Attachment Parenting

Dr Merkel,

I have a 14 month old who is still breastfeed and we co sleep. For a few months, about 4-6months of age, she was sleeping almost though the night usually waking up usually only once after being asleep 6-8 hours and then sleeping about 4 more. Since she was 6 months she started waking up throughout the night every 2-5 hours and is still doing this.

The only think that I can think of that has changed aside from teething is we moved and when she was about 7 months I and purchased a new mattress. I don't know if that has something to do with it. The one we has before was like a board and the new one is much softer.

I am not comfortable with the pediatricians suggestion to let her cry it out and I don't see how it would work anyway with us co sleeping. Do you have any suggestions on how to help her sleep through the night? Or is this just a phase she is going through, if so when do children usually sleep through the night on their own? Also the only way she will go to sleep is if I lay down with her and breast feed her. Is it bad that the only way she goes to sleep for me (throughout the night and naps included) is to breastfeed her, should she be able to self sooth herself to sleep by now. If so what are some things I can do to help her with that. Also is there a recommended age for co sleeping, if so about what age should she have her own bed? Oh also is it ok that her only source of milk is my milk and she isn't offered any soy or cow's milk, she breastfeeds about 4 times a during the day and 3 or 5 times during the night depending on how often she wakes up.

Thank you,

Sleepless

Dear Dr Merkel,

We have a 18 month old, 28 pound baby boy who is in the 99 percentile (he was nearly 11 pounds when he was born). We use our Ergo carrier with him alot, but recently, a friend who is a physical therapist expressed concerned about how the Ergo caused his legs to be splayed out and said that can cause hip problems. What is your experience/recommendation for Ergo carriers and hips?

Thanks so much!

Dear Dr. Merkel,

I have a two and a half month old who weighs more than 13 pounds and has excellent neck strength and control. Is it OK to put him on my back? His head is fine, do I need to worry about his hips at all?

Dear Dr. Markel,

Our baby is nearing five months and doing great. At night she sleeps with me and has been sleeping thru the night for the past two months.

My question is re: napping. At this time,
our only way to get her to nap is by nursing, holding or baby wearing her while walking around.
Am wondering when and how we can help her nap on her own. Please advise. Thanks!

Dear Dr. Markel,

I'm from Vancouver, Canada but living in St. Petersburg, Russia. My wife and I had a baby girl on May 22nd and we have begun using an Ergo Baby Carrier with the Infant Insert. Our baby likes the carrier and sleeps most of the time when we are out for a walk. Unfortunately some doctors here have told us it's bad for our baby daughter's neck and spine. Is this true? Is our daughter too young to be carried in an Ergo Baby Carrier with Infant Insert?

Our daughter was born with a small neck problem because she was tall and there wasn't enough room in my wife's womb. She has been wearing a neck brace since May 22nd and the doctor recommended that she wear it for two months. We've have also had a massage therapist come to our home for the past two weeks to give our baby ten sessions of massage.

We have a Maya Wrap sling too but it's difficult to use and we've had no success with it.

Please let us know as soon as possible because we're worried about our daughter's health.

Thank you.

Dear Dr. Markel

My 3 month old daughter will only sleep in the Ergo carrier during any of her day naps.... She sleeps from 7pm until 6am in a co sleeping arrangement and she is very settled and fine during the night, However when it comes to the daytime, not so settled..

Is it ok to wear her on me all day? My concern is that she will rely to be settled in the Ergo and sometimes now I feel she is starting to get really heavy.. Any suggestions would be of much help.

Thank you

Dear Dr. Markel,
My husband and I practice attachment style parenting from co-sleeping to baby wearing. Our son is now 8 months old. Somehow I feel we are experiencing attachment style parenting gone wrong.

I'm a full time mom and totally exhausted. Poor sleep at night is creating day time problems for all of us. Daytime naps are a production, only successful when I lay down with him. He has never slept alone and wakes up the instant I leave the bed just to use the restroom. He does not know how to fall asleep on his own or go back to sleep once he wakes up. He seems truly terrified when I leave him with daddy so I can take a shower.... I know I'm rambling here. I'm so overwhelmed and tired...It has been suggested to me to establish a nap routine with him in a crib/playpen by himself. Is this the answer? And if so, how do I go about it?

I greatly appreciate any help you can offer. Thank you for your time.  
Julia

Dear Dr. Markel,
Just wondering if there's a recommended time limit to carrying a sleeping baby?  Is it ok for their back/spine, development, and breathing etc.,  for them to be in a carrier for hours asleep (or awake)?

Thanks for the help!
Li Ling

Dear Dr. Markel,
We are getting ready to welcome our first baby and looking into gear. We are wondering which is better for an infant when we are out for a long time: being a car seat attached to a stroller base or having a bassinet on a stroller. We live in the city and could easily spend 5-6 hours out running errands or just walking around and we want to make sure our baby is not going to be uncomfortable or her development compromised.

Thanks!
Silvia

Dear Dr. Markel,

We adopted a wonderful 9 month baby girl from China in June and our adjustment period was very stressful. After a couple of months she was able to sleep through the night in her crib. For some reason there was a setback that started a few weeks ago. She now refuses to go to bed (both for a nap and at night)and she wakes up several times in the middle of the night crying. She did have an ear infection which was immediately treated but this behavior has not changed. As a result, she is cranky and whiny during the day. I would appreciate any feedback.

Thank you,
Sue
San Diego