Too Much?

When it comes to "reading up" on things, can there be too much reading? I think yes, especially when you just read and read and read and read and search the internet and all the wrong places and blah blah blah... Point in case: I get e-mails from babycenter.com every week about the age of my babycakes and what is going on in her growing world, or rather, her growing in the world. Either way - there is a section called 'Doctor Moms Tell All' and they pick a topic and give you 3 answers. This week's question was "My baby isn't a sound sleeper. What can I do?" (Can't you just hear that being asked, almost as if this whiny mom has her hand on her hip and her other hand out to the side and there is a bit of attitude, frustration, and sarcasim.) Before I go further - I understand that the point of the 3 answers which is to you information and more than one option and you can go from there. Good thing I have a few brain cells. I feel bad for the people who get these e-mails looking for concrete information to follow to raise their children - these responses from today would leave their head spinning...and their baby still not sleeping through the night.

This is what the first mom doc says: After 6 months, babies' night awakenings are almost always due to habit. I've found the best remedy is to gradually reduce stimulus in response to his waking. If you hear him stirring or crying, wait a few minutes. If he doesn't fall back asleep on his own, go in and rub his back. Try to avoid picking him up. If he's really upset, pick him up long enough to settle him, then put him back in bed. Each time he wakes, gradually stay for less time. Be consistent, and usually within a week he'll have taught himself to fall back to sleep.

Mom doc #2 seems wishy washy, to me anyway:
Babies this age who wake at night are probably looking for you. What you choose to do about that is up to you. Some parents want to teach their children that nighttime is for sleeping alone in their own room. If so, consistency is the key. If, on the other hand, you don't mind being available to your baby at night, I advise bringing him to your bed. My rationale is that feedings and other activities will probably prolong the nighttime interlude, whereas bringing your baby into your arms is likely to get him back to sleep quickly.

Mom doc #3 is on board with #1:
Children wake up at night throughout babyhood. They'll go through phases when they don't, but they'll probably start again when they reach a new stage of development. At various points, wake-up triggers include teething or little dreams or nightmares. At 8 months, your baby is probably waking up in response to separation anxiety. I recommend that you let him cry for a few minutes to see whether he puts himself back to sleep. If he doesn't, go into the room, pat him gently, and reassure him that you're there and that he's fine. Then go back to your room. I don't recommend that you bring him to your bed. If you do, you're training him to cry so that you'll pick him up and take him to your room -- a cycle that's very difficult to break. So when you read all of these in the same sitting, which most people do, aren't you sort left back at square one...asking the question you sat down to get answers to? One of these says to bring them in bed and the very next one says to not do that.

What is a mom to do? Ask a mom you know and trust, and then...do what is best for you and baby! Some of the best advice I got before having Liliana (and it probably came from the internet! Just kidding.....it came from a book, a lot better...I know) Anyway - it was to remember that babies are individuals too and they have their own preferences, likes and dislikes. And boy, or in my case, girl is that ever true! Liliana has had her own preferences from the second she was born, ever reminding me that she is her own person made by God.

Now I must go search the internet to find out the exact date my baby should be crawling....

(totally just kidding)

Liliana @ 3 months