The Baby Sleep Whisperer

This is my belated Father's Day post. Joe is a great dad. He does so many things for Lily and me I couldn't even begin to list them all here. But the thing he is best at, and the thing I appreciate most, is putting Lily to sleep. 


Lily had been in bed with us and nursing to sleep until around 9 months when she started making it clear that she needed more space and wasn't really interested in nursing to sleep any more. So we got a crib and have been working at getting her to sleep in it ever since. We finally have a bedtime routine that is working. Most nights she sleeps in it for 4-6 hours and then comes into bed with us for the rest of the night. Getting her to sleep in the first place is the tricky part. Joe is the secret ingredient. 


I don't know what he does in there with her, but after he gives her a bottle she goes to sleep while he rocks her or paces around the room holding her. Then he manages to get her into the crib without waking her up. This is no small feat. We got the cheapest crib from IKEA, which seemed great when Lily wasn't standing and the platform was higher. Now that she pulls herself up we had to lower the platform and it's basically on the floor. So you have to lean over a waist high fence and try not to drop the baby on her face. And there you have it, the baby is asleep for a few hours. 


When I try to replicate this, there are only tears and wailing to be had. For some reason, Joe has the magic touch. This works out great for both of us because while he puts her to bed I get to clean up from dinner and pick up all the random toys that are strewn around the apartment (this is something I enjoy). We usually finish around the same time and then we get to have grown-up time together! We get to talk about things, sit and read together, eat dessert, or just crash and watch a movie together. It's amazing. 


So happy Father's Day to all you dads out there. And a very special Happy 1st Father's Day to the Baby Sleep Whisperer, Joe!