleeping 12 to 13 hrs after 2 nights.
My second child is a wonderful sleeper. I am nursing and co-sleeping with her and she sleeps from 11 pm to 6am!! She is 8 weeks old and has been doing this for several weeks now.
I think it's just the personality of the child!!! Harper sounds a lot like my first little girl!!!; 7/08/2009 9:15 AM
JenniferB said...: My Emma started sitting around five months. I'm sure Harper is close.

She doesn't sleep through the night either. We get three 2-4 hour sessions. I let her lay in the bed with me some but I always start her out in her bed in hopes that maybe she won't wake up. She breastfeeds still and I'm convinced it's a comfort thing and not a hungry thing. We had three days of sleeping longer than 8 hours when she was about three months old and then we got her first shots and it totally threw her off. Emma is a sensitive baby and every time we start something new or she hits a new milestone her sleep schedule changes. I've had some really frustrating nights too. Hang in there!; 7/08/2009 9:16 AM
The Taffs said...: I don't have children, so I can't address that. But, I LOVE the barstools! They're unique yet stylish. Can't wait to see pictures once you're done redecorating.; 7/08/2009 9:18 AM
The Dean Family said...: I just read a comment about cluster feeding. I did not realize this but my 8 week old does this from 8-11!!! We nurse constantly and then she falls into a deep sleep from 11-6!!! Try it! I guess this is why it's working for me!; 7/08/2009 9:21 AM
Jennifer said...: I'm glad Harper is ok! That is scary and I freak out about things too...I think it's just a normal part of being a 1st time mom.

I think Caden was probably around 6 or 7 months before he started sleeping through the night. Before then, the stretches between feedings definitely got longer but it wasn't until then that he would sleep from 8 or so until 6:30 or 7 He was a really really bad sleeper the first 4 months...wore me out. I'll save you the time on Baby Wise...basically you feed her, let her play for 2 hours and then she naps for 2 hours then start over. BUT now that she's getting older, she'll probably transition in to 2 daytime naps instead of several. How much is she sleeping during the day now...maybe it's too much? You could also try giving her a little more to eat at night and that might hold her over. Also the teething isn't making the sleep issue any better.

I noticed a pretty big difference in Caden's ability to sit up between 5 and 6 months. So I bet she'll have that milestone perfected any day now.

I LOVE the chairs...you should totally get them.

Good luck with everything!; 7/08/2009 9:24 AM
Brandy said...: My daughter started sleeping through the night consistently at about 8 months old-still up sometimes during the night, but she would sleep through the night most nights. She just turned a year, now, and she always sleeps through the night unless she is sick or something is wrong.
She started sitting on her own at 5 months-she was probably a little ahead on that milestone, though. (but she didn't start crawling until 11 months!)

The bar stools are not my style, but I think they would look really pretty in your house. If you like them, go for it!; 7/08/2009 9:26 AM
Katie said...: First off, I'm glad to hear the positive news about Vivian!

I can't really speak to the kiddie questions since I don't have a child (yet). BUT ... I LOVE those bar stools. Seeing your decorating ideas makes me feel like re-doing some of the rooms in my house!; 7/08/2009 9:28 AM
Beth said...: My daughter started sleeping through the night, fully, all the time at 10 months when she weaned herself from breastfeeding. We were down to only a night time feeding and she slept through one night and didn't want to breastfeed anymore. Kinda sad for me cause I loved it, but blessed that I didn't have that trouble of weaning!! I agree with above comments saying to try cereal before bed, it seemed to help my daughter and she would sleep 4-6 instead of 2-3. Now she is almost 3 and we have been through a lot with my divorce so she gets up about half way through and gets in my bed!! UGH!! I said I wouldn't ever do that! She also hit her physical milestones pretty late, she didn't sit up till she was almost 8 months, crawl till 10months and she was a wopping 15 months when she finally walked. Every kid is different though and you shouldn't worry! :)

I love the barstools!! Cute cute!

Please keep Gavin's baby brother Brody in your prayers, I think I saw you on the email list yesterday! Such disheartening news! But I am believing and praying Brody will be healed before birth! And wow what a testimony those boys and their whole family will have!

Thanks, love your blog and Harper is such a cutie!! Just keep enjoying every minute!!! I so dearly miss staying home with mine! :)

Beth-Tulsa; 7/08/2009 9:30 AM
kimberly t. bowling said...: Adore the bar stools. Good choice for whatever the decor.

Sleep through the night???? My children are 12, 10 and 7....and I have no idea at what age they start sleeping through the night consistently! :) HA! It does get better, just hang in there, you're a strong woman.; 7/08/2009 9:30 AM
rhilborn said...: 1. Ethan started sleeping through the night at 3 months but teething and a growth spurt interrupted. Then he started back up after 4 months. He is now 7 months (about 6 weeks older than Harper) and he usually wakes up once after 10 hours and then is awake for the day after 12.
I do not want this to come off as judegemental because every child is unique with their own routine. However, I really think moving Harper to her own room will do a world of good in getting her to sleep for longer stretches. Also, you've mentioned before how long her naps can sometimes be, and I would wonder if she's getting her deep sleep during the day. My son takes 2 naps now, down from 2-3. And each nap is about an hour. He goes to bed at 7pm usually and if he goes down for a nap any later than 3 he will be all messed up for the evening. That being said, although are babies are 6 weeks apart, a lot can happen in 6 weeks!
2. Ethan sat assisted before 4 months and unassisted at about 4.5 months. He was really sturdy and could sit completely erect at 5+ months. If you're still giving Harper the opportunity to do it I wouldn't worry if she isn't there yet. Ethan was ahead in everything but rolling, he just didn't feel like it, until he did:).
3. I love the stools! If your remodeled living room likes anything like the rest of your house, which I would think it would, then that will work beautifully:).; 7/08/2009 9:34 AM
Kristine said...: Katie started sleeping through the night by 3 months...she wasn't breastfed (I lost my milk when she was sick from stress) and she also wasn't a big eater, which helped keep her asleep i think.

Katie started sitting up at about 7 months or so. It was a very slow progression.

LOVE the stools...reminds me of antiques I saw in Georgia.

Would you mind saying a little prayer for Katie. She stopped eating almost altogether about 6 days ago. She needs to get back on track before she gets sick. I'm incredibly worried and stressed out about it. I think it may just be the 18 month old toddler in her asserting herself, but she has NO extra weight to lose....she's already not even on the charts.

Thank you!!!; 7/08/2009 9:34 AM
Dina said...: I can't answer the baby questions, but I sure love the new bar stools! I can't wait to see your new furniture.; 7/08/2009 9:35 AM
Whitney said...: I just wanted to add that I agree with the crying it out posters! It works and it usually is the worst the first night, but will prob. only take 3 nights.

I've read a lot of books about babies sleeping and less naps during the day doesn't work. Overtired babies don't sleep as well. My daughters both took 2 long naps and one short cat nap until 8 months and still slept 12 hours at night. Any sleep expert will tell you naps during the day are imperative to night time sleep.

Also, if you are against crying it out, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer is a good book.; 7/08/2009 9:35 AM
B and D said...: I'll weigh in with what I've learned as a mom to be, so take mine with a grain of salt since I don't have hands on experience yet :) Oh, and I have a fun update that I'll email you later!

Anyway, I have a few mom friends who have set strict sleep regimens from the beginning and theirs were sleeping through the night at 6-8 weeks. They've pretty much said that after 8 weeks there is no need for the middle of the night feedings and they had their babies on good eating schedules during the day (like they would wake them up to eat if it was time). It look one or two nights of crying but by the third the babies figured out the new plan. Aside from the occasional up in the night moment they've been able to get then to sleep 11-12 straight hours. I'm not sure if you're feeding Harper when she wakes up during the night or not, but if you are it's probably a habit now rather than a necessity (so long as she's getting plenty at her other feedings).

There was another comment above about making the babies realize that they revolve around the family and that the family does not revolve around them. I love that perspective because it will carry forward for many years to come (and will probably be very helpful when baby #2 comes along).

Good luck!; 7/08/2009 9:36 AM
DeLynn said...: Hi Kelly!

We have four children--20, 18, 15, and 10. The first slept through the night at about 2 months. The second (the first one we gave birth to and thus the first that I nursed) was about 8 months. Not good! He was definitely waking up from habit, not because he needed nutrition. (We didn't understand what was going on---our wonderful pediatrician talked to us about it.) It took two nights to re-train him. Yea!

The last two were given a deadline of 3 months (not that they knew that!)---if they didn't sleep through by themselves at that time then we would force the issue. #3 took one night of training and the fourth did it himself right before three months of age.

I suspect that sweet Harper doesn't really need nutrition---waking is a habit. I definitely would put her in her own room if she isn't (can't remember). She also needs to be able to get to sleep on her own--in other words don't make it such that she is sound asleep every time you put her in bed. That way when she wakens in the night she will be able to get back to sleep without nursing.

There is so much more to say on this issue--but you are probably getting tons of info. :) By the way---we never felt that we were mean to our children and we have great relationships with each of them! Helping them learn to sleep through the night didn't harm them at all.

Blessings on you. This is a tricky issue!; 7/08/2009 9:38 AM
Catherine Boozer said...: My oldest slept consistently throught the night at six weeks (I didn't know how lucky I was at the time). My youngest at 2 1/2 still has periods where he just cannot sleep through the night :)

Both of mine started sitting up at 5 months, but then waited until 8 months to crawl.

I love your blog, I found it right after you had Harper, I truly enjoy checking daily, although sometimes I feel like a stalker- since I don't know you and all :); 7/08/2009 9:38 AM
Natalie Meester said...: sitting up around 6 months...we practiced by placing several pillows around them and spreading their legs a little wider.

