Babywise Benefits Different Personalities
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Today is my spotlight day for Babywise Friendly Blog Network week! We are all talking about benefits of Babywise and I wanted to touch on the benefits of Babywise, even when children have different personalities.
From the beginning of Kye's life he was truly a combination of an "angel baby" and a "textbook baby" personality type. When I started implementing Babywise techniques it was rather simple to get him on the schedule and he naturally followed the book pretty closely without much help from me! If the book would say babies would be fussy, Kye was fussy. He woke up often for the 45 minute intruder, teething was a horrible experience for us all, and that witching hour in the evenings was no joke. He pretty much followed the book. And that made the book easy to follow!!!
Not only was Kye a "textbook baby" but his overall disposition and personality was that more towards an "angel baby." He did well with transitions. Never met a stranger. Didn't cry all the time. He mostly went with the flow and was pretty "easy" in most areas. He was so much so towards the "angel baby" realm that I struggled to see how Babywise was benefitting him in many areas. People often commented to me that Kye was just an easy baby and that it wasn't as much due to Babywise (or the hard work I put into it!) but more due to that being just who he was.
Whenever I'd talk about having more children, and especially once I got pregnant with Britt, I often heard oh just wait. People would comment on how easy Kye was and how much trouble I would be in for with my second child. Many times people would even go as far to say good luck with that Babywise stuff when the second one gets here!
And then Britt arrived. Oh boy, did she arrive! I vividly remember being in the hospital less than 24 hours after she was born and Zach and I talking about her cry. That cry. We knew from the start that we did not have an "angel baby" on our hands this time around!!! Britt has always made herself known and has let us know when she's not happy with something. She is much more the "spirited" personality type than Kye was and that presents it's own advantages and disadvantages when parenting her. She has kept us on our toes from early on and truly has a mind of her own.
When the book would say a baby will be fussy, Britt was more than fussy. Independent playtime took a lot of work with her as she always wanted to be with me and didn't naturally enjoy playing on her own. Consistent discipline has been crucial from early on as if she's given an inch she will take that mile! I was thankful for the Wonder Weeks knowledge I had gained since having Kye as Britt very closely followed that developmental pattern...if it said she was in a Wonder Week then I knew I needed to clear my schedule and basically be in survival mode until we could get out of it!!!
Sure, all those people may have been right. I did not have an "easy" second baby. But guess what? Her personality proved to me how much Babywise truly does WORK and how much it really does benefit any personality type. With Kye's "easy" personality I really struggled to know for sure that Babywise was to thank for his wonderful sleep, great behavior, social personality, intelligence, etc. With Britt? I know with confidence that Babywise has made her the child she is. And knowing that for her, it has also given me the confidence to know that Babywise is also what benefitted Kye.
Even though I have had two very different personality types, I followed the SAME parenting philosophy with both children. Having gone through everything with Kye I was better prepared with Britt for how to really be a true "Babywise Mom" from the start and that really benefitted her! My "spirited child" is actually a much better, sounder, sleeper than her "angel baby" brother ever was.
Right now I'm preparing to have my third baby come into the world! Will he or she be another angel/textbook baby like Kye? Or will I have another spirited one like Britt? Either way I'm not overly concerned about it (although my spirited child does wear me out so an angel baby sure would be a nice breather!) because I KNOW that Babywise will help this new baby to be just as well adjusted, well rested, and HAPPY as his or her older siblings!
Kye is now five years old and still benefits from Babywise principles. He plays beautifully on his own, is very obedient, sleeps over 11 hours at night (and still sleeps 2-3 hours for naps many days!), adapts easily to any situation, is respectful to his peers and adults, excels in all academic areas, loves to help others and has a truly giving heart, and makes me proud on a daily basis!
Britt is now close to 2 and ½ years old. She is in that toddler stage which is not easy, but she is also a wonderful child who brightens every room she enters! She is also an amazing sleeper (sleeps at night for 12 hours and for nap each day for 3-4 hours. No joke!), does very well obeying us (not always on the first request, but she's getting there), has wonderful manners, knows how to sit still and be quiet, handles times of transition very well (as long as we prepare her for it which is normal for her age), is learning to play well independently, has SO much creativity and loves pretend play, and is literally off the charts in all areas developmentally!
