I know this is bad, and I am NOT recommending you try this at all, but Ollie sleeps VERY well on his stomach. His first nap of the day was spent on his belly. He slept soundly and happily for three full hours. Poor guy was still so exhausted from his crazy day. I laid next to him the whole time reading a book, so I could keep a very close eye on him. I know it's dangerous to let him sleep on his belly, but dammit he LOVES it, and I watch him the whole time.
His next nap was spent on my chest then in his swing. Long story short, I kept him on his schedule, and his behavior and attitude showed that. I easily put the happiest baby to bed tonight!
He is so big and so wonderful I forgot just how fragile he is. It really is still so necessary that I stay focused on his needs and keep overstimulation and super busy days down to a minimum. It's one thing if he is fussy for fussy sake, it's another when it's my fault for his fussiness.
I thank all of you for your comments and emails on how to get him to sleep. I do swaddle him every time I put him down. He doesn't sleep well without his arms on lockdown. Now, as for the letting him cry it out... UGH! I'll try it. The comments from real moms who, "ran down to the end of the driveway," were so helpful in letting me know it must hurt you like it would me. But, sometimes you have to do whats necessary. "Letting her cry the first few times was the hardest thing in the world for me to do, but I realized that she needed a way to release and wear herself out and that I also needed to be able to put her down for my own sanity as well. " Those are the things I needed to hear. Thank you.
For now, order has been restored. Lessons learned. A game plan laid out for, God forbid, next time. As a first timer, I'd say that's good stuff!