Sleeping thru the night, well 4 months or so? Baby cereal at night helped before bedtime.

Bar stools are gorgeous can't wait to see them in your home!; 7/08/2009 9:38 AM
Megan said...: Hey Kelly! This is my first time commenting. I figured I would help out another first time mommy!

1) Carter started sleeping through the night at 2 1/2 months (BLESSED, I know!), but since he has started teething, he wakes up occasionally. We just let him cry it out. I KNOW how hard it is, but it really works for us - and he sleeps so much better.

2) Carter is 6 1/2 months old and he is just now getting the hang of sitting up. He can sit by himself for a minute or so and then topples over.

3) I'm not the biggest fan of the chair, but then again, I'm not the most trendy or decoratively-minded person anyway!

Your daughter is precious!; 7/08/2009 9:41 AM
Sarah said...: Hey Kelly!

1) My son was sleeping 8 plus hours a night in a row by about 8 weeks. He was also exclusively breastfed.

I am no expert, but it could be that Harper is used to getting up every 2-3 hours, and that is why she continues to do it. Do you feed her every time she wakes up? At her age, she doesn't NEED to eat that often - it is probably more of a comfort thing.

So you could start by just patting/rocking her back to sleep without feeding her - maybe every other time she wakes up. The longer stretches she can go without eating, she might start sleeping longer periods of time without waking up. Babies are creatures of habit, and you have to "help" them change their habits.

Also, since she is right by your bed, you are probably really quick to get up when she starts stirring. Try letting her go for a few minutes before picking her up. She might go back to sleep on her own.

If you can stretch it by about 15 minutes at a time (let her stir/cry for up to 15 minutes before going to her - if that is too long, try 5 minute stretches). Do that for a few days and see if she starts sleeping longer. After a few weeks, you might have stretched her by at least an hour.

I know you didn't ask for advice, but I wanted to give you a few tips that I know have worked for others.

2) My son wasn't really sitting good for long stretches of time until he was 6-7 months old. He could do it for a few seconds at about 5.5 months (and it made me nervous b/c he'd fall backwards and not know to hold his head up to keep from hitting it on the floor.

3) I really like the barstools!

Sarah; 7/08/2009 9:43 AM
Robinsonfam said...: My son will be a year next week, and he still wakes to nurse. I moved him to his room at 4 months and he went from waking every 2-3 hours to just waking once or twice during the night. Now, he will go to sleep between 7:30-8:00, he usally wakes around 1, I have to let him cry it out and decided I wouldn't go in to nurse until anytime after 5. I just started this process and last night he only cried for a couple minutes around 1 and put himself back to sleep, so I think he is learning. I have 2 older girls, and I didn't nurse them as long but letting them cry it out in their room is what broke them from the night time feedings, it's just so hard to listen to the crying.

My kids all sat up between 6-7 months. Practice, practice, practice. With my middle child, I almost had to force her because she didn't like sitting, at all.

Good Luck with everything, you are a good mom, just listen to your instincts.; 7/08/2009 9:45 AM
Laura said...: My son Ian was sleeping through the night (8 hours) at 81/2 weeks. At 6months he was sleeping 12 hours at night without waking. I encourage you to write down when Harper is waking to feed. You may see a pattern which could indicate that she is simply waking out of habit and not necessity. At this point she should be able to go 8 hours at least. If you haven't been feeding on a schedule, you may need to now in order to tank her up before bedtime. Snack nursing through the day may prevent her from getting the calorie rich milk (hindmilk) that she needs to sustain her through.

My son didn't start sitting up until 6-7 months. He was a little late on milestones but ahead in verbal and he also signs.

It is tough being a mommy, but if you start good habits with Harper now, you will be so glad in the future.

Laura; 7/08/2009 9:46 AM
Dustin & Kate said...: My daugher, Nora, didn't sleep through the night consistently until she was about 9 months old. And even then, she still went through a bad patch where she woke up a lot for a couple of weeks every now and then. She is now 14 months old and does great. It just takes time! Make your motto: "It is what it is right now, but this too shall pass in time!"

She started sitting up really well at almost exactly 6 months old. One day, she could just do it! It was like an amazing little miracle that happened over night! It's so fun once they start sitting on there own, because it opens up a whole new world of play for them.

And the bar stools are great. I really love them!; 7/08/2009 9:48 AM
Beth said...: Child no. 1 slept through the night at 10 days old (8 hours) and increased her time from that. I was spoiled. Child no. 2 started sleeping 6 hours at a time at 2 months but he got me up once a night every night until he was 15 months old. Child no. 3 and 4 both slept 8 hours a night at around 10-12 weeks and increased like their older sister did. All my kids were good nappers too.

My kiddos all sat up at around 6 months. I think that is average. I think Harper is doing just fine, Momma.; 7/08/2009 9:50 AM
Bridgett said...: My oldest didn't sleep through the night until she was 9 months old. Someone suggested I give her water at night when she wakes up. I did it for 2 nights and she decided it was worth waking up for water and she slept through the night from then on. My youngest slept through the night from the time she was 4 weeks old. She drank so much that I started putting rice cereal in her bedtime bottle and that worked.

Both started sitting up about 5-6 months. By the time they were 7 months they were completely sitting on their own.

The stool is cute, but I don't care for the white cushion. Maybe a tan cushion to match.; 7/08/2009 9:51 AM
Beth said...: Oh yeah...and I love the barstool too, Kelly! Thumbs up from me! :-); 7/08/2009 9:52 AM
Julia said...: #1: I can tell you that for sleeping through the night, Asher didn't start doing it consistently until he was 5 months and 2 days old (June 28). He didn't start until his pediatrician told us to NEVER let his daytime naps last longer than 1.5 hours. She said...let him nap as much as he wants, but always wake him up after 90 minutes and NEVER let him fall asleep at the bottle. Always keep him awake at least 30 minutes after eating. The reason for the shorter nap thing is that babies start to go into deep REM sleep after that time and that will cause them to confuse night time with day time sleeping. So if they are interrupted during their sleep you are sort of telling them "hey, it's day time, don't sleep so much." As soon as we started waking him after 90 min, he literally started sleeping through the night! He has been sleeping every night from 9:30pm-6:30am for the last 2 weeks and has never cried himself to sleep.

#2: Sitting up is still not happening for us as much. Asher can sit up for about 3 or 4 minutes before he falls over. He will last longer if he is staring at Sandy and is distracted. But he TRIES to fall over on his back. We practice sitting up in the afternoon when I get home from work because I'm pretty sure his Nani holds him ALL DAY LONG. His pediatrician just told us that as far as sitting goes, practice makes perfect.

#3: I was Baby Wise obsessed in the beginning, but Asher's pediatrician doesn't so much support the "cry it out" thing...so we only let Asher cry for about 10 minutes before we pick him up. I NEVER let him cry it out at night, I think that is cruel. Plus, I wanted a baby so badly, I don't mind holding him and comforting him...it's a blessed time for me. I KNOW you feel that way about Harper too! So now that Asher is sleeping through the night I have come to 2 conclusions...
--babies do not sleep through the night better if they are on solids (Asher is not fully eating solids yet)
--babies do not learn to sleep through the night if you let them cry it out.

#4: my friend's baby cried a lot too...and she found out it was b/c her daughter had acid reflux. They started giving her something for it and the crying totally stopped. Have ya'll looked into that?; 7/08/2009 9:53 AM
3 Little Chicks said...: Do your remember us from the NICU? Our twins, Piper and Riley were there with Harper. They were born on Jan 18th, just days apart from Harper. Anyway, they don't sit up yet either. It's okay. They do sleep through the night. We feed them a big warm bottle around 10 pm and they sleep until 7am. We learned to turn our monitor off at night when they were 3 or 4 months old and let them sooth themselves back to sleep. It was one of the greatest decisions we've made. Now Mom and Dad get to sleep - which makes us better parents the next day. It took us 14 months to do that with our first child - Sophie. It's so much easier with your second child. Many blessings. Love reading your blog and keeping up with you guys! - Jennifer; 7/08/2009 9:54 AM
Keeping Up With Kaegan said...: First and Foremost.
I am a "New" Follower. Your blog inspires me. Harper is an absolute doll and I think it is fantastic that you share so much.

My daughter started sleeping through the night at 4 weeks old, but she was formula feed.

The bar stools are stylish. I think you made a great choice :)

Happy Birthday to your mom.; 7/08/2009 9:56 AM
Heather said...: My twins started sleeping through the night at 8 weeks. During the day, I tried to feed them every 3 hours (I'm kind of schedule orineted!!!) and then they would sleep from 9-6 without needing to eat. I think it helped that they ate so much during the day...then they weren's hungry throughout the night.

As for sitting up, we used the Bumpo seat A LOT and "practiced" having them sit. They both sat up between 6-7 months.

