“How do babies know what to do next?” Evanne Ní Chuilinn on changing routines, and sleeping like a baby…

My Mam has been eagerly enquiring for the last couple of months, “Is he doing the morning and afternoon nap thing yet?” The what Ma?! 

Since he was born, my wee man has decided what he wants to do, when he wants to do it. I let him feed on demand during the early days, and generally put him down for a nap when he seemed like he needed it. I gradually guided him towards some sort of routine, but even when he was in total control of his schedule, he instinctively worked out a pattern you could set your clock to. 

We have always gone to bed late. Wait. We always USED to go to bed late.  During Séimí’s first few weeks at home with us, we found it difficult to break our old habits. We would stay up chatting or watching TV until midnight, and so did Séimí. I was breastfeeding so it didn’t make sense to put him to bed if I wasn’t going. When he was about 8 weeks old, we started a bedtime routine. PJs, bottle (or boob), and bed, at about 9 o’clock. He was having 4 naps during the day, the last of which at about 7pm, and that pattern lasted until very recently. I eventually brought bedtime back to 7.30, and eliminated that 7pm nap.

What has happened in the last week though, is remarkable. How do babies know what to do next? Do they have a telepathic capacity of some description? Does Séimí know that I’m keen for him to have a steady routine in place before I go back to work in a few short weeks? 

I was a cynical Sue in this column a few months ago about the elusive “7 ‘til 7” sleeping ‘myth’. I was corrected by some, and congratulated by others. The big man thought the little man would never get there, especially when he was waking up so frequently with teething pain. But Séimí almost has the whole thing nailed. The “7 til 7”, (well 7.30 til 7, but who’s counting), happened six nights this week, and almost automatically, Séimí’s new daytime slumber pattern fell into place. He used to get up at 6, and go back down at 7.30, but now he’s getting up at 7 and staying up until he goes for this “morning nap” my Mam so expertly spoke of! 

This time last week I was in despair. Séimí was in so much pain, and we were at the end of our tether. There is still no sign of that first tooth, but the pain is definitely not taking its toll as much. And I think I know why. Last Monday, I put an amber necklace around his neck. Initially, I couldn’t figure out if there was a difference in his demeanor, but I don’t think it’s any coincidence that he has been happier during the day, and more settled at night since then. Last week I wanted the tooth to appear, just so that the wee man would be free from pain. Now, I can quite happily continue to enjoy the gummy smile for as long as it takes, safe in the knowledge that Séimí is thriving, even if he has to sport what is, for all the world, a string of bright orange bling!