I am very proud of both of my children and know that our newest blessing will continue to make us proud as well. I always tell new moms that Babywise is not easy. And it's not. It takes a lot of work, especially in the early days. But putting in that work pays off in SUCH a big way. I am truly so thankful for Babywise and how it has benefitted my children. They are both so different in so many ways but it has given them both the best possible start in life and will help guide them throughout childhood and into adulthood!
Not only was Kye a "textbook baby" but his overall disposition and personality was that more towards an "angel baby." He did well with transitions. Never met a stranger. Didn't cry all the time. He mostly went with the flow and was pretty "easy" in most areas. He was so much so towards the "angel baby" realm that I struggled to see how Babywise was benefitting him in many areas. People often commented to me that Kye was just an easy baby and that it wasn't as much due to Babywise (or the hard work I put into it!) but more due to that being just who he was.
Whenever I'd talk about having more children, and especially once I got pregnant with Britt, I often heard oh just wait. People would comment on how easy Kye was and how much trouble I would be in for with my second child. Many times people would even go as far to say good luck with that Babywise stuff when the second one gets here!
And then Britt arrived. Oh boy, did she arrive! I vividly remember being in the hospital less than 24 hours after she was born and Zach and I talking about her cry. That cry. We knew from the start that we did not have an "angel baby" on our hands this time around!!! Britt has always made herself known and has let us know when she's not happy with something. She is much more the "spirited" personality type than Kye was and that presents it's own advantages and disadvantages when parenting her. She has kept us on our toes from early on and truly has a mind of her own.
When the book would say a baby will be fussy, Britt was more than fussy. Independent playtime took a lot of work with her as she always wanted to be with me and didn't naturally enjoy playing on her own. Consistent discipline has been crucial from early on as if she's given an inch she will take that mile! I was thankful for the Wonder Weeks knowledge I had gained since having Kye as Britt very closely followed that developmental pattern...if it said she was in a Wonder Week then I knew I needed to clear my schedule and basically be in survival mode until we could get out of it!!!
Sure, all those people may have been right. I did not have an "easy" second baby. But guess what? Her personality proved to me how much Babywise truly does WORK and how much it really does benefit any personality type. With Kye's "easy" personality I really struggled to know for sure that Babywise was to thank for his wonderful sleep, great behavior, social personality, intelligence, etc. With Britt? I know with confidence that Babywise has made her the child she is. And knowing that for her, it has also given me the confidence to know that Babywise is also what benefitted Kye.
Even though I have had two very different personality types, I followed the SAME parenting philosophy with both children. Having gone through everything with Kye I was better prepared with Britt for how to really be a true "Babywise Mom" from the start and that really benefitted her! My "spirited child" is actually a much better, sounder, sleeper than her "angel baby" brother ever was.
Right now I'm preparing to have my third baby come into the world! Will he or she be another angel/textbook baby like Kye? Or will I have another spirited one like Britt? Either way I'm not overly concerned about it (although my spirited child does wear me out so an angel baby sure would be a nice breather!) because I KNOW that Babywise will help this new baby to be just as well adjusted, well rested, and HAPPY as his or her older siblings!
Kye is now five years old and still benefits from Babywise principles. He plays beautifully on his own, is very obedient, sleeps over 11 hours at night (and still sleeps 2-3 hours for naps many days!), adapts easily to any situation, is respectful to his peers and adults, excels in all academic areas, loves to help others and has a truly giving heart, and makes me proud on a daily basis!
Britt is now close to 2 and ½ years old. She is in that toddler stage which is not easy, but she is also a wonderful child who brightens every room she enters! She is also an amazing sleeper (sleeps at night for 12 hours and for nap each day for 3-4 hours. No joke!), does very well obeying us (not always on the first request, but she's getting there), has wonderful manners, knows how to sit still and be quiet, handles times of transition very well (as long as we prepare her for it which is normal for her age), is learning to play well independently, has SO much creativity and loves pretend play, and is literally off the charts in all areas developmentally!
I am very proud of both of my children and know that our newest blessing will continue to make us proud as well. I always tell new moms that Babywise is not easy. And it's not. It takes a lot of work, especially in the early days. But putting in that work pays off in SUCH a big way. I am truly so thankful for Babywise and how it has benefitted my children. They are both so different in so many ways but it has given them both the best possible start in life and will help guide them throughout childhood and into adulthood!