As for the stools? LOVE THEM! Can't wait to see what else you have in store for the room!; 7/08/2009 9:56 AM
katrynka said...: By my count of her birthday Jan 09 (as I did not look back to find the exact day!) She is totally fine that she does not sit yet. i am a pediatric physical therapist, so motor skills are what I do for a living!! feel free to email with any specific questions, but it is all good!; 7/08/2009 9:57 AM
Meg said...: hi kelly!! you are a wonderful mommy and harper is so beautiful!! :)
1) my daughter was sleeping 8 hrs. by 7 wks. and 12 hrs. by 3 mos. everyone else is right...babywise, babywise, babywise!! i would recommend switching her to her own room at the same time you start her "sleep training"--doing it all at once. you will never be able to sleep train her in your room b/c you and scott will not be able to lay there and listen to her cry, and she will see you right there. i would DEFINITELY recommend scott going in there a couple of the times to soothe, she won't associate him w/ nursing and will learn she is not going to get to eat in the middle of the night so it really isn't worth it to wake up. i know he has to work and it's hard to make them get up when you SAH, but you are "working" too and it isn't even healthy to get so exhausted!! and you are probably going to have to listen to her cry some. turn off your monitor for a bit. if scott's gonna take a shift go sleep in your guest room w/ ear plugs. i promise all of this will take maybe a week! you can do it!
2) my daughter was sitting up at 6 mos.
3) LOVE the barstool!! totally love it!!; 7/08/2009 9:58 AM
mkmom591 said...: I think Harper is just wanting you to come in. My daughter was a night waker also and at 9 months we decided she was just wanting me to come in there and soothe her. So, we decided to do the cry it out routine. We let her cry 5 minutes, then my husband (not me!) went in told her it was bedtime, laid her down and went out. We gradually increased the intervals. The 1st night it took a couple of hours; the second, maybe an hour or so; the third, she didn't wake up. I laid in the bed in our room crying while my husband dealt with her. It was hard but definitely worth it. She became a great sleeper after that.; 7/08/2009 9:59 AM
Sara Lynn said...: I am so glad Harper is alright. I know once im a mom (hopefully) ill be the same way!!

Btw LOVE LOVE LOVE the chairs!! Where are they from?

Sara in SC; 7/08/2009 10:00 AM
Heather said...: 1. both my kids (3 and 18 months) were close to a year before sleeping through the night. Basically until I quit BF. Yes, they both had nights or weeks here or there but nothing regular. It stressed me out thinking i was doing something wrong but looking back...it was worth it. My kids both have always been big eaters and I just don't believe the breast milk could hold them all night long. They both are great sleepers now. Go down easy and sleep for about 12 hrs.
2.both around 5 months.
3.cute chair, i've just never personally been a fan of wicker.; 7/08/2009 10:00 AM
Ani said...: Our son reached his milestones always on the "late-bloomer" end of timelines. The day he turned 7 months old he stayed in sitting position for a long time. I can't remember when he learned to sit on his own, but I know it was after 7 months... BTW, he crawled at almost 11 months and walked at 14 months. Now, at almost 4 years old, he is the most coordinated child on this planet. All that worrying for nothing :)

By the same token, our doctor said that once he reached 15 lbs he should sleep through the night. Lo and behold, at 3 1/2 months our chubby baby slept from 7pm-10pm, got a bottle and then slept through 6am. Heaven!

Good luck with Harper!; 7/08/2009 10:11 AM
The Allison Family said...: I'm a first time mom with a 9.5 month old. We have had only 3 nights thus far that she slept through the night, and they weren't consecutive...so I'm still hoping and praying it will be soon. I know it is common for breastfed babies to wake and nurse during the night for a while. A friend of mine's little girl didn't sleep through the night consistently until 11 months, and then another started sleeping through the night at 6 weeks. It's anybody's guess when it will happen, but I'm hoping it will be soon for Harper and my little one.

My little girl has also been ahead of schedule on most all of her developmental milestones, however she wasn't sitting really well on her own until 6.5 months. Now she is cruising!

And I love the bar stools! They look like they'll go really well with your decor.
Ashley; 7/08/2009 10:13 AM
Stacy said...: Well, my daughter Aleeyah set up at around 6-7 months, and slept through the night when she was 2!! Yea I know not a good sound, but hey by the time she was 2 I had another baby so I was up with her!! Averrie set up at 7 months, and slept through the night at about 1 1/2 years.; 7/08/2009 10:14 AM
Anonymous said...: 1. My daughter didn't start sleeping through the night until she was about 6 months old and I moved her OUT of our bedroom! I was SO afraid to move her to her crib because I thought she slept better in the same room as her Mommy. I was wrong! The first two nights, I did let her cry but she only cried for about 10 minutes, then she was out for the night. (She's now 9 months old.)

2. I have 4 kids, and they all varied as far as sitting up. One started sitting up at 5 months (almost to the day), one at 7 months, one at 6 months, and one at 5.5 months.

3. And I LOVE the bar stool!! Is the white seat fabric? Or something that is easily washable? I wouldn't dare get white anything because then I'd feel like I have to be constantly cleaning it b/c of the kids. But if it's only going to be used by adults, the you'll probably be okay! :)

Have a great week with your parents!; 7/08/2009 10:15 AM
Lesley Boyd said...: Kelly,
First off, I love your blog! As far as sleeping through the night, you can always offer them a little water in a bottle, it will make her furious, but she won't wake up in the middle of the night wanting that after a little bit. Of course don't let her guzzle it, which I seriously doubt she would. I HIGHLY recommend the book Baby 411, it has everything you need to know down to medicine dosages (which are never listed on the package) to how many ounces of baby food they need, behaviour, milestones and so on. It will save you a hundred questions! It was written by a pediatrician and it is great!! Good luck!! She will get there!; 7/08/2009 10:17 AM
Stacey said...: Not sure you will get all the way through to my comment, but I will try anyway!

Cristian didn't sit up until 6 months and now, at 13 months he isn't walking yet. Kind of weird when my mom just keeps going on and on about how my brother walked at 7 months and I at 9. I don't lose any sleep over it, he is perfectly healthy and carrying him keeps him close to me...no complaints about that!

Oh, and sleeping through the night sounds divine, and nope he is not doing that either. Sometimes he will sleep 6 to 7 hours straight (9pm to 4am) but when you still have to get up before the sun I don't call that 'through the night'! I do remember the 2-3 hour thing...he did that until somewhere between 9 and 10 months. Honestly, I think he might just be a bit of a momma's boy. And, after losing Philip, I can't really complain!

Oh, this is turning into a novel, sorry! Oh, and last but not least, the barstools. I showed my husband the picture and tried to talk him into building us a bar so I could have them! They are fab-u-lous! My only concern is the back, is it soft to sit in or hard and scratchy? Otherwise, I love 'em! Can't wait to see the finished product. Ok, I am done now!; 7/08/2009 10:19 AM
Mandy said...: 1. My daughter (the first child) was about 9 months, my son (the second) was 4 months. BUT those were the ages that we moved them into their own rooms. I submit to Healthy Sleep Habits (early bedtime) and would put them down about 6:00pm, or 3 hours after their afternoon nap. They would sleep until about 5am, wake up to nurse, then back to sleep until 9 or so. Good luck! I think you're doing everything right...sometimes they just wake up to look at you and make sure you're still there. :)

2. Both of mine were about 7.5 months before sitting up, then crawled at 10 months (kind of late) but started walking right on target. So, in my opinion, it's still a little early for Harper, but others may disagree.

3. I love the barstools! I had some similar and they are really great because you can put a small toddler in them and they can't fall out with the tall arms. Super cute and very functional. I love furniture, though, I'm a furniture addict!

Happy Birthday to your mom! Have a great time visiting and spending time together!; 7/08/2009 10:21 AM
Shaina N said...: I know you sometimes use a Bumbo Seat, and I've read several studies that this can cause a baby to sit up later rather than sooner, because it doesn't encourage the growth of the right muscles. Just a thought!; 7/08/2009 10:31 AM
Taking Heart said...: I really don't remember when my babes cut their teeth, although I do remember that they all had at least four by the time they were a year old...

My boys didn't sleep through the night for a few years... it was rough! My baby girl started at just about a year old (bliss!)

Your bar stool looks pretty... I just painted my table and chairs with a distressed black look... fun!

Have a great time on your visit!!!; 7/08/2009 10:35 AM
Anna said...: My son slept through the night starting at about 4 months old and that lasted till he was 7 months old. Now he gets up once or twice at night. Not sure why but he does. He also started sitting up at 4 months old. I do in home daycare and have another infant that is 4 months younger then my son. She didn't start sitting up until she was almost 8 months old!!; 7/08/2009 10:39 AM
Michelle said...: I have a 10 month old and he just started sleeping through the night at 10 months consistantly. However, I found after I moved him out of our room he stopped getting up every two hours and woke up only every four.He sat up around 5 months old. I will be praying for your sleep. I have found the three day rule did work for me finally. Let them cry it out and by the third day he was sleeping through the night(but I wasn't brave enough to try it untill this month)
I'll be praying; 7/08/2009 10:40 AM
Anonymous said...: 1. My son started sleeping through at 15 months when he weaned. Sorry that isn't very hopeful! We also co slept though, so the booby buffet was always open :)

2. Michael was also a Jan baby (07) and sat up right around this time that year - so 5-6 months. He was an over achiever, though, walking by 9 months. Trust me, you want her to just stay immobile as long as possible. Once the sitting happens time just starts HURTLING forwards.

3. CUTE!; 7/08/2009 10:42 AM
Jill said...: I've been reading your blog for awhile and this is the first time I've commented.

1- I have three kids and did Babywise with all of them. They were all sleeping through the night by 4 months and continue to do so. Babywise is a difficult choice for some moms. Totally understand that. But it really did work for me and I'm so grateful for the sleep! I'm a much happier and better mommy when I sleep. And Babywise was a quick and easy read I thought. Not too long and drawn out.

2- My kids learned to sit up somewhere between 6 and 8 months. I never had a Bumbo though but thought they looked like a lot of fun.

3- Love the bar stools! Very classy looking.

