With Zman, I started late and the whole point was for me not to be such a FREAK about people even talking in our home, much less having company, watching TV, flushing the toilet, shutting doors, or clanging dishes. A friend recommended a noise machine to drown out some of the noise so he could sleep more soundly and peacefully. We needed something to make me bearable to be around. I was the Noise Nazi. Truly, a freak! Ask Chance and Chad. I bet they have less than favorable things to say about that time in our lives. Just don't tell me what they said. I might cry.
With Hgirl, I had her noise machine purchased 3 months before she ever got here. I was determined to do so many things different with her. And I did. Instead of pacifiers (Zman had 3 at all times) she found her thumb (with a little, okay, a lot of help). She also had blankies. Two at all times (four total). They are silky on one side and suuuuuuuuuuuuuuper soft on the other. I started with the noise machine the day she came home from the hospital. By the time she was two months old, she knew when she heard it, it was time to sleep. I would take her to her room, turn the machine on and her thumb immediately went to her mouth and her body leaned toward her bed where her blankies were. There were no tears and no tossing and turning. Just peaceful sleep. It was wonderful. And with two teenagers in the house, I was able to relax knowing she was completely tuned in to the sound of the ocean in her room.
I can see the same thing taking hold with Sweet Pea. I started her with the noise machine the moment we got home from the hospital too. Just now, I took her wide-eyed to her bed and turned on her machine. As soon as I turned the volume up, she yawned the biggest yawn ever. I put her in her bed and she scooted around to get comfy and fell fast asleep. So cool! I am a firm believer in bedtime routines and noise machines. FIRM!
Vince asked a day or two after we got home from the hospital why we had to have a noise machine for every child. (Can you tell who gets up with them if they don't want to/can't sleep???) Being a little (okay, a lot) postpartum, I lost it.
Me (blubbering, crying): Just go away!
Vince (starring in astonishment at my outburst):
I left it blank because he was so shocked he couldn't even respond.
Me (still blubbering): Because it makes me feel better!
Did he really want the Noise Nazi to return???
Vince (still a little shell shocked): Well, that's all you had to say.
Me (off my rocker and had to have the last word): No, I shouldn't have had to say anything!
Yes, some of us still act like 7th graders when no one is looking.
We have three noise machines now. One for every child. Vince keeps asking when we are going to wean the other two off theirs. As far as I'm concerned, they can take them to college! What does it hurt??? It's not like pacifiers that ruin teeth (Zman had his long enough to help ruin his mouth) or thumb sucking (Hgirl still does this with her blankies) or even blankies (she still has all four...) going to college with them. After all, those habits/comfort items would be a little embarrassing to try to explain. A noise machine in a dorm room or noisy apartment complex would actually make them look brilliant. They brought them to drown out all the late night party people (that they roll their eyes at and think are so immature!) so they could get up early each morning for quiet time and homework. (It's my blog... the future can look any way I want it to!)
So, a noise machine gave me a little bit of sanity with Zman. A noise machine made the Noise Nazi disappear with Hgirl. And a noise machine is helping Sweet Pea learn about falling asleep and staying asleep. Who wouldn't want a noise machine in every room where there is a bed???
I HEART noise machines!!!
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11 comments:
I'm going to buy one NOW. We had one at the in-law's house last weekend and it was WONDERFUL. I want one for ME and the baby.
LOL! Love it! That was a great friend that encouraged those noise machines :) We too have one in each room. Even ours. Well, actually we use a big box fan for the noise now because we have 4 bedrooms. Alyssa has the noisy air filter and the boys have the alarm clock with the sound machines built in. Callie has our original sound machine that I received as a baby gift (smart person!) LOL! I so too HEART sound machines!!!!!
(& yes, my big kids can sleep without them- they do sometimes, but I prefer them on! I told Callie she could take her blanket to college with her. Guess she can take her sound machine too!!!!!)
We use them too! It was kind of by mistake though. We used air filters all over the house since Bill was allergic to my cat. I also didn't want to stress about a quiet house when Jake came along so we made sure it was turned up high while he slept. We all got used to sleeping with that sound and while we can do without, we prefer to have it. We even travel with a small fan to drown out noise when we stay with family or in a hotel.
where did you get yours at? we never could find one we liked with karsyn, so she has a noisy air purifier thingy. tell us about your noise machine, please.
I love them. Tell ol' Vince that they are much better than teddy bears going to college where you get laughed at:) Hee Hee
CeCe
Just used old fashioned classical music with both of mine and Agirl still wants it on when she sleeps! 'Repeat all' buttons are the best inventions on CD players!
I saw a noise machine at Wal-mart the other day on the aisle with picture frames, candles, clocks.... (Erin) I do love the big box fans though. They are cheap, keep the air circulating and are nice and loud! The air filters are nice too. We have a hand-me-down one. They are kinda expensive though. (worth it though if there are allergies involved)
We got one with #2 that was built in to a soft sheep....it was called the Sleep Sheep......we love it!!!
Okay...not to be the voice of decent.... BUT hOw are they going to function at school ~ College ~ or sports where there is noise? John can do spelling words in the car with the radio and two siblings at high volumn!
I replied to Erin directly but in case anyone else wants to know, I got Hgirl's at Radio Shack for about $20 and Sweet Pea's at BB&B for about $30. Hgirl's is my favorite so if I had it to do over, I'd go back to Radio Shack.
Tracy... you aren't kidding anyone! We know you LOVE to be the voice of decent! ;-) As long as the sport isn't sound sleeping, we should be okay without a noise machine at sporting events... And I don't want them sleeping in class so I think we are good there, too. It's just for sleep... not concentration or learning... just sleep... well, and my peace of mind too.
hmmm.... Maybe I need to get one for Gary. that way we don't have to tiptoe around if he goes to bed early or wants to take a nap!!! He does have a birthday coming up... but, could he be too old for such things???
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