Good luck and God bless.
Jill (Durango,CO); 7/08/2009 10:43 AM
Penni said...: I don't know how you'll find time to read all of these but just in case you get to mine:

1) I went back to work full time when my first born was 12 weeks and he still wasn't sleeping through the night. I was so tired. Our pediatrician told us to let him cry! I refused at first but then got desperate. The first night, when he woke up crying, we checked on him and made sure he was ok and then let him cry. He cried for 40 minutes! It was pure torture on me. But you know what, he never did it again! He slept through the night from then on!

2) Our first son had a large head and a skinny little body and so he didn't sit up until he was about 6 months! I know that is late but he was ahead on everything else developmental, so we didn't worry! Our second son could practically sit up at birth because he was a chunky little thing! So don't you worry! Harper will do it when she's ready!; 7/08/2009 10:44 AM
Patty said...: AGE 2! Yes, you heard me, age 2. I have 4 little ones, and some nights they slept straight thru from about 14 mos. on, but not something I could count on till around 24 mos. Which really sucks for a working mom!

Sitting up was around 6 mos.

I like the barstools because they have nice backs to them and it looks like you can change the seats to another cushion, or with another fabric if you wanted a facelift.

You're a doll and Harper is absolutely precious! I'm hooked on your blog :); 7/08/2009 10:44 AM
Tara said...: Kelly, love your blog. My daughter is 6 weeks older than Harper, so I've enjoyed seeing her grow and change just like my little girl.

1. My daughter started sleeping through the night consistently around 12 weeks. I had to go back to work, so this was my goal. I agree that it may have something to do with genetics...my mom says I was a good sleeper...but one thing I've been doing that I think works the best is putting Ruth Ann in her crib when she's awake. I read that babies need to learn how to put themselves to sleep because all babies wake up several times during the night...if you're rocking them or nursing them until they fall to sleep then they're going to be looking for you to do the same each and every time they wake up. It helps that my daughter takes a pacie. When I dropped her 5 am feeding I replaced it with giving her a pacie when she woke up...now she puts it back in her mouth herself.

2. Ruth Ann started sitting unsupported around 6 months, but she still falls over occasionally. She's not even close to going from a laying to sitting position on her own.

3. Cute Chairs...no idea about a neutral...I'm in not a decorator at all!; 7/08/2009 10:45 AM
Anonymous said...: Not a parent, so I won't comment on your first 2 questions. BUT...I LOVE LOVE that bar stool! However, the white cushion is a no-go. I'm thinking khaki maybe? Or maybe a color to go with the room? But white just seems too light with all the dark, deep browns. JMO; 7/08/2009 10:46 AM
Vicki said...: Harper will probably sleep better at night when she has a tummy full of cereal with some fruit mixed in.

And I've always been told that on average, babies sit up at 6 months and crawl at around 8 months.; 7/08/2009 10:51 AM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/08/2009 10:52 AM
Owen's Mama said...: Hi Kelly!
Okay, 1. Owen has not yet slept through the night yet. He will be 27 months old in a couple weeks. I'm still nursing him, so he wakes up about every 2-3 hours to nurse through out the night. I rarely remember him waking up, and he never opens his eyes, so it just seems like a reflex this far into nursing! :) He usually falls asleep around 9pm, wakes up at 1 to nurse, then is up at 3 and 5 to nurse. I then get up at 5 to get ready for work. Yes, I'm that "Crazy" mom that is still nursing her 2 year old! haha!
2. Owen started sitting up around 7 months or so. Nothing too consistent but really got the hang of it around 8 months (his first Christmas.)
3. LOVE the barstools!! Very classy and modern at the same time!; 7/08/2009 10:57 AM
Kim said...: So glad Harper is okay! I freak out about everything when it comes to my kids!! I read too much caringbridge and blogs about sick babies. Everytime they get a fever or something weird I immediatly think "cancer"!!
About the sleeping.... my son was seriously amost 2 1/2 years old before he started sleeping all night regularly. It really does make you crazy! But my daughter (2nd child) slept through the night at about 3 months. She is still a good sleeper. I have to come to realize some kids just love to sleep, and some do not!!
Both of my kids starting sitting up at 6 months, and crawling at 9 months.I thought that was a little late compared to my friends' kids.
I love the barstools! Happy Birthday to your Mom!; 7/08/2009 10:58 AM
Real Simple said...: you need to start "wheening" her off the 2-3 hrs. it is hard and it broke my heart listening to her cry...but it was either me going crazy from sleep deprivation (as the dr. adviced) or listening to her cry. i sat outside the door with a pillow and would wait and go in and comfort and leave and slowing wheened her off the little pats on the back. that was just to reassure her we were there. you need your sleep and she will be okay. Pray!!!!!!!! while you sit in the hallway. a 50 year old mom of a beautiful Godly girls 17 and 25! they still love me even though i made them cry some! they don't remember!!!!!; 7/08/2009 10:59 AM
Carey said...: 1. My girl is just a little older than Harper...she started sleeping through the night around 8 weeks and she is now sleeping about 12 hours at night (she's 7 months). I highly recommend Baby Wise to help getting them on a schedule and developing sleep patterns. It was hard to let her cry at first, but now I literally lay her down and she goes straight to sleep. (I never let her cry for long stretches(no more that 10 min) as the book suggests. You'll figure out what your limit is.)

2. She started sitting up around the end of 5 months or right when she turned 6 months.

3. I'm loving the bar stools!!! Texture!; 7/08/2009 11:03 AM
~Shelly~ said...: Hi Kelly! Glad to hear Harper is ok!
My sweetie started sleeping "through the night" at 7 weeks.. then she regressed a little and by 5 months she was sleeping from 7pm to about 6am. she had colic really bad until 4 months so her sleeping at 7 weeks was a huge shock to us. but now she is 21 months old almost and will sleep from 7:30pm to 7:30am.
She didnt start sitting up until she was right at 7 months old.. and she didnt start walking until she was 16 months old! she took a little longer than most babies u hear about but every baby is different! harper seems to be doing great!! i wouldnt worry a BIT about her not really sitting up yet!; 7/08/2009 11:09 AM
Caroline said...: I haven't read the comments, so I'm sorry if this is all a repeat of information that was already given to you.

My daughter (my oldest) didn't start sleeping all night until she was 15 months. She was up every couple of hours too. I do not have the intestinal fortitude to let a baby cry it out. I just went in there and fed/soothed her. By the time she was 15 months old, I was a walking zombie. So, I read about this method where you go in the baby's room and soothe her, but never pick her up. Just speak to her and assure her you are there- without picking her up or feeding her. The first night was horrible- we were in there almost the entire night, but it got much easier and within 3 days, she was sleeping all night. We did this same method with my son at 8 months and it worked like a charm again.

I realize Harper is younger- I'm sure it would be much more difficult with a smaller child. Good luck!

Love the barstools.; 7/08/2009 11:11 AM
~Katie said...: So glad that your sweet girl is ok.

On to your questions..

1. Lydia is adopted and came to us at 5 months old. She was sleeping through the night when she arrived. Yaaa! Zachary started sleeping through the night at 8 weeks. We had no other choice. I knew I would need to be getting up with my two year old (Lydia) very early in the morning. He would go to bed about 9pm, then we would get him up to do a "phantom" feeding about midnight and he would sleep until about 6am. We let him cry (although he didn't do much of that) as long as we knew he was fed, burped and dry. He no longer needed that nightly feeding, he just wanted it. He slept in HIS room the day we came home. He slept in his basinette and then we moved him to his crib at about 4 months old.

2. Both of my kids sat up right around 6 months old. I think Lydia sat up in the early part of her 6th months and Zac was more around the end of the sixth month. Harper will get there, no worries. :)

3. LOVE those barstools. I don't really care for the white cushion though. I would leave the cushions off. Can't wait to see your new room. That is exciting!

Enjoy the time with your parents!!; 7/08/2009 11:22 AM
Unknown said...: Hey Kelly,

I'm a new mom too. My baby is 17 weeks and he started sleeping through the night at 8 weeks. We didn't get him out of our room until about 13 weeks, but that helped me sleep much better because I wasn't hearing every little move and noise that he made. I know he sleeps much better now too because he can't hear us toss and turn all night. I get him really full with a bottle of cereal (which I started at 8 weeks) right before bed.

I heard from friends that babies normally sit up on their own around 6-7 months old. The bumbo seat is supposed to help alot too.

Apryl; 7/08/2009 11:53 AM
Erica Davis said...: My son is 6 months old (born 12-26-08) and he has been sitting up since the end of his 5th month (he started crawling before he sat on his own!) and he is just this last week sleeping through the night- but only with my assistance. My pediatrician and everything I've read said that at this point (especially with him on solid foods) he CAN sleep through the night, but it becomes habit to them to wake up and they like to be nursed (aka comforted) back to sleep. I've been letting him cry-it-out for a week now, and it's been paying off. I suggest you try it! At least talk to your pediatrician about it- I know that I was going crazy not getting good sleep at night! And I like your bar stools! Different and fun!; 7/08/2009 11:54 AM
jenmom said...: My children have all started sleeping through the night between 2 and 3 months. They started sitting up unassisted around 6 months.
Harper is such a cutie and it is very apparent just in the pictures that she is a happy baby and you are a very good mom!; 7/08/2009 11:57 AM
The Mellberg Family said...: I just want to know where you got those barstools. I love them. Tell me, tell me now.

I think they will be great for kids the age of 3 or so for some reason they still fall out of the chair a lot.; 7/08/2009 11:57 AM
Unknown said...: Also, I don't remember if you've ever said whether or not Harper sleeps on her tummy or back. None of my friends' babies sleep on their back. They are all tummy sleepers and that's one thing that helped the babies sleep longer. I know that they advise you not to let them lay on their tummies, but it will get to the point that you will do anything to get them to sleep longer than 3 hours at a time at night.; 7/08/2009 12:00 PM
Tessa said...: my kids started sleeping through the night or at least 6to 7 hours at a time just at a month old with my son. when i had my daughter i was breastfeeding her, i ended up only doing it for a week because some problems arised but she would wake up every hour hour and half it seemed like. once i put her on formula she slept alot longer. my son once he was 2 weeks old i would put rice baby cereal in his bottle at night and it helps keep them full so he would sleep alot longer. so try giving her a bottle of breastmilk at night with just like 2 teaspoons of rice baby cereal when you go to give her bottle before she goes to sleep; 7/08/2009 12:14 PM
Susan said...: Hey Kelly!

I LOVE that bar stool!

My "baby" who is 21 months now, started sleeping through the night between 4 and 5 weeks! =)
BUT... I still haven't slept through the night in 3 and half years!! WHY?? Because my "Big Boy" has NEVER slept through the night!! He will be 4 in November, and he still gets up every night. The only difference between now and back then in the baby stage... He comes to me, I dont' have to go to him anymore! HaHa. So good luck with the night waking! I feel your pain!

Both boys started sitting up on their own unsupported, around 6-8 months. Every child is different. Boys are different then girls, and even brothers aren't always alike in mile stones. I know mine aren't. Don't stress it. When she's ready she'll do it. Once it happens your gonna miss these baby days!!!; 7/08/2009 12:15 PM
SDR said...: 1. Josiah began sleeping through the night consistently around 6.5 months. Before then he would sleep some nights but others wake up for a feeding. He is almost 9 months now and sleeps through every night perfectly.

2. My cuddle bug began sitting up unsupported around 3.5 months old. The bumbo and boppy really helped establish him early on. Plus lots of tummy time.

3. I love the bar stools. they are very kid friendly and stylish. I will be taking a donation of your old furniture for our spare room ok. LOL.; 7/08/2009 12:16 PM
REGINA said...: WELL YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO HEAR THIS BUT YOU NEED TO CUT OUT YOUR MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT FEEDINGS. SHE IS NOT WAKING UP BECAUSE SHE IS HUNGRY IT IS BECAUSE SHE IS SO USED TO THEM THAT IS THE REASON SHE IS WAKING UP EVERY 2-3 HOURS. THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO TRY. YOU NEED TO FEED HER FOOD MIXED WITH CEREAL AND THEN BREASTFEED AND PUSH BEDTIME BACK AN HOUR. WHEN SHE WAKES UP DO NOT FEED HER (SHE IS NOT HUNGRY, AND SHE GETS ENOUGH NOW DURING THE DAY) BUT ROCK HER FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN LAY HER DOWN WHILE SHE IS STILL AWAKE IN HER OWN ROOM. SHE MIGHT CRY BUT ONCE SHE GETS USED TO A NEW ROUTINE SHE WILL DO JUST FINE. I KNOW IT IS HARD FOR US MOMS TO HEAR OUR BABIES CRY BUT I PROMISE THIS WILL WORK. IT MAKE TAKE A WEEK BUT IT MAY TAKE A MONTH BUT IT WILL HAPPEN.
THE AVERAGE AGE FOR SITTING UP IS 6-7 MONTHS.; 7/08/2009 12:16 PM
Grace said...: I know you have previously mentioned not wanting to follow any programs, but I would highly recommend Babywise. Actually, Harper is ready for Babywise 2 (Babyhood Transitions), which is for 5-12 months. You may want to read the first Babywise though because it talks about sleep schedules. I have a 15 month old and a 3 month old, who both sleep 12 hours a night. My 15 month old is in the process of dropping her morning nap and takes a 2 1/2 hour afternoon nap. My 3 month old is napping 2 hours morning and afternoon and then takes a 45 minute cat nap in the late afternoon. There are many people who think Babywise is too harsh; I definitely do not take everything they say/teach to the extreme and do not fully agree with every little thing, but they do know about getting babies to sleep! You and Harper would be happier if she was sleeping through the night and napping consistently. You can order the books at www.gfi.org If you don't want to use Babywise, I have also heard that Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby is a great book. You can get it at Amazon. Your little Harper is precious!; 7/08/2009 12:18 PM
sw said...: My first baby did not sleep through the night until he was 9 months old..and that is because I could not handle being sleep deprived any longer. I had to let him cry it out and learn to put himself back to sleep. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do...but it only took 3 nights and he was sleeping through the night.
With my second two..I read BABY WISE and followed it the best I could...they both sleep through the night around 9 weeks old. I really think it comes down to a personal choice, she is your baby..and you are the one taking care of her, so you need to do what is best for both of you...but I understand being sleep deprived...All three of my babies were sitting up at around 5 1/2 months..

Blessings to you, Remember you are doing a GREAT JOB...; 7/08/2009 12:18 PM
Lindsey said...: love the look of the barstools, but to play devils advocate, do you think they would be very comfortable to sit on?? we had have that wicker type stuff and it was not comfortable to lean against, its pretty rough and scratchy. just a thought....btw, harper is getting cuter by the day!; 7/08/2009 12:22 PM
KG said...: HI Kelly. I have been reading your blog for a little while. I'm so happy everything has turned out so well for Harper and she's a true testament to the miracle of prayer.

While I am a 31 yr. old single woman with no children, I have babysat and nannied children since I was 8 years old. My best friend had a baby girl 5 months ago and for over a month now, she's sleeping 10 hour nights. My friend swears it's because of the Five S's, a book someone told her about. Check it out and good luck.

The Five S's
From The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp, MD
The Expert: Endorsed by the Surgeon General as well as the La Leche League, Lamaze, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Karp has been teaching his specialized calming techniques for over 25 years. His Five S's are simple and easy to employ, and each "S" triggers natural calming reflexes to soothe your baby.

His Approach: The Five S's include:

* Swaddling: "It extends an hour to two hours a night the sleep of babies, I like to tell my parents," Karp says.
* Side and stomach positioning: These mimic your baby's posture in the uterus—and also switch off Baby's Moro (falling) reflex, which may startle and wake him.
* Shushing: Reminiscent of the womb, shushing creates white noise, which is especially helpful for soothing newborns.
* Swinging: Gentle motion mimics life in the womb for Baby and, as Karp writes, "[it] turns on 'motion sensors' in [your baby's] ears, which then activate the calming reflex."
* Sucking: A reflex baby apparent at birth, sucking soothes Baby, even if he's not feeding.

Sleep-Tactic Tip: Because sucking triggers a calming reflex, Karp condones using pacifiers up through Baby's third month. (Read more about Dr. Karp's sleep philosophies, here.); 7/08/2009 12:23 PM
Courtney, Jeff, Ayla & Leah said...: 1. my first born didn't consistantly sleep through til like 8 mo but prob had rough nights still after.
2. my first sat up at 6 mo
3. LOVE. the stools. get em!; 7/08/2009 12:26 PM
Unknown said...: I'm a firm believer in BabyWise. I tried nursing on demand and was an absolute wreck until I read BabyWise. After three weeks of misery (due to severe sleep deprivation), things started coming together and the eat/play/sleep routine we held during the day started to work within 2-3 days. Abigail was sleeping 8 hours straight by 10 weeks, and then 12 hours solid by 3 months. She's now 5 and still sleeps 12 hours/night and a 2-hour nap each day. My second child, now 2, benefitted by us starting BabyWise from day 1. He was sleeping 8 hours at night by 5 weeks old. The ped had me wake him for feeds twice a night for two weeks, but he was impossible to wake up. After two weeks of no success with that, I just let him keep sleeping all night. He's now 3, sleeps 12 hours at night and takes a 3-hour afternoon nap.

Aside from BabyWise, I also used the Miracle Blanket, which I swear is an absolute miracle.

And, both babies slept in their cribs in their room. Once, the pediatrician confirmed that they were big enough to go without nursing at night (around 6 weeks for each one) we removed the baby monitor from our bedroom so that it took a full-on cry that that they couldn't put themselves back to sleep from for me to awaken and go into their room.

Both of my babies were sick NICU babies, so I know the overprotection you are coming from. But, I also know how life-changing it was when I became a new mom who actually got to sleep all night.

As for BabyWise, I love how God-centered it is and teaches you how to make the husband-wife relationship the core of the family and not let the child(ren) take over the parents' attention.; 7/08/2009 12:28 PM
The DeYoungs said...: 1. My daughter has been sleeping through the night since she was 4 months old. When teething she has a few weeks of getting up but other than that she does really well.
2. She has been sitting up since 41/2 5 months old. Perfected at 6 months.
3. Love the bar stools; 7/08/2009 12:33 PM
Becky said...: my son slept through the night around 12 weeks. my daughter around 10 weeks. both still sleep twelve+ hours a night. i did the whole babywise thing with a little bit of my own logic thrown in to balance it all out. what i love about it - is that when my kids break from their sleep routine - i know immediately that something is wrong...from colds to teething to growth spurt. and the amazing thing about a well rested parent - is that they're that much more available for their kids during the day...the problem is that the longer you wait the more endurance your child builds up when it comes to crying. but, to each his own...it just sounds like you're at the end of your rope...maybe crack open a book or - i know gasp - hire a sleep therapist...i've heard there's more and more of them - women/men who are willing to come to your house and sit with you through the crying and teach you how to set up a routine and to tell when a baby needs you to pick them up or to cry it out. all thoughts. good luck. bb; 7/08/2009 12:33 PM
HAPTeach said...: Well, my son started sitting up around 8-9 months completely by himself. He was a premie though, so a little later was normal. Everything was on 'schedule' or early.

LOVE the chairs! They are adorable :); 7/08/2009 12:39 PM
roadrunner201 said...: 1. Hope I do not dash your light, but Jude slept two weeks through the night at 7 months, and hasn't done it since. At 9 months, he also wants to get up about every three hours.

2. On his own he started sitting really well at about 6/7 months.

3. The chair isn't my style, but I don't think it's ugly;-); 7/08/2009 12:45 PM
Kate said...: I'm not a mom so I don't have any advice but just wanted to say that I'm sorry it was such a scary day!

And Happy Birthday to your mom!; 7/08/2009 12:46 PM
ji said...: 1- My first slept through the night at 7 weeks...my 2nd was adopted at the age of 2 so she was all set...and my third did not sleep through the night until 12 months. Both my babies were exclusively breastfed and I continue to breasfeed my youngest. I am a full time working mommy and learned to view my night time feedings differently to help me from going crazy...I kept telling myself this will not last forever-treasure this one on one time...and before I knew it she was sleeping through the night :)

-6 months both girls

-LOVE the barstools.

Jeannine, NY; 7/08/2009 1:04 PM
Unknown said...: Jayci is 10 months old (almost) and she has been sleeping through the night since about 6 months. And sitting up, um I forget how long actually . . . she JUST started crawling a few weeks ago and pulling up and cruising like this week . . .

And I like the barstools! :-); 7/08/2009 1:11 PM
Holly Mathis Interiors said...: i think the bar stools are great..go for it..cant wait to see the new rug and furniture..let me know if there is anything i can do to help..hope you are keeping the drapes..love them!

Holly

www.hollymathisinteriors.com; 7/08/2009 1:11 PM
Kelly said...: Thank goodness Harper is okay!

1) My son started sleeping 12 hours straight at 6 months. At 12 weeks he was only getting up once/night but it took him a while to sleep from 7pm-7am.

2) He started sitting up on his own at 5 months. I think he did that early though.; 7/08/2009 1:18 PM
Debbi said...: I commented once, but can't find it now!

I wanted to clarify what I ment by modified cry it out.
At 6 months I decided I would not immediatly feed when the boys woke up. Instead I did everything else I could to put them back to sleep without picking them up for 30 minutes (paci, pat back, sing). Then if they were still awake after 30 minutes then I would feed. This way I didn't feel like I was abandoning them, but actually helping them learn to sleep without eating. It took about a week of NO sleep while I followed this with both babies, but then they stopped waking up! At first they cried almost the entire 30 minutes with me there patting & patting their little bottoms & praying/talking/singing with them, but it worked!
I also helped them attach to a little blanket & used a white noise machine which I think helped as well.; 7/08/2009 1:29 PM
Brittany said...: i love the banana leaf look on the bar stools but i like more of a straight back and not quite so ornate.

i'm an er nurse and we constantly get new moms in with their babies and i know when something is wrong with our babies all my nursing knowledge will go out the window and i'll be in the er!!; 7/08/2009 1:29 PM
sharonavinger said...: I have three daughters. All of them began sleeping through the night at 4-8 weeks old. Truly! I did not breastfeed. They began cereal at 4 weeks. They sat up around 5 months. I like the style of the stools but wonder about the comfort. The backs look scratchy to me. Sorry! but I 'd hate for you to spend that money and then be disappointed. I would have to try them out first. Good luck!; 7/08/2009 1:33 PM
Jennifer said...: I'm so glad Vivian is doing OK.

My daughter bites so hard on her frozen rags when teething that she makes her gums bleed. I freaked out the first time, too! I went running to my neighbors house thinking horrible things were happening to my baby, only to be told "that happens some times". Never knew I could worry so much until Kate came along!

1. Kate is 11 months and is just beginning to sleep through the night. It sounds crazy, but there are nights I wake up now and wish she would wake up so I could hold her. I will so miss those middle of the night snuggles when she no longer needs them.

2. She sat up at 9 months and just recently started crawling.

3. I love the barstools. I'm sure it will be a while before Harper will be sitting in them, but you might want to make sure the wicker part isn't too rough. Our wicker-back chairs are pretty rough.; 7/08/2009 1:46 PM
Annetta said...: LOVE the pictures of Harper! And the one on your last post too. ADORABLE!!

I have 3 girls. All were breastfed. My youngest is 13 months and she has been on formula since she was 8 months because I no longer had enough milk. That's when she slept through the night. She was definitely the hungriest of the 3! My other two slept through the night at 3 months. They also wake up when they are going through a growth spurt, so it could pass. Her teeth could be bugging her too. My first suggestion would be to pump a few bottles so you can see how much she's getting. Another option would be give her formula only before bed to see if it will stay with her longer. "Babywise" worked for all three of my girls. And, just FYI, but you could have troubles getting Harper to take veggies if you've started her on fruits first. The Babywise advice on solid foods is the BEST I've gotten, in my opinion. ALL of my girls love their veggies. Hope this helps.

Oh, I also agree with the lady who mentioned turning off the monitor. If you have Harper sleeping in your room still, you will definitely get less sleep than if you put her in her room. Go for it! Babies make a lot of noise in their sleep, and sometimes they just cry for a sec and go right back to sleep.

Love the bar stools!!; 7/08/2009 1:51 PM
Roxanne said...: I'm not a mom (yet...hope to be, then I'll being asking YOU questions like these), so I'm no help on the kiddo questions.

But I am LOVIN' the bar stools. I like all things wickery/woven.

Enjoy celebrating with your mom!; 7/08/2009 1:53 PM
Unknown said...: Can you PLEASE email me where you found those barstools? I have been searching for something for-evah and these would fit in our home perfectly! Thanks Kelly!

imjustbeachy@gmail.com; 7/08/2009 1:54 PM
Veronica said...: Being a parent is so scary! I'm glad that Vivian is going to be ok! What a blessing.

As far as your questions. Alex is getting consistent now with sleeping through the night and he is 13mths. Every kiddo is different.

Sitting up. Between 5 and 6 months I think?!? I'm horrible, I don't remember.

The chair looks cute. Can't wait to see the new room :); 7/08/2009 1:59 PM
~aj~ said...: Bless you Kelly, I don't know how you are ever going to find the time to read all these comments. Makes me feel guilty for even adding another one!

~ Sleeping through the night: Both my boys did it early (8 weeks) and then as different things happened (teething, traveling, LIFE, etc) they got in the habit of waking up at night again. My 15 month old still wakes up at least once a month and needs one of us rock or pat him back to sleep. My 4.5 year old still wakes up once a night and wants to snuggle with his mom and dad. I am obviously not the best person to get sleep advice from, but I DO want to say this...there are a LOT of great books out there. But there are also books that may not be in line with your parenting style and just because someone wrote a book about a method of sleep training and has tons of success with it does not necessarily mean it's the best approach for your family. Trust your heart, your mama instincts and for God to help you decide what is best/right for you. I know that lack of sleep is BRUTAL...but aren't those tender middle of the night moments also some of the sweetest times?

~ Both my boys started sitting around 6 months.

~ The bar stools are fantastically awesome. I love them and want to know where to buy them!!! :); 7/08/2009 2:03 PM
MFuglseth said...: Hi Kelly-
I read your blog regularly!! Not sure how I stumbled upon your blog but I love reading what you have to say and my daughter Madison loves seeing pictures of Harper!!
My son Jordan who is 13 now was the best baby, he started sleeping through the night when he as about 6 weeks old, I know, unheard of!! He was walking by the time he was 11 months old. My daughter Madison who is 9 didn't sleep through the night until she was 4 or 5 months old and didn't walk until she was about 15 months old. So if that doesn't show you how different kids are, mine tell the story.

Molly Fuglseth :); 7/08/2009 2:13 PM
Kerrie said...: Aidan slept through the night for the first time at 2 months (Nov. 11th to be exact - we moms remember these things!!). But it wasn't until 3 or 4 months that he did it consistantly. He is now battling sleep and it's really taking its toll on my sanity. His pediatrician recommended we try melatonin. It's available over the counter in the vitamin section. Talk to your pediatrician and she what they reccomend. Also, have you tried music, white noise, a fan, a light up toy (gloworm?) when you put Harper down for a nap??; 7/08/2009 2:15 PM
Sarah said...: So glad Harper is ok! She is just a gorgeous blessing.:)

I have 3 little ones and one on the way. Sleeping through the night.....the first one slept through the night around 4 months old, 2nd was around 5-6 months old, and the third....oh boy. lol
He was around a year. He sounds just like Harper, up about every 2-3 hours. It was hard. I was a bear. But, it did end and now at 2he sleeps sooooo good. He goes down around 8 and gets up (if I don't have to wake him) anywhere between 8 and 9. Hang in there. I know how hard it is to get up that often, my heart goes out to you.

As far as sitting up. My firstborn was around 6 months. My second born was 8 months and 3rd born was around 7 months.

I think the barstool is cute. Different and cute.:)
BTW-love your blog. Harper is a doll!; 7/08/2009 2:16 PM
Nicole said...: I am also a Babywise mom and had great results with both of my kids. I've been trying to get my sister to get on the Eat/Play/Sleep bandwagon with her baby, but she doesn't want to stick to it and she is also struggling.

I agree with the other posters who say that Harper is just waking up out of habit. You may have to try tough love and let her cry it out. I think that is harder for some parents than others. It is a huge Babywise point that the child be able to self-soothe.

Also, I remember reading that you were going to move Harper into her own room, and I'm not sure if you've done it yet but I would highly suggest it. Especially if you're going to break some habits.

The other thing that I did with both of my kids was this...the very first time they slept through the night without a feeding was the very last time time they ever got fed during the night. Once they showed me that they could do it, I didn't feed them mid-night anymore. This doesn't mean that they slept through the night every night, or that I didn't go to comfort them, but I never fed them again. I didn't want them to expect food to soothe them back to sleep.

I know there are a million good comments on here, but I hope this helps.; 7/08/2009 2:17 PM
The Steele Family said...: Love the bar stools but with 2 children I try to stay away from white anything, you must be very brave :); 7/08/2009 2:17 PM
dianam17 said...: de-lurking... my son just turned 5 months on monday:

1. Dylan started sleeping through the night the week before i went back to work- 7 weeks old. 9:00pm-ish to 7:00am-ish

2. if dylan is not too busy trying to grab at things and such, he can sit with little to no support for close to a minute or so alone. he just started doing this around 4 1/2 months old.

3. i love the chair, you have great style! :)

~diana in nj; 7/08/2009 2:20 PM
~EMILY~ said...: My daughter started sleeping through the night at 2 months but that was due to hubby let her sleep on him all night. My oldest son started at 3 month but every once and awhile he gets up. my youngest started at 3 1/2 months. he would have sooner but was sick the first 3 weeks of his life and had to have surgery. the sitting up my daughter did at 6 months. by oldest buddy, not sure he seemed to sooner. the blood could be from teething. some times they can bleed for cutting teeth. or she could have scratched herself.; 7/08/2009 2:28 PM
Marianne said...: My kids are 19 & 21 yrs. old, so this is a little "old school". Doesn't seem like there were as many "rules" back then.

1. My son slept thru the night @ 2 mos. and my daughter was closer to 3 mos. I fed them there fruit & cereal at bedtime. We didn't wait as long back then to give them solids. Seems like a full belly helped a lot. Also, maybe her naps are too long during the day.

2. They both sat up somewhere close to 6 months. We didn't have Bumbo seats then; they look great and I'm sure they're a big help, but I wonder if they keep the baby from learning to sit up on their own sooner. It looks like the Bumbo "sits them up" even if they can't do it on their own. Mine spent a lot of the day on the floor on a blanket surrounded by their toys.

3. LOVE the chairs! Great combination of color and texture.; 7/08/2009 2:30 PM
Rebekah said...: I am sure by now you have a million comments to your survey above but I figured since your Harper and my Charlotte are only 3 weeks apart it mind peak your interest ...

1. Charlotte JUST started sitting up all by herself last week. She skipped over the rolling over part - she hated every bit of that ...
2. Charlotte has been sleeping through the night since she was 3 months old ... she goes to bed at 8 and I wake her at 6:30 to start the work day. She does sleep in her room in a crib and has since she was 3 weeks old. I also put a fan in her room to add background noise. There is no nightlight or any light source in her room - she was freaking out from the shadows on the ceiling ...
3. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the bar stools ... super cute!

Have a great time with your family!

Hugs from MN!
Rebekah; 7/08/2009 2:33 PM
Karen said...: Sounds like you need to add some cereal to her last feeding of the night. Just mix some in with some baby food that she likes and hopefully that will do the trick. My son was 10lbs 2 ozs and we started doing this with his last bottle of the night at two weeks. He didn't sleep all night but he slept for longer times.

I LOVE the bar stools. We have just added a room to our house and we now have a bar and I am looking for bar stools. Where did you get this from.

Glad that Harper is ok. She is precious.

Karen
Tupelo, MS; 7/08/2009 2:40 PM
Tina said...: So glad that Harper is ok! I am a first time mom, too so I understand how scary these things can be.
1. My daughter is now 20 months old and she started sleeping about 8 hours at night when she was 12 weeks. Within a few weeks of that, she started sleeping 12 hours, which is what she currently does. I read Babywise and Healthy Sleep, Happy Child and they worked perfectly for us. I still refer to them now.
2. She was about 6 months and a week when she sat on her own, but she was really wobbly for a while after that.
3. LOVE the barstools! I love wrought iron and wicker.; 7/08/2009 2:47 PM
April Jackson said...: My daughter has been sleeping through the night since she was 8 weeks but I wanted to give you some encouragement. My good friends daughter started sleeping through the night two weeks ago at 10 1/2 months old when she switched her to whole milk (with dr's permission). She still nurses her at bedtime but she wouldn't drink through the day until she started drinking the whole milk. Don't give up!!; 7/08/2009 2:48 PM
Ashley said...: Hi Kelly, my daughter Avery is still not sleeping through the night either. She is 4 months old. She will make it 5-6 hours without nursing. Putting her in her own room at 1 month of age helped her sleep more. She still has her nights that she surprises me at 1am, but it might help you and Harper to put her in her own room. You must be exhausted!

And...I love the bar stools, can't wait to see what you have done with your family room!; 7/08/2009 2:53 PM
cbryant81 said...: #1 My first child slept through the night at 9wks and my second at 4weeks! I found that since they were right next to my bed they prefered being on their tummy to sleep !

#2 They both sat up right around 5 -5 1/2 months of age!

#3 LOVE LOVE LOVE THE BARSTOOLS! Very neutral and gorgeous!

#4 Harper is just too precious! She's growing like a weed! Dont you wish we could just freeze time !?!; 7/08/2009 2:58 PM
Josh and Jen said...: Kelly,
I agree with many of the comments left already! I used Babywise and by about 10 weeks my little girl was sleeping all night! Even if you could just read bits a pieces of the book you will get the jest of it. It really does make sense...my little girl is almost 2 and she is a great sleeper! I started laying her down awake in her crib around 8 weeks, she did cry some from time to time, but it is very worth it in the long run!
Also, she got teeth really early, around 4 months....and she got them 2 at a time! She still has more teeth than most of her little friends!
I love the bar stools, where are they from?
Have a great trip!; 7/08/2009 2:59 PM
Lulu said...: Love your blog!
1. My little Bria started sleeping through the night around 10 weeks (I also bf). We still have nights where she wakes up and needs to be cuddled, but for the most part she does well. Being in her own room really helped because I didn't wake at every noise she made and we didn't wake her with our snoring ;)
2. Bria is 4 1/2 months and still not sitting so not sure on that one :)
3. I personally love those, especially because they have a back to them and a nice cushion.; 7/08/2009 3:00 PM
danielle said...: just ran into your blog! i graduated from obu in 2003. :) i have a four month old, and although we have had a couple of rough nights ( i think he is hitting a growth spurt)..when we received the miracle blanket (http://www.miracleblanket.com/index.htm)... jackson slept through the night. hope it helps!!; 7/08/2009 3:05 PM
Dana said...: Hi there,

I just recently came across your blog. It is always so encouraging to me to find other Christian mother's just doing their best to do this thing the way that God wants us to.

So glad that nothing was wrong with the bleeding. My youngest daughter's gums bleed when she is teething.

1. My oldest slept through the night the first time at six weeks, setting such and unrealistic expectation for the second one who didn't sleep through the night until 5 months. I know how you feel, I was so exhausted. I followed the book "Baby Wise" with the first but just had too many things going on with the second, and the desire to not let the oldest one be woken by the crying..

Sitting up, around 5 months.

Barstools-- love them. I would be so excited about a find like that!

Blessings,
Dana

www.danaelaineellis.blogspot.com; 7/08/2009 3:08 PM
Anonymous said...: my daughter slept thru the night at about 2 months old. and thru the night i mean about 11pm - 6 or 7am. i would feed her A LOT at 11ish and change her and put her on her tummy to sleep (i know, i know, a no-no) and gave her her binkie to remind her to breath (my justification for tummy sleeping) and see her in the am! my advice to you is to not read all these books! no baby fits into a cookie cuuter mold. don't worry about the sitting up thing either. all babies move at their own pace. the slower they go, the more time you have to relish the "baby phase!"; 7/08/2009 3:11 PM
sara said...: My baby was sitting up by herself around 5 months. However, she did not sleep through the entire night until she was around 11 months. The feedings did go to one a night around 7 or 8 months but she continued with the 3 am feeding until she was almost a year.; 7/08/2009 3:12 PM
Courtney said...: So glad to hear Harper is okay. I would have been right there at the ER. You did good mama!

LL started sleeping 6-7 hrs a night at 3 months, but regressed at 6.5 months after he came down with RSV and started teething really bad. Seemed like all his teeth came in at once.

LL officially sat up on his own at 4.5 months, but held himself up with his fists on the ground. It was too cute & funny.; 7/08/2009 3:26 PM
Leah said...: Do not read all of Babywise ... here is the jist: Keep your baby on a schedule, including waking them for feedings during the day and feed every 3 to 4 hours. At night, let them go. At this point though, she is in the habit of waking ... NOT waking because of hunger. At this point, you are going to have to let her cry it out. It should take her 3 nights max to learn that you are not coming in there and she'll quit waking up. I had to do this with my youngest at 12 weeks.
My 1st, my daughter, was sleeping through the night at 3 weeks. My second, at 7 weeks.
I love love love this topic. Feel free to ask me more questions on my blog. :); 7/08/2009 3:43 PM
Kendra said...: Wyatt didn't start sleeping through the night until we moved him into his own bedroom. He was about 6 months. When we go on a trip and we sleep in the same room, he wakes up a few times a night. Pretty sure its my husband's LOUD snoring ha!
He also started sitting up around 4 months. But he has hit his milestones really really early. He is already standing up and walking around furniture at 7.5 months!
I am not a fan of the barstools, but I like real simple furniture.
Glad Harper is OK. I would have freaked out too!; 7/08/2009 3:48 PM
Terri said...: Hi Kelly,
At the time it seems like they'll never sleep through the night but before you know it, they're all grown up and moving out! Can you tell my baby girl is leaving for college in a few weeks? I found that cereal was the answer to the up all night syndrome. I breast fed all three of my babies and my doctor said waking up at night is a sign of hunger and to start some cereal and it worked like a charm every time. As far as sitting up, I find that the chubbier the baby, the later it happens. My oldest was a butterball and didn't sit up nearly as early as my middle born, who to this day is very thin. I hope Harper is a good girl and begins to sleep soundly for her momma......; 7/08/2009 3:49 PM
Elaine said...: I'm so glad you asked the sleeping through the night question. I'm very much taking in the answers with you! Lena Kate and Harper seem to be trending together. It has almost gotten worse these last few weeks. Last night was just about every hour and I'd rock her and put her down to have her cry again. She is about 5 weeks older that Harper. My pedi told me not sleeping through the night was normal for bf babies. Hopefully, we'll hang in there together and the baby girls will eventually sleep. I think I'm just not going to expect it until I quit breastfeeding at a year.; 7/08/2009 4:00 PM
Miss Mommy said...: Cute! Sorry about the blood scare - I hate that. My oldest fell on her face the other day and had blood coming out - I tricked her with a popsicle so I could peek inside... turned out she bit her lip. Blood is never what you want to see.

My oldest sat at 6 months, my youngest more like 7 ish... she was way more into crawling. So she crawled at 7 months but still wasn't a steady sitter. :) They are funny little creatures.; 7/08/2009 4:04 PM
Kelli B said...: Hi Kelly. I have been reading your blog for quite a while now and decided to delurk to participate in your questionaire. (BTW Harper is the sweetest thing EVER)

As you will see by my answers my children are COMPLETELY different. My daughter is now 10.5 and my son is almost 9.

1. At what age did your children start sleeping through the night on a consistent basis? My daughter (the dream baby) was 4 months and my son was about 9 months old when they slept consistently through the night.

2. At what age did your children start sitting up?
I can't remember when my daughter sat up, but she could stand up unassisted at 6 months and took her first steps at 10 months. She didn't use walking as her primary mode of travel until almost her first birthday.
My son couldn't even tripod at 6 months and finally sat up around 11 months...and didn't even try to walk until 15 months. He never colored or used a pencil. He can't write legibly, spells horribly and hates to color. He tested Gifted last year and I have heard that it is common for some of them to have bad handwriting, bad spelling and no common sense.

3.What do you think (without knowing how the room looks) - cute, ugly, a great neutral? Those are fabulous and appear that they would go with just about ANYTHING.; 7/08/2009 4:23 PM
Barclay Kathryn said...: By four month I had gotten both my girls sleeping through the night-one was harder than the other- I would love to share my strategies if you're interested.

Sitting up- both girls around 6 months but I've heard of kids that are closer to 8 months when they sit up.

And to be honest, that chairs ok. I'm not sure I'm crazy about the white cushion....; 7/08/2009 4:23 PM
April and Brad said...: Kelly,
We don't know each other, but I feel like I know you!! Haha. I started following your story when you were pregnant with Harper...clicked to you from my friend Emily's blog. Anyway...I'm redoing my living room too and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the bar stools, contemporary yet classic...and I was wondering where you ordered your rug from. I've been searching everywhere...but I don't want to spend a lot of money...I'm a newlywed need I say more :); 7/08/2009 4:35 PM
Cody Jean said...: 1. Egan was sleeping for a 9 hour stretch by 6 months. (10 to 6) He still gets up at 6, but now he goes to bed at 7:30 or 8. Of course he is already 26 months!

2. Egan was also sitting up at 6 months. He just started doing it one day and we were surprised!

3. ? You have great taste, so I'm sure you'll figure it out!; 7/08/2009 4:42 PM
kimmie said...: my daughter Natalie was born January 11, 2009. She started sleeping through the night around April 1st, thanks entirely to the Miracle Blanket swaddler (before I ordered that, she was up every two hours and I was losing my mind because I went back to work April 6). She is about six months old now and I still swaddle her in the MB and she still really likes it.

She does sit now for short periods of time (this started probably in the last ten days or so) if I sit her up, but she is also very tiny (about 13 1/2 lbs) for a six month old so it helps I am sure to not have much weight to support! To get her sitting we practiced "tripoding" - I would sit her up propped up leaning forward on her hands. also to help her sit for longer stretches, I put a boppy pillow on her lap with the boppy "arms" reaching around her back so that she can lean forward in a sitting position and reach for her toys.

The barstool is nice.; 7/08/2009 4:55 PM
Hester 5 said...: 1. Both of my babies are EXCELLENT sleepers! Rachel (who is now 2 1/2) slept through the night (7 hours or so) at 6 weeks and Lauren (who will be 4 months old on Sunday) started sleeping through the night at about the same time...maybe sooner, actually. She is sleeping now from 9:30 or 10:00 until 6:30 or 7:00 in the morning. Our key...I swaddle her...every night. I didn't with Rachel though.

2. Sitting up...let's see..Rachel was probably 7 months or so. I do remember with her 6 month pictures, we had to stand close because she would fall over pretty easily. Lauren, of course, isn't sitting up yet.

3. Honestly.....I am not a fan. Okay, that's horrible but you asked for what we really though...right? They are okay..I just don't like rattan (however you spell that) or bamboo or whatever it is. I might be perfect for what you are looking for though. We got our bar stools at Ashley furniture...they are black iron and neutral brown...I really like them but might not be your cup of tea!; 7/08/2009 5:07 PM
Michelle said...: Hi Kelly, I just wanted to comment that my Madeline had something similar with the blood around her mouth last week. I had noticed a couple drops of blood on her outfit and on the nipple of her bottle and I was pretty freaked out and looked in and around her mouth as well. I really never figured out where the blood was coming from either but I think she may have had a spot on her lip that may have been bleeding. She is also teething so figured maybe the blood came from that. I didn't notice anything again and she seems to be fine. Hope everything is ok with Harper.

Take care - Michelle; 7/08/2009 5:11 PM
Anonymous said...: I am also a HUGE babywise fan--I used their techniques with both of my children and my daughter (now 4) was sleeping 8 hrs a night by 6 weeks and my son (now 16 mos.) was sleeping 8 hrs. a night by 12 weeks (he's a bit more stubborn!). They both continue to be great nappers and night sleepers-my son sleeps 12-13 hrs/night and my daughter sleeps 9-11 hrs/night. Letting them cry it out was hard the first time (my husband had to hold me back!) but we gradually increased the amount of time we let them cry until they finally got it! We needed our sleep! It has paid off though, having kids who are comfortable sleeping in their beds (and have been from an early age) and can self soothe. Good luck to you!; 7/08/2009 5:18 PM
Kylie said...: So glad sweet Harper is OK! I read too much, too and then expect the worst :)
1. My son slept through the night consistently at 15 months. My daughter at 8 weeks. I did the exact same thing with both- some babies sleep and some babies don't. Babywise worked on my daughter and was a joke to my son :) Just know that your success as a mother as absolutely NOTHING to do with how well your daughter sleeps! :)
2. both of kids started sitting right at 6 months but my son crawled at 6 months and my daughter not until 9 months. Then they both started walking at the same time (11months) keep practicing and don't worry :) She is a doll!!!
3. I like the chairs- I think cute!!; 7/08/2009 5:26 PM
CulyQFun said...: First let me say....Love the bar stools!! Get them.

1. Sleeping - our oldest slept through the night at 3months. Unheard of. But we did put her in her crib at 2 months for all naps and by 3months she did the nite thing. She had to cry it out but after about a week she was sleeping through the nite.
Our 2nd - not as easy she will 9months this week & we get 3-4 days a week of sleeping through the nite. But I admit we haven't been as consistent with her.

2. Sitting up - both my girls were sitting up on their own by 7months. They could sit up for brief moments at around 5months but btwn 6-7months they were good to go.

Okay, hope that helps. Sorry you had to make an ER trip - not fun!! But glad she is okay. Those dang teeth, they will get you every time.; 7/08/2009 5:29 PM
Myra @ My Blessed Life said...: Oh Kelly! I'm so glad that Harper is ok. I would have been freaking out at the sight of blood coming from my little one!

My head is spinning from reading only a few of the comments on your "poll." Wow! There are so many different methods, opinions etc. I'm not going to give you my opinion or what I think might or might not be going on with Harper. But here's what worked for us...Ridley was sleeping through the night at 6 weeks. I think it was a miracle because God knew I couldn't handle getting up multiple times during the night.

-From day one, I swaddled Ridley when it was time to go to sleep (naps and nighttime). I still swaddle him (6 months), but he manages to kick his feet out sometimes, but it keeps his arms from startling him.
-I did the eat, wake, sleep pattern/routine. I don't like schedules necessarily, but I think having a specific routine is vital.
-He's been sleeping in his nursery since he was 4 mths, but I just bought a white noise thing from Walmart and he's been sleeping even better.
-He sleeps on his wedge thingy and I cover him with the same blanket every night.
-When he woke up during the night and needed to eat, I didn't talk to him and I tried to keep everything quiet and dark. I still do this when he wakes up around 6 AM and he goes back to sleep until 8 or 9.
-I never could really handle the "cry it out" thing, but I have some friends who "swear" by it. The couple times I tried it, I caved. :)

I'm praying that there will be a breakthrough very soon for you. We, mommies, need our rest!

Ridley hasn't started sitting up yet either. We are practicing too, but I know he'll get it when he's ready. Can you believe he has NO teeth yet??

And...lastly, I LOVE the barstool!; 7/08/2009 5:55 PM

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